The soft shell of the red-eared tortoise. Turtles have soft shells. Soft shell - a sign of illness

Not sure what to do if the turtle has a soft shell? First you need to figure out why such a pathology occurs. Soft shell is a symptom of a rather unpleasant and even serious disease called rickets. Its danger lies in the fact that in an advanced stage it is practically untreatable and can lead to the death of a pet. But if you start fighting rickets at the very beginning of development, then there are great chances for recovery. Soft shells in young turtles should not be a concern. The fact is that during the first year of life, he gradually becomes horny. And only then does it become a real impregnable defense.

Causes

The shell should be hard with a flat surface. In a healthy turtle, it does not have bumps and dips. To keep reptiles at home, special conditions must be created. Be sure to provide sufficient UV light or, if possible, natural sunlight. Its lack causes a deficiency of vitamin D in the body of a turtle. Also, rickets can be caused by malnutrition. If the diet is unbalanced, monotonous, then this will lead to calcium deficiency. Accordingly, it will make the shell soft. Its surface will become pliable, with the slightest pressure dips will appear, the edge plates will begin to bend upwards.

The progression of rickets can cause serious complications, so every owner must know what to do if the turtle has a soft shell. If you do not take urgent action, you may experience:

• bleeding;
• limb fractures;
• restriction of movement;
• eye redness;
• violation of the digestive system, kidneys;
• prolapse of the cloaca;
• irreversible bite changes.

At the last stage, a fatal outcome is inevitable, as pulmonary edema, heart failure and diffuse bleeding begin.

The red-eared turtle has a soft shell - what to do?

This type of turtle is most susceptible to rickets. At risk are young individuals who are already 12-13 months old. Veterinarians believe that the most common cause of pathology is the lack of sunlight in the terrarium. Each owner can determine rickets independently. It is enough just to lightly press your finger on the shell. If he began to bend, even very slightly, then it's time to worry about the pet. His health and life are at stake.

If measures are not taken in time to save the turtle, then her head will change. At the same time, the upper jaw is strongly bent, shaped like a beak, and the lower one becomes flexible. This results in the reptile not eating.

What if the turtle has a soft shell?

• Review your diet. Add raw fish with bones, only small ones.
• Be sure to drink calcium and D3.
• Regularly irradiate the shell with an ultraviolet lamp.

This type of reptile is distinguished by a teardrop-shaped shell. This shape allows the pet to swim quickly. If he suddenly became supple and soft, then the owner violated the conditions of detention. The reasons for the development of rickets are the same as those of the red-eared species.

What if the turtle has a soft shell? Feed your pet properly. Purchase food with special additives and vitamins. In the terrarium, regularly change the water and be sure to install a high-quality filter. If there is no ultraviolet lamp, then choose a place for the turtle that is well lit by sunlight.

The land tortoise has a soft shell - what to do?

Problems with the shell can also be found in terrestrial reptiles. Even if you feed your pet correctly, there may be problems with the absorption of calcium. In order to determine the development of pathology in the initial stages, you must constantly take the pet in your hands and check the density of the shell. When changing the shape, even the slightest, it is necessary to treat the terrarium with a UV lamp for at least 12 hours a day. Be sure to include calcium supplements in your diet.

Regarding the dosage, you should consult your doctor. It can be bone meal or carefully ground eggshell. It is recommended to give them at every feeding until the condition of the shell improves. Do not forget about vitamin D. It is drawn into a syringe and poured into the mouth in 3 drops. The pet should take it once a day for 14 days. The main thing to remember is that not only its deficiency is dangerous for the life of a reptile, but also an overabundance.

Treatment for rickets

If the turtle has a soft shell - what to do? The main thing is not to delay treatment. At the initial stage, the doctor prescribes injections of 10% calcium gluconate intramuscularly. The dosage is calculated depending on the weight - 1.5 ml / kg. The duration of the course is up to two weeks. Injections must be done strictly every 24 hours. To replenish magnesium and potassium in the body, it is recommended to drink the pet with Panalgin. It should be taken for 10 days at 1 mg / kg every 24 hours. This drug promotes the absorption of calcium. In an advanced case, treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian after examination. The reptile must be constantly under his supervision.

Hello. I have two red-eared turtles, seven to eight months old. The girl is active, eats well, and the male's shell has begun to soften. At first there were soft edges, then the belly softened, now, it seems to me, the condition has worsened. His eyes are swollen and he won't open them. In my opinion, he does not eat, more lies under the lamp, sometimes swims. What to do? Help. We don't have a vet.

Svetlana Kopylova, Krasnodar Territory

It happens that the presence of a soft shell in a turtle can be explained by natural causes. In small turtles under the age of one year, the presence of a soft shell is not a disease. In newborn turtles, the dorsal and abdominal shields are soft, and when pressed with a finger, the plates easily bend. In the future, the shell becomes denser and eventually turns into a reliable, strong armor.

If the softening of the shell is accompanied by reddening of the mucous membrane of the eyes, the appearance of various tubercles and swellings on the shell, or bends of the shell shield, then this is a sign of illness. Most often it is rickets.

