All Turtles Message Board

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

The most characteristic sign of Vitamin A deficiency is swollen eyelids, it is also known as Hypovitaminosis A.
Often the swelling is so severe that the eyes cannot be opened. This is caused when a turtles diet is of poor quality as this nutient is found in their food supply. When a turtle shows signs of swollen eyes, what you don't see is that their abilty to fight infection is also reduced also in severe cases the pancreas, liver, and kidneys can also be affected.

The first thing you should do in this case is wash the area gently with a warm water soaked cotton ball. A turtle eye wash is nice as it has chemicals to soften the crust but it is not needed. Don't force the eye open, and if you are uncomfortable then you can leave the eye alone. It dosen't NEED to be messed with. You do however need to geet some vit A into your turtle. I recommend a multi purpose liquid reptile vitamin. One or two drops directly in the mouth every other day while he is sick. Once a month for a health turtle is a good preventative. Please be careful as too much can also cause toxic issues in your turtle.

Raise your tank water temps to the low to mid 80's and the basking area to 88 or 90 while he is ill. He will enjoy it and it will give his immune system a needed boost. If your turtle delvelopes symptoms of a respitory infection please get him into your vet and don't forget to let the vet know what you have been doing at home. Respitory infections are a common secondary to Hypovitaminosis A.

For more information on this do a search for Hypovitaminosis A turtles in your favorite search engine.

Kelly7 · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:55 am Post subject:

Hi... thanks for that info. I was wondering.. where can you buy that multi purpose liquid reptile vitamin. I've looked at 2 petco's and neither carried it... I did however buy the eye drops. But I was hoping to get the drops too. I also got this spray you spray on there food and it has vitamin in it. Hopefully that helps as well...

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

I checked Petco's site, I wasn't sure which vit you were refering to. If it is the Flukers liquid it has beta carotene that your turtle will convert to Vit A. But if yuor baby is ill I recommend a direct hit with a drop of straight Vit A and not something his body has to work with. At least for right now. Flukers is good but I am not sure about the spray on I have never tried it.

Here is a good all purpose vitamin for your baby. If you click on the red circle that says more info you will be surprised at all the good stuff it has.

http://www.zoomed.com/html/reptivite_reptile_vitamins.php

Now feeding a powder vitamin (I used a powder form of calcium for a while) to a water turle is not easy you may find something else works better for you but this is my suggestion. I take and soak some turtle pellets in some fresh fish juices, you could use tuna juice too I am sure. I soak them long enough to get a little soft but not to soggy. Then I take a little plate sprinkled with the vitamin powder and place the wet pellets on it and roll them all around and then let them dry. I like to do a fair size batch at a time. Even when sick my babies will come out of the water begging for the food and I can put each piece right in their mouth.

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

Oh you asked where to buy it...I always by mine at my local pet store.

Kelly7 · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:30 pm Post subject:

thanks!! I'll give that a try! Smile

Turday · Level 2 Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 97

what if his eyes are just close all the time but there is no crust? dose he still need the steps you just metion?
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Aug 29 2006

Turday · Level 2 Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 97

how much is to much liquid for them?
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Aug 29 2006

Naiialuvr:) · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject:

i cant tell if my turtle's eyes are swollen or are just naturally big ......... i just cant tell, they arent shut.. ive just never seen a box turtle with such big eyes
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