Hermann treated for shell rot...

jo__ · 05-08-2006, 08:16 PM

Heya, my male hermann (approx 30 yrs plus) was treated for shell rot today...went to a recomended vet in Portsmouth....He had to have some of his shell taken off, then replaced with fibreglass...I felt sick with worry when he woz gettin it done and still do

It has now started to bleed very slightly just above his tail... My vet said he treats a lot of tortoises like this, so I woz just wondering if anyone had been through anything similar, or knows of anyone else who had and could mayb offer some more advise on what to expect to put my mind at ease....

He has another check up in just less than 2 weeks time to check its all ok...Hes acting normal, and eating fine, which is a possitive sign

Any advise appreciated,
Jo x

**sarah** · 05-08-2006, 08:18 PM

Have you got a picture?

jo__ · 05-08-2006, 08:27 PM

Hes sleeping at the mo, i'll post a pic tomorrow... the actual fibreglass covering looks really neat, its just where the damage is at the very end of his shell above his tail, they couldn't put on a very thick layer incase it rubbed on his tail...I think thats why it may be bleeding slightly....
I just really hope he has had the right treatment and i've done the right thing...i've read articles by andy highfeild about shell rot, and how shell is normally removed, but im really hoping fibreglass is the right way to help his shell to heal...
Jo x

piglet · 05-08-2006, 08:39 PM

Jo a picture before would have been better as we could have seen why the fibre glass was needed ,
Usually even in quite bad shell rot a good scrub of the area and all loose shell keritin removed the treatment is simple allow the air to circulate it and bath daily with diluted betadine.
Here a picture of an old male graeca graeca that was handed in earlier this year with shell rot around the rear marginal scutes ,the above practice was used and a marked difference is now seen in him the shell doesn't flake any more signs of repair will take some time to show.

jo__ · 05-08-2006, 08:47 PM

There is nothing worse than sealing a wound which still contains an active infection. With most tortoise and turtle injuries, it is advisable to maintain full access to the wound area until it is evident that all is well. The physical repair to the shell can then be undertaken in safety. A temporary dressing or reinforcement should suffice initially. Only when healing is advanced is a permanent plastic or fibreglass repair made.
These fibreglass-epoxy repairs can be highly successful, but they are by no means easy to accomplish; by far the greatest practical danger is that of `trapping' infection inside the injury.

(c) 1996-98 A. C. Highfield

Ok. i've just read this from an article from TT....The vet assured me it was the right thing to do...oh my god....can the stuff come off? I really dont know what to do now apart from ask my vet why the hell he claims to be a tortoise specialist if he isn't up to date with relevant treatment....

I had a bad feeling about taking him to the vet....I was treating it with tamodine....and thought I finally found a vet I could trust him with...

piglet · 05-08-2006, 08:56 PM

Jo i'm not sure what advise i can give as i'm not a vet but as you have read maybe this was the wrong thing to do untill he new all infection was completely cured, perhaps print out theTT message and go back with it ask for a explantion he may well have thought it was the best way some how.
Darren

jo__ · 05-08-2006, 09:17 PM

Ok because me and my mum were so worried we phoned julie from the hampshire tortoise society...She reassured us by saying her tortoises have been treated similar by the same vet...apparently he takes away the affected shell, and applies a gel to steralize it...If we hadn't done this it would have spread through his body apparently...I guess there are different ways of treating shell rot, and vets must have their own preferences...
I just panicked when I read that article....But I feel slightly calmer now....n feeling guilty bout wot i said bout the vet poor man....
Darren thanks for ur advise and fast replies!!

I will still post a pic 2moro so people can see it...its always useful to share experiences...
Jo x

piglet · 05-08-2006, 10:02 PM

Ok Jo best of luck with him look forward to the pictures
Darren

shootinglou79 · 06-08-2006, 06:33 PM

hi jo, how is the the little guy, did you manage to take any pics

06-08-2006, 07:10 PM

Who is the vet - is he an exotics specialist. Well not sure why I asked that really as it does not look like it. Where are you in the country as you need to get to another vet ASAP before a deeper infection sets in. It's also worth noting that not many vets use fibreglass nowadays for shell repairs except after surgery where a shell portion is removed and replaced. There are more modern treatments which give with the shell as it grows until it has healed. Hope this helps

