Common Turtle Diseases: What You Should Know

Turtles make lovely pets. Unfortunately, most pet owners know very little about them and their health. Here’s some information about common turtle diseases.

Salmonella (Intestinal Infection)

• Symptoms: Bloody stools, diarrhea, loss of appetite. Highly contagious disease that usually arises from dirty water and contaminated food.
• Caution: salmonella can be passed to humans. Wash hands after handling your sick turtle.

Sore Eyes

• Symptoms: A common infection where eyes may appear swollen and shut.
• Cause: Dirty water and Vitamin A deficiency are among the causes.

Softening of the Shell

• Causes: Insufficient exposure to sunlight and calcium deficiency can lead to this. It can be fatal if not treated in time.
• Remedies: Make sure your pet gets more sunlight, and supplement its diet with calcium powder from pet shops.

Shell Fungus

• Symptoms: White patches or cotton-like layers on the shell probably indicate shell fungus.
• Remedies: Gently scrub the shell with a toothbrush and let your turtle in swim in a tub of warm salty water for at least 30 minutes daily. Please see a vet if symptoms persist.

Prevention is the Best Cure

Here’s how you can help your pet turtle from contacting these diseases.

• Keep the water clean at all times.
• Provide a well balanced diet with enough calcium and Vitamin A.
• Give enough exposure to sunlight daily.