Yellow skin? - Page 2

Tortu · 05-01-2013, 10:08 AM

Would it be normal for him to turn yellow, though? I'm positive he was not this colour before. A pale brown is how I would describe that area of skin (between shell and neck), and now it is very pigmented.

Is it also normal for him to have developed yellow around eyes and in the mouth? The vets seemed concerned about this, but admittedly it was quite hard to gauge their opinion as they were exercising caution, being non-experts.

He does not have carrots or flowers in his diet, so it can't be due to this. His diet at present is pretty much totally leafy greens.

One positive sign is that I saw him wee this morning and so quickly ran to find a bit of paper to press into the sand/soil substrate to gauge the colour. Unfortunately it sinks in fast! But I did not get any indication of yellow on the paper. Tomorrow I intend to see if he'll do a wee first thing again and see if i can put a bit of paper in there to get a better look.

This morning he is not showing much interest in food. He will still come over when I put my hand in with food and takes a bite or two, but I think he's largely confused and being territorial. He is wandering around a bit, pacing, climbing the bars a bit. Not sedate, so I should perhaps be reassured but I can't help but question whether this is adrenaline from my sudden constant interest in his enclosure.

Still very worried. Wanted to get him in at the local specialist today but he isn't working, so will have to wait til Monday.

**egyptiandan64** · 05-01-2013, 02:17 PM

If the skin was pale brown (not the normal colour) during the summer, your tortoise most likely shed his skin and now the skin your seeing is the colour it's supposed to be. Also tortoises do get some yellow around the eye as they get older.
Again it's not his wee that you should be looking at but his urates http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ghlight=urates The white stuff in the photo is urates and they should be white or cream coloured. If the urates are yellow-green than the liver most likely is having a problem.
Nothing wrong with a vet trip

Have them draw blood and send it out for testing. This will give a good idea of how well the liver is functioning.

Danny

Tortu · 05-01-2013, 03:19 PM

I just wish I could remember what his skin was like before it was brown - whether it was brown or if it has been yellow before too! One big lesson here is to pay closer attention to these things in future, whatever the outcome of all this.

He's only 10, so I'm not sure if yellowing around the eye is normal for him?

His urates are always white. Slightly chalky - which I think can mean dehydration? -, but definitely not yellow. He's currently having three baths a day so hopefully more urates will emerge to be sure things are running smoothly.

Thanks for your help. He's still not eating a great deal, but he is eating. I'm aware of the fact I was feeding him until about 8pm last night and so he may not be as hungry today anyway. Still very alert, climbing, etc. It'll most probably be a vet call in a week or so unless his energy or willingness to eat decreases.

Rubyruby · 05-01-2013, 04:19 PM

Hi tortu, you have a lovely tortoise. If you are very worried then you should go to the specialist. Even just for you own piece of mind. You sound very concerned and it is always worth getting it cleared up once and for all.

I hope it's good news for you.

And don't worry about being judged....No real tortoise lover would judge you.

Best wishes

Kirsty x

burnt toast · 05-01-2013, 05:02 PM

This is one of my hatchlings (sorry for the fuzzy picture) my adult males are asleep for the winter but on this one you can see how yellow the skin is in the neck cavity where there are no scales:

Good luck at the vets. How old is your tort by the way?

Tortu · 05-01-2013, 05:52 PM

I've been looking around online and found a picture of another marginated that looks a lot like mine does in his yellow-ness!

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-51455.html

Feeling quite reassured now.

**egyptiandan64** · 05-01-2013, 08:56 PM

It is better to start a new thread so I moved the post here

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=66974

Danny

animalmad · 06-01-2013, 12:33 AM

as others have said it looks like fresh new skin, my tortoise was browner in colouring in the summer but he has shed some skin around his leg area which I noticed whilst bathing him and the new skin underneath is definately more yellow.

suttysue · 06-01-2013, 09:29 AM

I know this is a worry to you but the guys/girls in here are really helpful. Thier knowledge on tortoises is second to none. You can be assured that they will help you all they can.
Sit tight and just keep reading thier advice.
Sue

Tortu · 06-01-2013, 10:58 AM

Thanks everyone. I'd be more willing to accept the shedding-skin theory if it weren't for the fact the inside of his mouth is apparently yellow too

I keep coming back to that. Hopefully if it is a medical issue, it's something that's remediable.