05-08-2006, 08:16 PM	#1
jo__ Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southampton Posts: 221	Hermann treated for shell rot... Heya, my male hermann (approx 30 yrs plus) was treated for shell rot today...went to a recomended vet in Portsmouth....He had to have some of his shell taken off, then replaced with fibreglass...I felt sick with worry when he woz gettin it done and still do It has now started to bleed very slightly just above his tail... My vet said he treats a lot of tortoises like this, so I woz just wondering if anyone had been through anything similar, or knows of anyone else who had and could mayb offer some more advise on what to expect to put my mind at ease.... He has another check up in just less than 2 weeks time to check its all ok...Hes acting normal, and eating fine, which is a possitive sign Any advise appreciated, Jo x

05-08-2006, 08:18 PM	#2
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	Have you got a picture? __________________ Click: www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk STRUGGLING TO FIND WEEDS? LOOK AT OUR DRIED WEEDS 'READY TO FEED' Home of 'Grow Your Own Food' Bearded Dragon, Tortoise, Rabbit, Hamster seed mixes from 89p FREE POST Livefood, Thermostats, Housing, Heating, Mercury Vapour bulbs, UVB etc etc CHEAP PRICES TORTOISES ARE MY PASSION

05-08-2006, 08:39 PM	#4
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Jo a picture before would have been better as we could have seen why the fibre glass was needed , Usually even in quite bad shell rot a good scrub of the area and all loose shell keritin removed the treatment is simple allow the air to circulate it and bath daily with diluted betadine. Here a picture of an old male graeca graeca that was handed in earlier this year with shell rot around the rear marginal scutes ,the above practice was used and a marked difference is now seen in him the shell doesn't flake any more signs of repair will take some time to show. __________________ 17 years old 25 years ago

05-08-2006, 08:56 PM	#6
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Jo i'm not sure what advise i can give as i'm not a vet but as you have read maybe this was the wrong thing to do untill he new all infection was completely cured, perhaps print out theTT message and go back with it ask for a explantion he may well have thought it was the best way some how. Darren __________________ 17 years old 25 years ago

05-08-2006, 10:02 PM	#8
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Ok Jo best of luck with him look forward to the pictures Darren __________________ 17 years old 25 years ago

05-08-2006, 08:27 PM	#3
jo__ Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southampton Posts: 221	Hes sleeping at the mo, i'll post a pic tomorrow... the actual fibreglass covering looks really neat, its just where the damage is at the very end of his shell above his tail, they couldn't put on a very thick layer incase it rubbed on his tail...I think thats why it may be bleeding slightly.... I just really hope he has had the right treatment and i've done the right thing...i've read articles by andy highfeild about shell rot, and how shell is normally removed, but im really hoping fibreglass is the right way to help his shell to heal... Jo x

05-08-2006, 08:47 PM	#5
jo__ Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southampton Posts: 221	There is nothing worse than sealing a wound which still contains an active infection. With most tortoise and turtle injuries, it is advisable to maintain full access to the wound area until it is evident that all is well. The physical repair to the shell can then be undertaken in safety. A temporary dressing or reinforcement should suffice initially. Only when healing is advanced is a permanent plastic or fibreglass repair made. These fibreglass-epoxy repairs can be highly successful, but they are by no means easy to accomplish; by far the greatest practical danger is that of `trapping' infection inside the injury. (c) 1996-98 A. C. Highfield Ok. i've just read this from an article from TT....The vet assured me it was the right thing to do...oh my god....can the stuff come off? I really dont know what to do now apart from ask my vet why the hell he claims to be a tortoise specialist if he isn't up to date with relevant treatment.... I had a bad feeling about taking him to the vet....I was treating it with tamodine....and thought I finally found a vet I could trust him with...

05-08-2006, 09:17 PM	#7
jo__ Member Incubating Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southampton Posts: 221	Ok because me and my mum were so worried we phoned julie from the hampshire tortoise society...She reassured us by saying her tortoises have been treated similar by the same vet...apparently he takes away the affected shell, and applies a gel to steralize it...If we hadn't done this it would have spread through his body apparently...I guess there are different ways of treating shell rot, and vets must have their own preferences... I just panicked when I read that article....But I feel slightly calmer now....n feeling guilty bout wot i said bout the vet poor man.... Darren thanks for ur advise and fast replies!! I will still post a pic 2moro so people can see it...its always useful to share experiences... Jo x

06-08-2006, 06:33 PM	#9
shootinglou79 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,743	hi jo, how is the the little guy, did you manage to take any pics

06-08-2006, 07:10 PM	#10
wizzasmum Guest Posts: n/a	Who is the vet - is he an exotics specialist. Well not sure why I asked that really as it does not look like it. Where are you in the country as you need to get to another vet ASAP before a deeper infection sets in. It's also worth noting that not many vets use fibreglass nowadays for shell repairs except after surgery where a shell portion is removed and replaced. There are more modern treatments which give with the shell as it grows until it has healed. Hope this helps

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