4080. A red-eared slider has difficulty laying eggs. Lethargy and infections.

DYSTOCIA IN RED-EARED SLIDERS - 2 CASE STUDIES

CASE 1.  Feb 8, 2020. 
This 8-year-old red-eared slider had laid batches of 3-4 eggs twice per year since the age of 5 years. But no eggs were laid today despite soil digging. She was anorexic for 7 days. The slider had loose skin folds in front of the hind limbs, indicating a severe weight loss over the years. "We feed less and once a day," the mother said. The young man's mother said: "She is ravenous after egg-laying usually."

X-rays showed 6 well formed eggs. The slider was alone in this place except for another species.
The loose skin folds in front of the back legs and the inability to turn upright within 2 minutes suggested a slider in poor condition.

Digs soil. No eggs laid. Very thin. Anorexia 7 days.

Constipation - rectal mass

I did not give the oxytocin injection as the slider was in poor health. X-rays showed some

dense material inside the rectal area. Oil laxative was prescribed. No calcium and oxytocin

injections in this case as the slider was very weak.  

Follow up on 19 Feb 2020: 
11 days after the consultation and treatment, the owner texted me saying that the slider laid at least 4 eggs buried deep in the soil. The owner did not dig up all the soil and so the slider could have laid all 6 eggs.

"She has an excellent appetite but was picky, " he texted. "She ate only prawns, Hikari and Reptomin pellets. She ignored the vegetables and disliked the Critical Care. I soaked the pellets in a calcium supplement and feed her." This was a happy ending.   

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IMAGES AND MORE INFORMATION FOR VIDEO MAKING

VIDEO - Consultation. Not eating, difficulty in laying eggs

Not able to turn upright is a sign of poor health.

OUTCOME

13 days later on Feb 19, 2020. Buried at least 4 eggs deep inside the garden soil.

Appetite ravenous now. Picky. Ate prawns and pellets (video) but not vegetables. The owner is

advised to feed more as the slider is very thin.

BETTER QUALITY TURTLE FEED IS GIVEN

TIPS AND ADVICES

Poor nutrition like insufficient calcium and infections due to the extensive shell rot lead to WEAK uterine contractions. The slider must regain her health and weight if she is to lay eggs naturally. In this case, I did not give the oxytocin and calcium injections as the slider is very weak and may be infected by bacteria.

In such cases,  the slider would still be unable to lay eggs after the injection.

Critical care and antibiotics are given for the next 7 days. The owner has to syringe feed 6 x per day the Critical care and observe the amount of stools and number of eggs passed. Oxytocin injections will be given when the slider is in better health if there are no eggs laid.

FINAL VIDEO:  HOW TO SYRINGE FEED A RED-EARED SLIDER

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Case 2. 2019

This healthy slider had difficulty laying more eggs. After oxytocin and calcium injection, she laid eggs in a short period of time. See video:

https://youtu.be/G2vElLP3Ii8

As seen from the X-rays. 3 eggs had been laid nataurally

In this healthy red-eared slider, the oxytocin and calcium injections were effective to stimulate the uterus to contract. An appropriate dosage is important.