What are the common diseases of turtles? A full analysis of the solutions
The turtle, a favorite food for many and a beloved pet for many others, is something many people raise. Turtles are amphibians that live both in water and on land, have a very hard shell, very sharp teeth, and strong adaptability. But turtles suffer from many diseases, and if you are not careful they can die. Below, the editor will explain several common diseases of turtles.
1. White eye disease
White eye disease in turtles shows up as swollen eyes, congestion inside the eye, and a festering cornea. The eyeball is covered by a white substance, the turtle cannot open its eyes, and it cannot eat. This disease is caused by too high a stocking density and water that is too alkaline. This disease can be prevented in advance: when the temperature is too high, change the water frequently, disinfect the container used to raise the turtles, and when the onset period of this disease arrives, give the turtles extra nutrition to boost their own resistance. If it has already occurred, you can apply chlortetracycline eye ointment to the affected area twice a day, and let the turtle bask in the sun more to disinfect.
2. Rotting skin disease
Rotting skin disease in turtles shows up as visible festering in some part of the body, with the surface turning white. This is caused by too high a stocking density, turtles biting each other, and bacteria invading the wounds, leading to skin necrosis at the wound. Water pollution can also cause this disease. The treatment is also to apply chlortetracycline eye ointment to the wound, put the sick turtle into water containing a small amount of oxytetracycline, and before it recovers, the turtle must not be exposed to too much water, otherwise it will get worse and worse. Once a turtle has this disease, it must be treated promptly, otherwise in the later stages it will lead to death.
3. Shell rot disease
Shell rot disease shows up as white spots on the shell; when pressed, bloody water comes out with a foul odor, and in severe cases the shell rots into a hole. This is caused by severe wear on the turtle's shell, with bacteria entering and infecting it, leading to shell decay. This disease is mainly prevented: keep the water clean and disinfect the turtle pond regularly. To disinfect the turtle's body surface, soak the turtle in salt water for about 15 minutes, and after the water on the turtle's body dries, put it back in the turtle pond. If it is already infected, use gentian violet to clean and disinfect the affected area, apply erythromycin eye ointment, and keep it dry.
4. Gastrointestinal disease
Gastrointestinal disease in turtles is usually caused by problems with feed and water quality, or by too much fluctuation in the temperature of the place where they live, leading to indigestion. The main symptoms are the turtle not eating, diarrhea, and so on. In daily keeping, pay attention to controlling the temperature; the temperature fluctuation must not be too great, change the water source frequently, and do not feed food that has already spoiled. For turtles that are already sick, add a little antibiotic to their food, adding oxytetracycline powder.
5. Pneumonia
The cause of pneumonia is large temperature fluctuations, and the incidence rate is highest when turtles are hibernating. The main symptoms are a runny nose, which later becomes thick, and loud breathing sounds. When turtles hibernate, ensure the temperature of the turtle house is stable, and cool or warm it in time. Sick turtles should be isolated immediately and injected with penicillin and other medicines; more severe cases cannot be treated.
The above five are the common turtle diseases the editor has compiled. As long as you find that a turtle has any one of the above five, you should deal with it promptly. With diseases like rotting skin disease and gastroenteritis, if not treated in time, the turtle will die directly within 1-2 weeks. So I hope everyone will pay more attention to turtle care in daily life and reduce injury and illness to a minimum.