What happens when a turtle gets ill or has eaten something that doesn’t agree with them?
Does the turtle die immediately?
What about vomiting? Can turtles vomit?
And can they actually get sick from throwing up?
These are all the questions that will be answered in this article
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
What does it mean if your turtle throws up?
Your turtle’s digestive system works differently than ours because their food passes through one opening instead of being digested in the stomach as we do.
The only way they are able to absorb nutrients is by absorbing enough fluid into the intestinal tract so that the material is dissolved before passing out through pores located at the base of each shell.
If this process doesn’t happen properly then there will not be sufficient fluids present within the intestines to dissolve all the waste matter.
When this occurs the animal begins to digest its own feces which causes an unpleasant odor.
It may also become bloated and start making noise.
In extreme cases these animals have been known to defecate in their shells, eat some more fecal matter and subsequently cough up large amounts of mucus mixed together with undigestible food particles.
Occasionally the fecal matter makes contact with air causing it to foam and smell foul.
These symptoms occur most often during hot weather but occasionally they can appear whenever the environment changes such as after eating new foods or moving to another location.
Your veterinarian will know how best to treat any unusual behavior problems experienced by your pet turtle.
What does tortoise throw up look like?
When your tortoise vomits there will usually be floating bits of indigestible food and sometimes mucus.
Sometimes the animal becomes very frightened and attempts to swallow everything down again.
After a few minutes it will expel small quantities of fresh fecal matter.
A full-blown case of “tortoise vomit” requires careful observation since other conditions could cause similar reactions.
For example, many species of freshwater turtles experience bloating and gas due to bacterial infections or parasites while green turtles (Chelonia palpebralis) commonly suffer from internal parasite infestation.
Even healthy animals who show no signs of illness can act strangely once stressed.
You must remember that when observing your turtle try to avoid getting too close to where the turtle might lay his head down inside his enclosure.
Turtle heads contain sensitive skin areas around nostrils and eyes.
If you accidentally touch these parts with your hands or feet while trying to observe the animal then you run the risk of becoming infected yourself.
Turtles secrete toxins through the skin area under their mouths just above the cloaca.
To minimize exposure wear long sleeves, gloves and protective eye gear.
Always wash your face thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling your turtle.
Be sure to use soap containing antibacterial ingredients as well because even clean water contains bacteria that can infect your turtle.
Can turtles choke to death?
No; turtles cannot suffocate themselves by swallowing mud or sand.
They would simply regurgitate the foreign object back up.
However, choking can still occur if you leave objects floating in a tank that aren’t secured.
Choking can also result when you remove the lid off a plastic bag used to transport live plants and replace it without first removing any old soil.
Other ways to prevent this include using secure covers over tanks and keeping containers filled with gravel or pebbles rather than loose dirt or sand.
Turtles are prone to drowning when left unattended because they don’t swim away quickly enough if startled.
Therefore always keep watchful tabs on your pets and make frequent trips outside to inspect ponds and lakes where your turtle might spend time.
Never put your turtle near water sources until he has completely finished urinating and defecating.
Water that isn’t potable should never be placed next to a pond, stream or lake.
Make certain that children playing with turtle toys handle them carefully.
Avoid allowing young children to play with turtles altogether.
Youngsters under three years of age shouldn’t ever handle a turtle unless instructed by an adult qualified to tell whether the animal needs medical treatment.
Can turtles get sick?
It depends upon what kind of sickness you’re talking about.
Sickness can range from mild irritation to severe dehydration.
Some forms of disease affect the respiratory organs and lead to lung infection, pneumonia, bronchitis, tracheobronchitis and epidermoid carcinoma.
Many different species of turtles suffer from upper respiratory diseases caused by viruses or fungi. S
kin lesions can develop as a complication of fungal or bacterial infection.
Bacteria that normally reside in the intestine can migrate to the lungs causing lung abscesses.
Most serious illnesses require immediate veterinary attention.
Do not attempt to treat your turtle yourself unless directed by a professional.
How do I feed a sick turtle?
While waiting for your turtle to improve, consider feeding her special diets designed specifically for slow-moving creatures.
Try offering boiled crickets, mealworms, wax worms, earthworms, snails, dried bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.
Fresh vegetables are OK but raw veggies can carry harmful organisms.
Cooked vegetables are better although canned ones may pass germs along to your poor turtle.
Feeding insects and crustaceans can upset a turtle’s digestion.
Crustacean meals can kill sea turtles if fed regularly.
While fish are nutritious, they can easily introduce unwanted parasites into your turtle’s body.
Fish are best offered as treats. Offer freshly caught specimens at least twice daily.
Always seek advice from a veterinarian
