All Turtles Message Board

brinnan · Level 1 Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

So I took Resputin to the vet today. As I left school a little girl came up to me and asked if I was holding her turtle. I told her I had found him outside and kept going to my car. So she said, "was he bleeding a lot? Cause our turtle was bleeding a lot."

This comment disturbed me. She said, "He fell off the balcony and then he was bleeding a lot. And now he's gone." So, poor Resputin fell off of a balcony on the fourth floor of one of the projects nearby, walked several blocks, has so many scabs, and was without food and water. And the kicker is when he fell and was bleeding, they left him there! I told the girl it wasn't her turtle and left. She's a sweetheart, but the poor animal deserves so much better.

Anyway, I took him to the vet (my vet is so great!). As some of you suggested, he is shedding scutes. The vet techs took turns peeling some off. He looked quite a bit better immediately. Next they gave him all sorts of shots. The cuts on his chin, top of his head, and side of his neck are all scabbing up already. The fracture on his shell is pretty bad, but it is too late to epoxy it at this point without risking bad infection. Instead I have to treat him with antibiotics daily. They might have to eventually remove the whole back hinge or fuse it. Resputin didn't appreciate their attention and kept trying to bite them. He's feisty! In addition, he has a lot of shell damage from long term malnutrition and lack of filtration. He's at least 10 years old they say.

Right now he is swimming around his new tank. His skin and scutes are flying off as he swims. I feel bad that he *possibly* belongs to someone, but considering he was so neglected, I can't bear to even see if they want him back.

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 12:41 am Post subject:

I am glad that you rescued him, I wouldn't take him to the previous owners, if he was left unattended one time, odds are it will happen again, and next time he may not make it. Sad

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brinnan · Level 1 Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

The kicker is that they knew he had fallen off the balcony, and they left him where he was. He was abandoned and bleeding. If they had wanated him, they would have taken him when he fell and at the very least put him back where he belonged. Also, he was malnurished to begin with.

evilnissan · Level 2 Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 48

I think you did the right thing and handled it the right way with the little girl.

dixieee · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:29 am Post subject:

this is a great thing u did btw, u have to be proud of urself bcz ur turtle is for sure Very Happy

u handled it very well..Resputin must be thankful now Smile

i hope he gets well soon
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Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

j99901 · Level 1 Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: idaho

boy...that boils my blood, when people are so cavalier about their beasties. i had a similar situation w/ a kitty--and i told the person outright that i was not returning the cat. and that was that.

rasputin has angels watching him--and you're one of them! rasputin's found you, it seems!
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sometimes "good enough" is good enough.

j99901 · Level 1 Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: idaho

boy...that boils my blood, when people are so cavalier about their beasties. i had a similar situation w/ a kitty--and i told the person outright that i was not returning the cat. and that was that.

rasputin has angels watching him--and you're one of them! rasputin's found you, it seems!
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sometimes "good enough" is good enough.

brinnan · Level 1 Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

He is a very happy turtle now, and well on his way to health. The family never even came to ask about him. They don't care anyway.

RESrule · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject:

good i am happy the turtle is with u good luck
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