Remedies
For URI, you can raise overall temperatures and administer a Vicks treatment.
For LRI, you will need a vet as your turtle will need antibiotics and possibly a multi-vitamin injection. If your baby has LRI, drydocking will be beneficial while you are waiting on a vet.
Respiratory infections are commonly seen during the colder months. It is important to make sure that their temps remain the same during those months. This includes ambient room temp.
Reptiles bask to heat their skin in order to capture D3, increase their metabolism, drive their natural rhythm and behavior, manage fungal and bacterial infections, manage viral infections, heal wounds, digest foods, for shedding and parasite management. For these purposes they require IR heat, A, B and C. IR-A is deep tissue penetration. IR-B is moderate penetration and IR-C is superficial penetration.
When any of these things are interrupted, your turtle runs the risk of a viral infection.
The following can lead to a respiratory infection:
Temps lower than 72 degrees F. This includes ambient room temp.
Drafts
Incorrect temp ratio, water vs basking
Turtles also require vitamin A, some more than others. If they do not get the adequate amount of vitamin A, they will suffer a lowered immune system and be susceptible to illness.
There are also URI which are caused by inadequate husbandry conditions. Which include:
Poor water quality
Inadequate filtration
Condensation due to having lids on the aquariums.
If your turtle has an upper respiratory infection, you can treat it at home with increased temps and a correction in the husbandry conditions. Vicks treatments may be applicable.
If your turtle has a lower respiratory infection, he will need to be seen by a vet for treatment. This includes a multivitamin injection and antibiotics. If your turtle is swimming lopsided or gasping for air, drydock until you are able to see a vet.
Symptoms include:
Runny nose and eyes
Swollen eyes
Wheezing
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Sneezing
Lopsided Swimming
Inability to submerge
Excessive basking
Drydocking should NOT include “fluffy blankets” but SHOULD include, heat lamps
Dry docking is similar to quarantine, but without any water.
The purpose of dry docking is to keep your turtle warm and dry.
This is especially important for promoting the healing of external wounds and respiratory disease.
Dry-docking is the act of taking your aquatic turtle from water and keeping him or her in a hospital tank for a duration that is dependent on the severity of the illness. In this temporary enclosure, you need towels or false bottom, and a heat lamp. UVB is only needed if they are dry docked for a large portion of the day.
Hydrating
If you are drydocking for an extended period of time, you will need to hydrate your turtle 1-2 hours per day as seen on the visual on the left.
