Turtle Shell Repair. Damien N. Oxier, CWR Arrowhead Rep<le Rescue

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1 Turtle Shell Repair Damien N. Oxier, CWR Arrowhead Rep<le Rescue Last updated December 8, 2014

2 What is a turtle? Turtle vs tortoise? Has shell, consists of upper carapace, lower plastron, and connec<ng bridges, carapace fused to vertebrae and ribcage, pectoral and pelvic girdles inside ribcage Bony shell covered with kera<n scutes, seams do not match, sheds scutes 320+ known living species, half are listed on IUCN as vulnerable, endangered, or cri<cally endangered

to vertebrae and ribcage, pectoral and pelvic girdles inside ribcage Bony shell covered with

3 EXAMPLE: eastern box turtle Terrepene carolina carolina Family Emydidae (pond turtles) Genus Terrapene (turtle) Species carolina (box turtle) Ssp carolina (eastern) NOT a pond turtle NOT a tortoise IS a turtle IS a terrepene IS a rep<le Found in northern states to Michigan peninsula and Maine at eleva<on below 1000 [ Found in south to Florida and Mexico at eleva<ons below 6000 [ Prefer forest floor, like shallow pools and mud puddles Species of concern in most locali<es

rep<le Found in northern states to Michigan peninsula and Maine at eleva<on below 1000 [ Found in south to Florida and

4 Eastern box turtle Protected species in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky State rep<le of NC and TN. Rejected in PA, VA. O[en collected for pets Not considered edible Iris color not determina<on of sex Live over 100 years Grow en<re life and exhibit growth rings Suscep<ble to dietary hypovitaminosis Omnivore Ectothermic Seasonal bruma<on and aes<va<on Hinged shell Only lay 2-3 eggs Poor swimmers Difficult to determine level of fear and pain Live en<re life in area 100 meters square Thought to exhibit rehoming ins<nct

exhibit growth rings Suscep<ble to dietary hypovitaminosis Omnivore Ectothermic Seasonal bruma<on and aes<va<on Hinged shell

5 Turtle Fast Facts Must be within POTZ (preferred op<mum Temp zone) for healing to take place Rep<le wounds take longer to heal than mammals Openings in turtle shells should not be sealed closed, wound should be managed Movable pieces of fractured shell with blood supply should be immobilized Do not impede hinge on shell So[ shell turtles not treated same as hard shelled All turtles egg layers, females may benefit from nes<ng box Wild turtles should not be expected to recognize commercial turtle diets as food Daylight cycle is a factor in appe<te and bruma<on, will fast Brumate instead of hibernate, need water in bruma<on, occurs in varying degrees, most aqua<c species brumate under water Cover glass to reduce stress for terrestrial turtles and tortoises, need hide box Over filtra<on and basking areas necessary House alone to reduce stress, compe<<on for food, prevent injuries and disease transmission Natural sunlight best, broad spectrum with UVA/UVB necessary, can forego in short term rehab cases Base drug dosages on total weight, shell is bone- do not subtract from weight Gular pumping assists olfactory, not respira<on Sexual dimorphism- colors, claws, tail length, plastron shape Apnea makes gas anesthesia difficult

layers, females may benefit from nes<ng box Wild turtles should not be expected to recognize commercial turtle diets as food Daylight cycle is a factor in appe<te and bruma<on, will fast Brumate

6 Intake exam and triage Head and neck should move freely around, extend and retract. May pump head/neck. Eyes should be clear, open, and reac<ve. Cloudy, blue, or crusty eyes are no normal. Mouth should be shut with no blood, fluid, or bubbles present Limbs and appendages should be moveable with no obvious injuries Shell should be intact without damage or fractures. Old, healed injuries OK. Should be able to close shell completely if hinged. May hiss, bite, retract into shell. Check for aural abscesses, URI, eye infec<on.

$Shell should be intact without damage or fractures. Old, healed injuries OK. Should be able to close shell completely if hinged.$

8 Shell repair

9 No repair needed if: One fracture less than 2 long, not at the edge, no blood present, no gap or separa<on of pieces, no pieces are movable Other problems that require care and treatment: Eye problems: crusty, blue, opaque, or missing eyes mouth/nose problems: discharge, fluid, blood, or bubbles present Foot and toe infec<ons, missing limbs, self amputa<on (if new injury) Maggots present Always use minimal repair to accomplish immobiliza<on without sealing wound Large area patches covering wound used as last resort for severe fractures with mul<ple pieces of shell where reconstruc<on is necessary. Long term rehab case. REPAIR NEEDED IF: Any fracture over 2 long Crack at edge of shell Any pieces are movable Blood or <ssue present through wide crack Open fracture and you can see inside More than one fracture Internal organs exposed CONSIDER EUTHANASIA IF: Gurgling, bubbles, and/or blood from mouth accompanied by severe shell fracture Skull fracture or crushed head More than 1/3 shell missing Large pools blood with severe trauma Severe bridge fractures Obvious major internal injuries, entrails or organs prolapsed

$Always use minimal repair to accomplish immobiliza<on without sealing wound Large area patches covering wound used as last resort for severe fractures with mul<ple pieces of shell where reconstruc<on$

12 Infec<on control CHECK WITH YOUR VET FOR PROPER ANTIBIOTIC TO USE TERRESTRIAL- CLEAN AND DRY NO SUBSTRATE AQUATIC- SHOULD HAVE WATER AS MUCH AND QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

13 Release considera<ons Many turtles thought to have a rehoming ins<nct, release in same area found Do not allow witnesses, they may return to capture the turtle Do not release near obvious hazards (roads, railroad tracks, cliffs) Should not be released with large area patches on shell Water turtle wounds should be healed enough to be waterproof prior to release Three legged turtles can be released if normal mobility and able to retract and close shell Open holes need wound managed, do not release un<l shell openings have closed Never release with any fractures that have not been immobilized Do not release if cannot completely close shell with all limbs pulled inside (hinged turtles)

$shell openings have closed Never release with any fractures that have not been immobilized Do not release if cannot completely close shell with all limbs pulled inside$

14 DISCUSSION OF SHELL REPAIR MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

15 OLD METHOD: LONG RECOVERY INVASIVE PAINFUL COSTLY

26 Resources hlp:// username: wildlife password: rehab Minimum Standards for Wildlife Rehabilita<on (IWRC/NWRA) 2014 LafeberVet Herp Veterinary Guide Merck Veterinary Manual ARR Rep<le formulary Chelonian Emergency and Cri1cal Care ARR turtle triage guide Second Chance Wildlife Ohio rehab manual rep<le chapter inaturalist.org Natureserve.org Rep1le Medicine and Surgery, 2e (Mader, Douglas) Rep1le clinician s handbook (Frye, Fredric)

UNIT TWO TURTLE BIOLOGY

UNIT TWO TURTLE BIOLOGY 43 44 Science Expectations met in this unit: UNIT TWO: TURTLE BIOLOGY Activity Number: Activity Name Strand Grade 2 Growth and Changes in Animals Grade 4 Habitats and 5: Camouflage