Recent Feedback
My ornate box turtle's eyes look swollen and appear to have a white film over them.The eyes are not swollen shut but she keeps rubbing at them and is not eatingvery well.What do you suggest I do to help her?
Optional Information: Pet's Gender: Female Pet's Age: >12 Already Tried: Nothing yet. I just noticed the problem
Hello,
Can you tell me about the set up?
Diet?
Substrate?
Supplements?
UVB light? How old? Tube or coil and strength?
State to locate a Herp Vet?
Joan
She lives in an outdoor habitat with one other ornate turtle. It has logs, bushes, hay
and a water bowl she can lie in. I feed her earthworms, mealworms, strawberries,bananna
and collarered greens. I also put reptivite on her food once a month. She prefers the
worms over the fruits and vegetables. She gets sunlight and can hide under the hay
and logs when it gets warm. I change the water bowls everyday and hose down
the hay everyday to keep the habitat from getting too dry. The habitat is around
10 ft by 4 ft. She has always been healthy and a good eater until yesterday.
I suspect that she may be have one of several issues. The first issue I am concerned about the first is a Vitamin A issues, called Hypovitamintosis A. The next issue that there may have been debris that has gotten into the eyes. This concerns me because the debris can cause a corneal ulcer, or abrasion which if not treated can cause blindness.
Another problem I am noticing is the lack of calcium supplement. I suggest that you scatter cuttle bones around the enclosure which will supply the needed calcium to prevent Metabolic bone disease. The Vitamins should also be given twice a week.
At this point I suggest that the turtle be seen by a Herp Vet who can thoroughly check the eyes and do some blood work to see what may be going on with the turtle. For now you can take some sterile saline eye drops to just rinse the eyes and see if it helps at all. I can locate a Herp Vet for you with a State. Joan
Experience: I have been doing Reptile Rescues for 15+ Years