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Wood turtle eye problem

Sent to Pet Experts July 21, 2006 7:22 p.m.

I live in northern New Jersey and have recently found a young woods turtle on it's back in my street. His right eye has some kind of growth or tumor on it. He usually doesn't keep his other eye open much although it looks okay when open. Is this something that is known about? Is there anything I can do to help him? Should I just take him to a vet? He has not eaten for the week I've had him but he seems to be in good health other than the eye.

Optional Information:
Age: 4; Male; Breed: wood turtle

Already Tried:
daily baths with tetracycline

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $15

Info Request
July 21, 2006 7:39 p.m. (16 minutes and 53 seconds later)

REPLIED to Info Request

Is there any discharge from the eye? What are you trying to feed him. WHat type enclosure do you have him in? What is the temp in it?

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Let me know if you have any other questions
Good Luck &
Best Fishes

ZooCVT -- Certified Veterinary Technician -- 99% Positive Feedback on 383 Pet Accepts
23+ years of experience w/ sm. animal, fish, exotics, orthopedics, ophthalmology and zoo medicine.

Reply to ZooCVT
Sent July 21, 2006 11:46 p.m. (4 hours and 6 minutes later)

There is no discharge from the eye. I've tried giving him mealworms, my box turtle and eastern painters love them. I'm keeping him in the terrarium that my box turtle lives in in the winter. The temperature here is perfect for turtles this time of year. The house goes between 60 and 75 degrees where he is. Typically, wild turtles don't eat in captivity for a while. It looks like a growth or cyst right on top of his eye. Is this uncommon, have you ever heard of it? I once found a pigeon with "pigeon pox" and both his eyes had growths over them, it was fatal for the pigeon.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
July 22, 2006 9:55 a.m. (10 hours and 9 minutes later)

ACCEPTED

The temp is a bit cold for him and this will decrease his appetite. I would raise the temp to entice him...probably in the 80F range. The growth itself could be a couple things. He may have had an injury and it is scarring from that...sometimes it will look like keloid deposits are happening on these guys...just kind of over healing. It could also be a sebacious cyst or even a cancerous growth. I would, as long as theres no change in shape size texture or color, watch it closely and as long as he has no discharge and its not bothering him, then it should be ok. I would however, keep him completely seperated from your other turtles, washing with bleach water everything he comes in contact with.You don't want to risk infecting your guys with anything he has.

__________________
Let me know if you have any other questions
Good Luck &
Best Fishes

ZooCVT -- Certified Veterinary Technician -- 99% Positive Feedback on 383 Pet Accepts
23+ years of experience w/ sm. animal, fish, exotics, orthopedics, ophthalmology and zoo medicine.

Reply to ZooCVT
Sent July 22, 2006 11:10 a.m. (1 hour and 14 minutes later)

I just looked at him this morning and the growth on the eye looks smaller and is moist/runny. What bothers me now is that he generally doesn't have his good eye open unless I moisten it with water. He doesn't seem interested in food as yet, possibly because he doesn't like captivity or he's disoriented with his eye problems. Should I try mineral oil or something on his "good" eye to try to help him keep it open?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
July 22, 2006 6:31 p.m. (7 hours and 21 minutes later)

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ZooCVT -- Certified Veterinary Technician -- 99% Positive Feedback on 383 Pet Accepts
23+ years of experience w/ sm. animal, fish, exotics, orthopedics, ophthalmology and zoo medicine.

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