Causes of softening of the shell in a turtle:

• a poor diet, in particular, a lack of vitamin D;
• lack of natural solar or artificial ultraviolet radiation in the terrarium of the red-eared turtle;
• disturbances in the work of the intestines and, as a result, a violation of the absorption of calcium from food;
• impaired renal function and, as a result, the cessation of calcium absorption.

TREATMENT

As a rule, the treatment of a softened tortoise shell consists of a course of injections. This is calcium borgluconate at a dosage of 2 ml / kg of animal weight, subcutaneously, every other day, only five to seven injections. Vitamins Eleovit at a dosage of 0.6 ml / kg intramuscularly, twice, with an interval of 14 days.

In addition, it is necessary to create additional conditions for the turtle. Hang an ultraviolet lamp over the terrarium, which should burn 10-12 hours a day. In the summer, the turtle terrarium can be taken outside so that the sun's rays fall directly on the animal and illuminate its home.

In the turtle's diet, you need to introduce multivitamins with a high content of vitamin D, and also give the turtle more foods containing calcium (clams with shells, ground fish bones with minced meat, etc.).

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A problem such as a soft shell in a turtle is a symptom of a dangerous disease in an amphibian called rickets. In the initial form, it is reversible, in the advanced stage the disease is difficult to treat, the pet can be lost.

Why do turtles have soft shells?

In a healthy reptile, the cover is hard, even, without dips and bumps, almost uniform in color. Rickets occurs when there is a lack of solar or artificial ultraviolet lighting, with a deficiency of calcium, vitamin D3, if the pet's diet is monotonous, poor in useful substances. Then the armored tissue of the amphibian becomes pliable, deforms when pressed with a finger, and the marginal shields are bent dome-shaped upwards. It is very risky if the turtle has a soft shell, since the disease must be treated immediately, otherwise the pet may die.

Progression of the disease - complications:

• spontaneous fractures of the limbs;
• prolapse of the cloaca;
• bleeding;
• redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
• the reptile cannot rise on its paws;
• disruption of the intestines and kidneys, as a result of which the absorption of calcium into the body stops;
• in an amphibian, the bite changes, which limits food intake.

At the last stage, death occurs as a result of pulmonary edema, diffuse demorrhage, and heart failure. If a soft shell is observed in a turtle under one year of age, then this is normal - the only exception when there is no need to worry. The shield in babies becomes horny for the first 12 months, gradually turning into reliable protection.

The soft shell of the red-eared turtle

Often, young individuals after a year are susceptible to this disease. The reason is the lack of natural or artificial lighting in the terrarium. With the appearance of rickets, the armor bends when pressed with a finger. Without treatment, the external contour of the head of the red-eared reptile changes - the lower jaw becomes flexible, and the upper jaw resembles a bird's beak. The mouth is deformed, the amphibian cannot eat normally. In severe cases, the beak bifurcates, disappears in parts.

Soft shell in a red-eared turtle - what to do:

• be sure to irradiate it;
• include raw fish with small bones, multivitamins with calcium and D3 in the diet.

The sea turtle has a soft shell

In such reptiles, the shield has a teardrop-shaped contour, it helps them swim quickly in the water. The soft shell of a sea turtle indicates non-compliance with the conditions for keeping an amphibian - a lack of ultraviolet rays, a lack of vitamin D3 and calcium. It is necessary to adjust the pet's diet, using the necessary supplements. The water in the terrarium needs to be changed and a good one installed.

The soft shell of a tortoise

The low density of the armored tissue of a land reptile indicates a lack of vitamin D3, calcium in the body and a violation of its absorption function. To notice the disease in time, you need to regularly take the pet in your arms and examine it. Land turtle, soft shell - what to do:

1. Replenish the body of an amphibian with D3 vitamins, not forgetting that their overdose is no less dangerous than a deficiency. They give drugs every 2 weeks.
2. Calcium supplements are introduced into the menu at each meal until the pet's condition improves.
3. The terrarium should run a UV lamp for 12 hours a day.

The turtle has a soft shell - what to do?

If a soft shell is found in a turtle, it is necessary to provide it with comfortable living conditions and adjust the diet, saturate it with minerals and vitamins. In an amphibian, rickets is in the first stage, when the limbs work normally, there are no bleeding, paresis and swelling. How to cure turtle shell in the initial form of the disease:

• prick calcium gluconate (10%) at a dosage of 1.5 ml / kg intramuscularly every 24 hours for 12-14 days;
• drink Panalgin (potassium and magnesium) at 1 mg / kg every other day for 10 days. It helps calcium get into the bones;
• 1-2 times a week to give calcium top dressing for reptiles - cuttlefish shield, clams, shrimp. They will strengthen the shell tissue and bones of the pet;
• in winter, irradiate with an ultraviolet lamp for 10-12 hours a day, in summer you can take the terrarium outside, covering the turtles from direct UV rays.

