does anyone know if you can get a bad infection from being bit by a painted turtle?

Question

my husband was bit on the finger by our painted turtle who came from the wild. His finger hurts him a little bit and is a little swollen. It did break the skin jsut wondering if someone knows if it is something to worry about

Answer 1

Yes, some turtles carry salmonella...call the doc & see what he thinks or go ASAP!

Answer 2

Treat it like any other bite from an animal with a dirty mouth- clean it well, watch for signs of infection, etc.

The only real thing you MIGHT get from a turtle is Salmonella, which is basically the '24 hour' or 'stomach' flu- a little diarrhea and maybe some vomiting- we've all had it from one source or another.

Answer 3

Painted Turtles are not eaten as often as larger turtles, such as snapping turtles. They are good controllers of insects, snails, leeches, algae, and other pesky organisms. Painted turtles do not bite, but they have sharp claws which can scratch you when they try to get away. Remember to always wash your hands right away after handling a turtle, because they sometimes carry bacteria which can cause diseases.

Answer 4

Turtles carry salmonella, so this is worth getting checked out.

Answer 5

its seems likely - they probably do have bacteria in their mouths - such as snakes can infect people with slamonella - apply an antibotic cream to the site and watch for further signs of infection such as puss or a fever - see a doc. in the morning if the bite looks worse or tonight if he gets a fever

Answer 6

I wouldn't really worry if it didn't break the skin....i would get it checked out if his finger started to rot off or something though.....yeah

Answer 7

You deffinetly have to check that out!