VET CASE STUDY: A red-eared slider has an eating disorder.

VET CASE STUDY:
A 3-year-old red-eared slider has an EATING DISORDER. Part 1/3.
Toa Payoh Vets - March 2025 HISTORY OF CONSULTATIONS

In 2025, at the age of 3 years, he weighed around 200g when his sibling weighed 1300 g. He was stunted and emaciated. Why?

Three years ago, on 27 January 2022, the owner consulted me as her juvenile male red-eared slider. His shell length was less than 3 cm and weighing 15 g. This shell length and weight were within the normal ranges.  At this time, he had swollen eyes and no appetite. However, he recovered after treatment with medication. 

The owner provided the two siblings a proper glass tank, UV lights, basking platform area, water filter and clean water. He shared this tank with a sibling.

From 2022 - 2025, he was fed in his own tank. But he ate little as evident by his shell length and weight of around 200 g at 3 years of age in 2025. The owner did not consult any vet although this stunted red-eared slider had an EATING DISORDER.

On 13 JANUARY 2025, the owner consulted me at Toa Payoh Vets. The slider weighed 215 g and had no poor appetite. Why is this 3-year-old red-eared slider emaciated and stunted?

DEFINITIONS:

1. EMACIATED:abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.

2. STUNTED:prevented from growing or developing to the usual size. For example, a slider with stunted growth.

3. NORMAL RED-EARED SLIDERS: Shell length and weight within the range as expected in the age group. They are active and eating. They show some fatty tissues under the skin between their neck and shoulder.

 “Your red-eared slider is going to die if he continues to eat nothing,” I said to the owner on 10th March 2025.

END OF PART 1/3 discussed the history of the vet case.
Part 2/3 will discuss the diagnosis.
Part 3/3 will discuss the treatment.

More educational videos are at:
https://www.youtube.com/c/99pups

UPDATES AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4488-3-year-old-red-eared-slider-weighs.html

End of Part 1/3

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