Skin conditions in tortoises

The skin is the largest organ of the body. Reptile skin is unique and has many functions which include protecting the body, providing camouflage and making vitamin D3.

When mammals grow their skin stretches and grows too. Reptiles are different; their skin is not as elasticated as mammal skin and does  not stretch with growth. Therefore, the ability to shed skin is very important to your tortoise.

When it is time to shed, your tortoise will produce a lymph fluid which separates the old and the new skin. When the legs start to shed, the skin will begin to flake and come away in pieces. The shell sheds scutes, which are areas of hard skin that grows over the bones of the shell. As the tortoise grows the scutes become bigger.

Make sure that the temperature in your tortoise’s house is correct. If it is too cold he will struggle to shed and grow. Warm regular baths help. Feeding a balanced diet is essential for the skin to remain healthy. Any problems relating to shedding should be closely monitored and may require a visit to the veterinary practice.

Tumors and abscesses

If you find a lump or swelling on your tortoise you should take him to the veterinary practice. To find out exactly what the growth is your veterinarian may want to take some samples to determine what the tumor is. A lump or swelling could be a tumor; some tumors are types of cancer that can spread, however the lump may be an abscess or a cyst. It is likely to need to be removed surgically under general anesthesia.

Abscesses are lumps on the skin which are infected with bacteria or fungi; damaged skin is a common cause of infection. Check for sharp objects in the house and make sure all the furniture has smooth edges. Correct temperature in your tortoise’s house will help him fight off infection. It is also vital to ensure your tortoises vivarium is kept as clean as possible with good ventilation. A good balanced diet will also keep the immune system healthy.

If your tortoise develops an abscess he will need to have an operation to remove it. Abscesses of the ears are  very common in terrapins and tortoises.

Fly strike

Fly strike is a condition seen mainly in tortoises that are kept outside. Any scratches or diarrhea that goes unnoticed attracts flies like the blue and the green bottle. These flies lay their eggs in the damaged tissue and the larvae eat the flesh of the tortoise. This is even more common if you allow your tortoise to go outside in the summer. 

If your tortoise is suffering from fly strike you should take him to the veterinary practice immediately. The larvae will need to be removed and the wounds cleaned and treated with antibiotics.

Nutritional skin disease

Poor diet can affect the skin. Tortoise skin needs vitamin A; too little of it causes the skin of the eyes and the mouth to become swollen. Poor sight will make it very difficult to see and therefore feeding becomes a challenge. Too much vitamin A in the diet causes the skin to become thickened and flaky. You may need to assist feed your tortoise if its sight becomes poor.

A diet with low calcium and low vitamin D3  can result in the body growing too quickly. This leads to weak bones and skin that will shed over and over again. To help your tortoise make vitamin D3, his UV bulb needs to have the correct strength and be in the right position (30-45 cm away from the tortoise’s main basking spot). During the summer months an outside enclosure gives excellent exposure to UV light. 

Make sure you feed a balanced diet to your tortoise to ensure he gets the correct amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to keep his skin healthy; if in doubt you can dust your tortoise’s salad leaves with a calcium powder.

Most nutritional diseases require veterinary assistance, and your tortoise may need injections of multivitamins.

Growths

If you find any lump or swelling on your terrapin take him to the veterinary practice.

To find out exactly what the growth is your veterinarian may need to do some tests. Tests can either be done in house or sent away to an external laboratory.

A growth might be a tumor and some tumors are types of cancer that can spread. However, the lumps may be abscesses or cysts.

Some growths may need to be surgically removed.

Tortoises are commonly bitten by dogs. These injuries can be very serious, so it is important to keep tortoises and their housing away from dogs, especially when outside in the garden.

Tortoises that live in cool temperatures without sufficient UV light, or tortoises receiving a poor diet, often develop a weak shell which makes the shell soft and spongy. If bitten by a dog, the dog’s teeth are then able to damage the shell and underlying soft tissue more easily. A good source of UV and calcium is vital to ensure the shell does not become soft.

If your tortoise has suffered any trauma or injury he must be taken to the veterinary practice to be checked and given necessary treatment. Damage to the shell could involve months of treatment which may include placement of a feeding tube and hospitalization at the veterinary practice.