05-01-2013, 02:17 PM	#12
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	If the skin was pale brown (not the normal colour) during the summer, your tortoise most likely shed his skin and now the skin your seeing is the colour it's supposed to be. Also tortoises do get some yellow around the eye as they get older. Again it's not his wee that you should be looking at but his urates http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ghlight=urates The white stuff in the photo is urates and they should be white or cream coloured. If the urates are yellow-green than the liver most likely is having a problem. Nothing wrong with a vet trip Have them draw blood and send it out for testing. This will give a good idea of how well the liver is functioning. Danny __________________

05-01-2013, 08:56 PM	#17
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	It is better to start a new thread so I moved the post here http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=66974 Danny __________________

06-01-2013, 12:33 AM	#18
animalmad Member Hatched Join Date: May 2012 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 360	as others have said it looks like fresh new skin, my tortoise was browner in colouring in the summer but he has shed some skin around his leg area which I noticed whilst bathing him and the new skin underneath is definately more yellow. __________________ mom to Tim -5year old Testudo Hermanni Hercegovinensis

05-01-2013, 10:08 AM	#11
Tortu Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 29	Would it be normal for him to turn yellow, though? I'm positive he was not this colour before. A pale brown is how I would describe that area of skin (between shell and neck), and now it is very pigmented. Is it also normal for him to have developed yellow around eyes and in the mouth? The vets seemed concerned about this, but admittedly it was quite hard to gauge their opinion as they were exercising caution, being non-experts. He does not have carrots or flowers in his diet, so it can't be due to this. His diet at present is pretty much totally leafy greens. One positive sign is that I saw him wee this morning and so quickly ran to find a bit of paper to press into the sand/soil substrate to gauge the colour. Unfortunately it sinks in fast! But I did not get any indication of yellow on the paper. Tomorrow I intend to see if he'll do a wee first thing again and see if i can put a bit of paper in there to get a better look. This morning he is not showing much interest in food. He will still come over when I put my hand in with food and takes a bite or two, but I think he's largely confused and being territorial. He is wandering around a bit, pacing, climbing the bars a bit. Not sedate, so I should perhaps be reassured but I can't help but question whether this is adrenaline from my sudden constant interest in his enclosure. Still very worried. Wanted to get him in at the local specialist today but he isn't working, so will have to wait til Monday.

05-01-2013, 03:19 PM	#13
Tortu Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 29	I just wish I could remember what his skin was like before it was brown - whether it was brown or if it has been yellow before too! One big lesson here is to pay closer attention to these things in future, whatever the outcome of all this. He's only 10, so I'm not sure if yellowing around the eye is normal for him? His urates are always white. Slightly chalky - which I think can mean dehydration? -, but definitely not yellow. He's currently having three baths a day so hopefully more urates will emerge to be sure things are running smoothly. Thanks for your help. He's still not eating a great deal, but he is eating. I'm aware of the fact I was feeding him until about 8pm last night and so he may not be as hungry today anyway. Still very alert, climbing, etc. It'll most probably be a vet call in a week or so unless his energy or willingness to eat decreases.

05-01-2013, 04:19 PM	#14
Rubyruby Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Darlington, Co Durham Posts: 43	Hi tortu, you have a lovely tortoise. If you are very worried then you should go to the specialist. Even just for you own piece of mind. You sound very concerned and it is always worth getting it cleared up once and for all. I hope it's good news for you. And don't worry about being judged....No real tortoise lover would judge you. Best wishes Kirsty x

05-01-2013, 05:02 PM	#15
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,246	This is one of my hatchlings (sorry for the fuzzy picture) my adult males are asleep for the winter but on this one you can see how yellow the skin is in the neck cavity where there are no scales: Good luck at the vets. How old is your tort by the way?

05-01-2013, 05:52 PM	#16
Tortu Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 29	I've been looking around online and found a picture of another marginated that looks a lot like mine does in his yellow-ness! http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-51455.html Feeling quite reassured now.

06-01-2013, 09:29 AM	#19
suttysue Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: UK / Eng / Yorkshire Posts: 1,483	I know this is a worry to you but the guys/girls in here are really helpful. Thier knowledge on tortoises is second to none. You can be assured that they will help you all they can. Sit tight and just keep reading thier advice. Sue

06-01-2013, 10:58 AM	#20
Tortu Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 29	Thanks everyone. I'd be more willing to accept the shedding-skin theory if it weren't for the fact the inside of his mouth is apparently yellow too I keep coming back to that. Hopefully if it is a medical issue, it's something that's remediable.

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