Vet Case Study 241013. Tele-health consultation.
A 17-year-old slider has
a SWOLLEN right eye. What is the cause?
On 10 Oct 2024, at around 10.20pm, I got a WhatsApp text from a lady owner of a 17-year-old red-eared slider. "Dear Dr Sing, my terrapin eyes are swollen (both are swollen, but one
eye cannot open). May I check if this is normal, or need to bring to
see vet?"
Her slider had swollen eyes only today.
It is not normal for eyes to be swollen or shut.
Eye injuries are emergencies. I advised her to consult the vet. She decided to make an appointment with Toa Payoh Vets the next morning.
"Is it possible to check the possible causes of the swollen eyes. I am quite worried."
After some time in consultation, I said that the likely cause would be: Most likely his eyes are infected or injured
The owner recalled the slider spending some time near the base of the fridge. The other 12-year-old slider could have climbed over her and injured her eyes. The right eye was shut but the left eye was open but had swollen eyelids.
The sliders were confined in the plaster container privately. The next morning, the owner texted me to say the slider no longer had swollen eyes. No need to consult the vet.
UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2024/10/4647-vet-case-study-old-slider-has.html
OTHER BKTP VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/user/99pups
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WHATSAPP texts
10 Oct 2024:
"Dear Dr Sing, my terrapin eyes is swollen (both ares swollen , but one side cannot open) , may I check if this is normal, or need to bring to see vet?". The owner sent the following video:
Video shows swollen eyes but only the right eye is shut. The slider still has good appetite. It can be deduced that she is not sick due to infections.
Need to get vet treatment
Please phone 6254-3326 tomorrow 10am for appointment.
Sure , thank you. If able to check with you first on the possible reasons? As I am quite worried.
How old is slider and how long is the swelling? What diet? Video of your tank and feeding method?
I adopted the terrapin , and is with me for 17 year old alr . The swelling started today, usually eat nutrafin basix pellets, sleep in tank at night , and walk on floor during days.
At night is like this (inside container), but today eyes are swollen
During the day, she will be on the floor with other terrapin (12 years old)
These past two days she went in the place beside the fridge for hours too
Please send a video of other terrapin (Image sent).
How often you change water in the tank or container?
Everyday I do change the water inside the tank.
Every morning she will eat inside another tank -> walk on floor -> eat -> sleep in a different tank.
(Image of slider inside the tank).
Do you change water after he passes stools?
Nope , he usually passes stools only when eating at another tank. For sleeping, the tank water is usually clean. We got two tanks , one for eating , one for sleeping.
Why did he go beside the fridge? Is he eating normal amounts of pellets?
This I not very sure , but one reason may be the fridge area is more warm.
He eating normal amounts of pellets.
Better photos of your pellets
Brand of pellets. (Image sent)
Do you feed prawns, other meat?
Nope , only pellets
How many pellets you feed per day?
2 times a day, around 20 pellets each time
Recently eat a lot
Please take a front view of him. Put him on table top to take photos.
He now sleeping , I will book a slot tomorrow. Sorry for the late night text Dr Sing, and thank you so much for the inputs.
Most likely his eyes are infected or injured
Also he has swollen legs and neck? How long is the swelling?
Legs and necks not swollen , only eyes
Eyes swollen today.
Tomorrow, take front view of 2 terrapins on table top for me. Dr Daniel will be the vet in charge.
Sure thank you Dr Sing , yep I have brought my terrapins a few times to Daniel in the past, he is very professional.
Please don’t forget to take the 2 terrapins together photos for me tomorrow.
Yes definitely, thank you Dr Sing
11 Oct 2024
Morning Dr Sing! Good news, I woke up and saw that my terrapin eyes can open and not really swollen now ☺️. (Did not consult the vet, Dr Daniel as the slider has both eyes open overnight.)
This is the other terrapin he is with, Daniel mentioned that has a bit of obesity problem, now slightly better after cutting down a bit of diet. Really thank you for your help and expertise yesterday despite late night
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Right upper and lower eyelids are swollen, shutting the eye.
Left upper eyelid is swollen, but eye is not shut by swollen eyelids
A plastic container is used as the "tank". She sleeps inside a
clean tank with clean water. She eats in another tank and poops in it.
Fed pellets only. Reputable brand commonly sold in shops.
Fridge corner
17-year-old slider no longer has swollen eyes overnight
after tele-health consultation. See a tear on lower eyelid of right eye.
During the daytime, free to roam on the floor. Image was taken some weeks ago
The 12-year-old female red-eared slider has sharp claws.
The owner texted to me: "This is the other terrapin he is with, Dr Daniel mentioned that has a bit
of obesity problem, now slightly better after cutting down a bit of
diet.
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TIPS AND ADVICES:
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
1. Traumatic injury to the eye (likely due to sharp claw injury from both sliders squeezing into the warm corner of the fridge area). Proof seen in tear in lower eyelid of right eye (the next day image).
DAY 2. 17-year-old slider has a wound exposing more
of the right eyeball at 5 o'clock. Eye and eyelids are
much less swollen
2. Infections (unlikely still has good appetite)
3. Vit A deficiency (unlikely, reputable pellet brand).
4. Eye tumours (not visible from images).
PREVENTION.
1. Don't permit the two adult sliders to mount each other in confined spaces.
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VIDEO SCRIPT
HOOK
Swollen eyes.
BEGINNING
MIDDLE
END
CREDITS
 Toa
Payoh Vets'
Be
Kind To Pets video
Veterinary Education for vet
students and pet owners
Concept by:
Dr Sing Kong
Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Video and narration by:
Video is
at:
(Insert the name of the
URL):
Date of video production:
For more information:
toapayohvets.com
+65 9668-6468, 6254-3326,
e-mail
judy@toapayohvets.com | |