If the disease is advanced and paresis of the intestines and limbs, fractures, bleeding, shortness of breath, anorexia are observed, the treatment is prescribed and carried out by a veterinarian. With a favorable outcome, it will last 2-3 months. The first year after recovery, you will need to monitor the amphibian's diet and blood counts, and take preventive measures.

- aquarium animals, which, despite their unpretentiousness, sometimes still get sick. A sign that a turtle is unwell is a soft shell. A similar symptom most often indicates to which this type of amphibian is especially susceptible.

But not always a soft shell is an alarming symptom. In small turtles under the age of 1 year, it should be so. These animals are born with a soft shell that hardens over time. By the 12th month of life, their "armor" becomes quite strong and hard.

Soft shell - a symptom of a lack of calcium and vitamin D3

Often, the presence of a softened shell in an amphibian is accompanied by some more symptoms: redness of the eyes, the appearance of small tubercles and swellings on the protective shell, increased body temperature, bends in the edges of the shell.

The above symptoms can be the result of many diseases, namely, abnormal thyroid gland function, intestinal dysfunction. The hardness of the turtle shell is directly affected by the amount of calcium that circulates in the animal's body. It is with a lack of this element that deformation of the shell and other symptoms occur. A turtle in this condition should not be left untreated, otherwise, over time, the bones of the skull will deform in it, and the animal will not be able to eat normally.

Calcium deficiency can be caused by a malfunction in the intestines or kidneys, as a result of which the rate of absorption of calcium in the body of an amphibian is significantly reduced. Lack of ultraviolet radiation and, as a result, vitamin D deficiency can also lead to softening of the pet's shell.

How to heal a pet?

If your turtle shows these symptoms, then you can try to take some measures yourself. In summer and warm spring, a pet can be taken out in an aquarium to a balcony or outside and placed in the sun. At the same time, it is important that direct sunlight does not fall directly on the animal, but illuminates the aquarium well.

In the cloudy season, in autumn and winter, an aquarium with a turtle should be placed under an ultraviolet lamp for a while, having previously sealed the turtle's eyes with a band-aid. This is necessary so that the radiation and bright light do not damage the organs of vision.

The turtle's diet should be reviewed: you can add multivitamin complexes containing vitamin D and calcium to it. Shrimp can be a natural source of calcium for turtles. Hard-shelled mollusks or minced fish with bones should be added to the animal's diet.

But if the disease is in an advanced form or the measures taken have not brought the desired result, then the amphibian should be taken to the veterinarian. The doctor will conduct a course of injections with vitamin complexes and the condition, appearance of the red-eared turtle will improve significantly.

Preventive measures

The best way to prevent the development of the disease is its prevention. To prevent the softening of the shell in the red-eared turtle, it is necessary to sunbathe the animal several times a week. A good way to prevent calcium deficiency is to add crushed eggshells to the turtle's daily food several times a week. In winter, when the days outside are cloudy, the turtle needs to be given a solution of vitamin D-3. 3 drops of vitamin D for an adult turtle 2 times a month will completely prevent development. A vitamin injection can be made into lumps of food or injected into the animal's mouth using a medical syringe.

Following the above recommendations is an easy way to keep your turtle healthy. However, if the softening of the shell has already begun, the necessary measures should be taken. After all, rickets, softening of the shell can lead to the death of the animal.

By the state of the reptile's carapace, one can safely judge the state of the pet itself. If the turtle's shell is strong and has a natural color, then this means that the turtle feels great and develops well. If the shell is soft, then this indicates violations in its development, which means you need to figure out what the reason is.

Causes

As a rule, a shell that is not strong enough indicates that there is lack of calcium due to some reasons such as:

1. There is little or no calcium-rich food in the diet.
2. Lack of vitamin D2, which is involved in the absorption of calcium by the turtle's body.
3. Lack or absence of UV radiation, which means that the turtle’s body feels a lack of vitamin D

In order to detect an abnormal course of animal development in time, you should regularly examine your pet. The turtle must be picked up and visually, as well as by touch, examine the condition of the shell and skin. Defects in development include peeling of the skin. Softening of the shell, as well as the formation of various spots on it. Such an examination should be carried out every month, and if such defects are found, you should immediately seek advice from a herpetologist.

What to do?

In the case of obvious defects that indicate a lack of vitamin D and the need to replenish the body of the animal with vitamins of this group, you should know that an overdose of vitamin D is no less dangerous than its deficiency in the body. In the case of the use of vitamin cocktails, great care should be taken in terms of overdose. It is better to underestimate the dose somewhat, but in no case should it be overestimated, hoping that the increased dose will cope with the disease faster.

If vitamin vaccinations are prescribed, then they are injected once every two weeks, not more often.

In parallel with vitamin injections, calcium-rich food supplements are introduced into the reptile's diet. In a severe case, having calcium supplements are used regularly at every meal. They should be given until the condition of the pet improves.

In addition, a UV lamp must work in the terrarium. The duration of her work is at least 12 hours a day.

In order not to have to learn how to care for a pet, having the negative consequences of improper care, it is better to immediately take all measures for the healthy, normal development of the turtle. The set of measures includes such components as diet, conditions of detention, temperature conditions, etc.