Foreign Body Ingestion

                    ----------------------



Water turtles may eat a variety of foreign objects, such as fish

hooks, gravel and aquarium parts.  Only rarely does the turtle

owner see the turtle swallowing the foreign body.  Usually these

turtles are presented to a veterinarian because of poor appetite,

weight loss or emaciation.  Radiography (x-rays) is usually

necessary to confirm the diagnosis.  Sometimes the foreign body

does not show up on the radiograph, and a barium study is

necessary to make the diagnosis.  Most often, surgery must be

employed to remove the foreign body.