Help for Poppy.

[Jeremiah]

Can you please give me some advice. My dog got into what was an impenetrable enclousure today after my two year old boy opened the gate, and I didn't notice (my fault). My husband came home from the farm unexpectedly and found our dog with Poppy in his mouth. Poppy is a small Female Hermann which we bought from a petshop in May because she'd been there for so long and was in such bad shape. Please look at the pictures of her wounds and advise me. The only vet that specialises in Tortoises is a 6 hour round trip away, and with a one and two year old and my husband in the middle of the Harvest there is no way I can go.
She is alert and is active. I've bathed her (there was very little blood). She is eating and currently in her indoor table wiith the uv/heat lamp on.

Can I put antiseptic cream on her shell like germaline or savlone? Do tortoises die of shock like birds? I am so devestated this has happened as herself and Jeremiah are much loved pets.
(Jeremiah is fine)
Thanks in advance
Louise

[Becks]

sorry to here about ur tort .. thats 1 lucky tort as it could of been alot worse .
the wounds dont look to bad in the pics but im not vet and cant say much from the pics ..
bath the wounds in warm salt water and keep them dry and clean for now keep her on paper or towels rather than her normal substrate..
im not sure about useing creams ment for humans .but im sure some 1 will be anlong soon that can tell u more than myself .
betadine is best for cuts ect sarah sells some on her online shop sorry i cant be much more help luv becks xxxxxxxxxxx

[Jeremiah]

Thanks Becks. By coincidence I bought some bethidene off Sarah over the weekend so hopefully It will get here soon. I know that she was extremely lucky. I'm going to go and put her on paper towels now.
Louise

[veebee]

There was a similar case this weekend (when you have time read through threads) of a fox getting a tortoise. The advice was to seek vetinary treatment asap, in the meanwhile bathe it with diluted betadine (used by surgeons on skin before operations, obtainable from some chemists) or similar (think its called tamodine?). If you cant get that use salt water to try and prevent infection and remove bacteria. But will need to see vet for antibiotic treatment and removal of damaged shell. Hopefully one the torty experts will be along shortly to offer more advice.

Hope she is ok

Vivienne

[Henry-flash]

She does look like she got away lightly. Like Becks says her wounds don't look too bad. I would wash it with salt water and then betadine like becks has suggested. I would wait for advice from someone more experienced too. Is the wound still bleeding?

[egyptiandan64]

Hi Louise,
I'm so sorry to hear about Poppy . The carapace wounds seem to be just superficial, as in the scute is scraped off the bone underneath, but by no means trivial. The plastron is mostly superficial from what I can tell, except for the longish spot in the middle at the top of the plastron. That seems to be a puncture wound. To start clean the wounds again. Try to take off any loose scute material, because things can get trapped under there and breed bacteria. You can use the savlone antiseptic cream on the wounds. Yes tortoises can die of shock. So keep her warmer then usual, about 6C warmer, in the cool areas and under the hotspot. This will get her own immune system going.
The one longish wound on her plastron at the top your going to have to pay particular attention to. Make sure thats really clean and pack it with the antiseptic cream. Thats the spot that might give you the most trouble. Make sure you clean gently and redo the antiseptic cream everyday.

Dan

[Jeremiah]

Thanks Dan, Peter, Vivenne. I did what you said Dan and cleaned the wounds again with salt water. The wound in the middle of the plastron is exposed bone. It desn't go any deeper. But the wound to the carapace in the second picture is quite deep. I've removed the loose keritin and cleaned it out and applied antiseptic cream.
Is it a good sign that she is eating? I can't stop crying I feel so responsible. I suppose the next few days will tell a story.........

Thanks guys for all your help. I'll keep you updated. If anyone else has any more advice, I would greatly appreciate it.
Louise

[sandy]

I agree with all thats been said, and dont want to repeat<g>.
Except if you are unsure about anything then a visit to the vet for an antibiotic would be a
sensible thing.
Make sure you keep her hydrated too.

[Eire_Ade]

Hi Louise,

So sorry to hear about Poppy's unfortunate meeting with the dog . I am keeping everything crossed that she is alright.

Let me know if I can do anything.

Ade .

[nina]

Hi Louise,

It sounds as if you've been given good advice, and I hope your tort has been lucky and will survive unscathed. Where were the pictures? I came to this thread late, so maybe they've been removed but I can't see any. Anyway, I'll be thinking of you and your tort and hoping for the best.