My tortoise has a jaw lump. Is it an abscess? When should I see a vet?

It appears as if Gobo has developed an abscess. An abscess forms as a result of some minor infection. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. The abscess should be cleaned and flushed. Antibiotics will likely be indicated after. Maintain adequate water quality and increased temperature by about 5 degrees F to aid in recovery.

This is most likely a tumor or an abscess. In either case, it will need to be evaluated and treated by your veterinarian. If it is a mass it may need to be removed. If it is an abscess it will need to be surgically debrided and the turtle will need a course of antibiotics. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

That is certainly suspicious for an abscess. Harry will need to see a veterinarian for confirmation. Without proper veterinary care, the infection may spread. Ask your parents again to make an appointment with a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles. Discuss a payment plan with your parents. Agree to do more chores or special projects around the house to pay off the debt.

I am sorry to hear about Fudge! What a cutie! It is difficult to see in the photo the exact location of this swelling, but I would be concerned about things like a cyst filling quickly, an abscess (pocket of infection), an infected tooth root, a hematoma (blood filled swelling), and a sialocele which is a ruptured salivary duct causing saliva to pool beneath the skin. I would recommend making an appointment for your vet to examine Fudge. If at any point she develops difficulty breathing or swallowing then a trip to the emergency vet would be recommended.

Thanks for reaching out about Radi. If an auricular infection, antibiotics and possible minor surgery needed, so a veterinary visit is recommended. If something more serious such as a skin infection, even more need to see a vet. Due to the nature of reptile pus (very thick and caseous), anti-inflammatories will do little to remedy this condition by themselves. Vitamin A deficiencies are often a component also and a veterinarian should be able to review your diet and correct any concerns. Good luck.

Thank you for the photos. Sorry Jade is having this issue. It looks like a either an abscess (infection), a cyst or a tumor. It does not appear to be an injury. I cannot tell you much on how to treat it without knowing what it is. I strongly suggest you take her to a reptile veterinarian for an exam. They will likely do an aspirate of that lump to collect some cells and get a diagnosis. It if is an abscess she will need antibiotics. If it is cyst or tumor it will likely need to be removed with surgery or it will never go away. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. You really need to find a veterinarian that treats exotics. This much swelling could be a sign of heart disease, but other issues can be at hand. I hope you can have her checked out soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.