3377. Preventing Ear Abscess in your red-eared slider

Source:
https://www.wikihow.pet/Treat-a-Turtle%27s-Ear-Abscess

1

Supplement your turtle’s diet with vitamin A. What causes turtle ear abscesses is not fully understood.^[21] Commonly, though, the abscesses are related to a vitamin A deficiency.^[22] Vitamin A plays an important role in the proper development of cells lining a turtle’s ears and respiratory tract.^[23]

• Without enough vitamin A, these cells will develop abnormally and eventually allow for the accumulation of debris. This debris then causes an inflammatory reaction, during which inflammatory cells accumulate in the ears and lead to pus production and abscess formation.
• Your veterinarian can prescribe oral or injectable vitamin A for your turtle. Injectable vitamin A is usually reserved for more serious cases of vitamin A deficiency.^[24]
• It is important that you follow your veterinarian’s instruction for supplementation to prevent a condition called hypervitaminosis A (too much vitamin A).^[25]
• You can also add more vitamin A to your turtle’s diet by feeding him such vitamin A-rich foods as carrots and squash.^[26] Sweet potatoes, greens (collard, mustard, turnip), and papaya are also high in vitamin A.^[27]

2

Improve the water quality in your turtle’s tank. Poor water quality is another common culprit of turtle ear abscesses. For example, a weak or malfunctioning water filter can cause an accumulation of urine, feces, leftover food, and microorganisms that can irritate your turtle’s skin. This skin irritation can eventually lead to infection and abscess development.^[28]

• Replace the tank’s filtration system if you suspect that it is too weak or no longer functions properly. There are several available filtration types (biological, chemical, mechanical). The website http://redearslider.com/index_water_quality.html has a comprehensive overview of each filtration type.
• Water that is not at the proper temperature can also contribute to ear abscess development by weakening your turtle’s immune system.^[29] For adult red ear slider turtles, the optimal water temperature is 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 26 degrees Celsius).^[30] Use a thermometer to monitor the water temperature.

3

Provide your turtle with adequate lighting. Inadequate lighting can also affect your turtle’s health and leave him more susceptible to ear abscess development. To provide him with more lighting, place several fluorescent light bulbs about 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) above his tank.^[31] These bulbs are a good source of ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB) that will allow your turtle to produce vitamin D3.^[32]

• Replace the bulbs every six months.^[33]

4

Minimize your turtle’s level of environment stress. Aspects of your turtle’s environment can be stressful to him. This stress can lead to a weakened immune system and subsequent illness. For example, your turtle may be stressed if his tank is too small.^[34]

• In general, your turtle’s tank size should be 10 gallons (37.9 L) per inch of shell length.^[35]
• Other stressors include overcrowding, not enough dry docking areas, and excessive handling.^[36]
• Talk with your veterinarian if you are unsure how to identify and/or address environmental stressors.