Turtle Attacked By Dog?

Question

I've found a turtle, which my dog, as dogs do, chomped on it. There appears to be blood, but no visible wound. The shell is somewhat damaged, and we have put him(?) on our deck in the sunlight.

Any idea as to how to take care of it for recuperation?

We'll take it to the vet later.

Well, it seems my turtle is fine and dandy, and just a minor cut on the neck.

I'm going to send my dog to behavior school, and patch up the turtle. Thanks, all!

Answer 1

Here are the bad things to look for:
- Badly cracked shell that moves when the turtle moves or breathes. (Cracks and damage that do not let the shell move much can be left untreated. Big cracks should be seen by a vet.)
- Holes in the shell going into what looks like a large hollow space*.
- Active bleeding, blood continually trickling out of a wound. (Can usually be treated by applying cornstarch to the wound, applying a small bit of clean guaze, and wrapping with paper first aid tape. Can be immediately released.)
- Partially torn off limbs. (See a vet.)

Pretty much anything less than that can be best treated by just letting the turtle go. The stress of captivity (such as being allowed to get too hot in the sunlight on a deck) will cause more problems than most other injuries.

*- Note that turtle lungs do not work like human lungs do, and holes in the shell do not automatically damage breathing. Open holes can be treated before release by swabbing them with betadine, then supergluing a small piece of plastic baggie right over the hole- keeping the baggie as small as possible and not letting it really go inside the hole.


Wantign to rescue and help injured animals is noble and humane, but in all honesty, in many cases they do better left alone!

Answer 2

Call your Game and Fish Commission, they may have some advice. Give it some shade also. Then it can move to Sun/Shade as needed. Make sure there water it can get to and may even wet it down. Slice a tomato and put with it should it decide to eat. Clean the wound and smooth a small amount of Neosporin over the area. This will not only act as an Antibiotic, but, keep flies away.
If, later it laying on it's back sipping Iced Tea & Wearing Sunglasses ............. You know you did well. ;-)

Answer 3

Owch ive had that happed before what happened with mine was we brought him to the vet and im sorry but depending on the magnitude of the wound he will probably not make it.

Answer 4

Put the turtle in water, but make it easy to crawl out of it and lock the dog up. Have saved them in similar circumstances and if the shell is tough, they usually live.

Answer 5

Please detect a reptile vet in any case. field turtles are a rather endangered species and can be saved in any respect costs. that is going to be nicely surely worth the money. you won't choose for that to be on your ethical sense, could you?

Answer 6

defintly take it to the vet, if he seems ok now then he probly isnt serioiusly hurt. defintly keep him in the sun and also try puttin him in a tank of water but not for too long. defintly take him 2 vet, good luck

Answer 7

well as an first aid try to put him in a mixture of water and iodine to prevent infection if there is any wound, then take it to the nearest vet as soon as possible……

Answer 8

Get him to a wildlife rehabilitor.They are trained to handle these situations and if it's not repairable they can humanely euthanise him.