Nutritional Disorders

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SWOLLEN EYES:  This condition often results from vitamin A

deficiency and complications from bacterial disease.  The immune

defenses of the eye membranes often become weakened by vitamin A

deficiency, making the eyes very susceptible to bacterial

invasion.  Treatment of this condition involves injections of

vitamin A and an appropriate antibiotic.  Prevention involves

feeding a balanced diet.



SOFT SHELL:  Water turtles must receive essential minerals

(especially calcium), vitamin D3 and unfiltered sunlight.  An

abnormally soft shell results if any of these three items is

insufficient or absent.



An adequately balanced diet (such as Purina Trout Chow) and

sufficient periods of exposure to unfiltered sunlight or a

substitute (Vita-Lite) should be provided to prevent and treat

this condition.  Treatment also involves dietary supplementation

and periodic injections of calcium and vitamin D3.  Many

hobbyists immerse turtle blocks (solid blocks of chalk or plaster

of Paris) in their turtle's water in the hope of preventing soft

shell problems.  Unfortunately, water turtles cannot benefit

from the calcium carbonate provided by these products unless it

is eaten.



EGG-BINDING:  Another disorder resulting, in part, from mineral

imbalance or outright mineral depletion is egg-binding.  This

condition results when a female water turtle cannot pass one or

more eggs without assistance.  Signs include straining and

restlessness, or profound lethargy.



Calcium is necessary for the proper contraction of muscles,

including those of the uterus.  Egg-binding is likely if calcium

is deficient in a pregnant female.  Malnutrition, lack of

exposure to unfiltered sunlight, and pre-existing disease can

contribute to this serious, often life-threatening condition.



When egg-binding is suspected, the affected female should be

taken to a veterinarian at once.  Calcium and hormone injections,

as well as manipulation of the egg, are usually employed to

relieve this condition.  Sometimes, a needle can be inserted

into the egg to aspirate its contents and collapse it, making it

easier to pass from the female.



SHELL DEFORMITY:  General malnutrition, especially protein

deficiency and mineral imbalances or deficiencies, in young,

growing water turtles results in a number of problems.  These may

include deformity, mounding of the carapace (top shell),

incomplete shell growth, and scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

Captive water turtles rarely have normal-appearing shells because

nearly all suffer from some form of malnutrition.