My pet turtle has a bruise or lesion on its head. Is it serious?

Thanks for reaching out about Cheech and including a photo. The lesion appears superficial but needs to monitored. The pond appears a little murky which isn't necessarily a bad thing but probably contains more bacteria that could contaminate a lesion. You can continue to topically treat with a betadyne or iodine solution with a cotton tipped applicator. If the lesion progresses, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

It could be local infection. Monitor it for change or growth. You can gently cleanse the area using diluted betadine or chlorhexidine once or twice daily. Confirm adequate water quality to prevent secondary infection and to promote healing. Consider increasing the water and basking temperatures by a few degrees to aid in recovery. Ideally, a UVB light source should be provided for 12-14 hours daily. It should be no more than 14 inches away from the basking spot and unblocked by either glass or plexiglass for maximum benefits. If the spot does not heal or spreads, have Tabby examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can read more about care at this link: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Thanks for reaching out about Muddy and including photos. By the photos, the lesions do not appear serious. White lesions can appear from other traumas, of which algae can invade. Scrubbing the shell, and keeping water quality good, should work well. If lesions grow, seeking an appointment with a reptile veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Sheldon and including photos. Continue to monitor the growth of the lesions. Maintain pristine water conditions. You can try a gentle scrub with a soft brittled tooth brush and chlorhexidine or dilute iodine/betadyne. If lesion continue to grow, a veterinary visit is needed. Good luck

Thanks for reaching out about Tuffy. Swelling on the side of the head are likely inner ear infections. Vitamin A deficiencies are common causes. Antibiotics in the water will do little as turtles do not drink much, systemic antibiotics are required to treat. These can be given orally (difficult to do without being bitten) or through injections. But the diet needs to be corrected to include vitamin A rich foods. Since turtles create very thick pus, minor surgical procedures need to be performed to remove the pus. You might need to see another veterinarian with more reptile experience. Good luck.

From these pictures I'm concerned that Emelia may have an abscess or infection. I strongly recommend a visit to a reptile veterinarian ASAP. Correct husbandry and environment and feeding may prevent this from happening in the future but if she is already acting sick she likely needs antibiotic therapy and potential he injectable vitamins in order to recover. Try to get their lighting correct ASAP, and here are some links on Karen husbandry as well as the reptile veterinary Association if you need help finding a vet. Good luck with them. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/turtles-aquatic-diseases http://www.anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html http://arav.org/

It is not uncommon for a turtle this small to have a somewhat soft shell. Continue to monitor for bleeding, pitting or lethargy. maintain pristine water quality. At this size, water depth should be no deeper than twice the shell length.provide a water heater, water filter, basking area out of the water, a heat lamp for basking and a UVB light source. Offer a balanced diet including prey (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc), fresh diced greens and vegetables and commercial pellets. A multivitamin and a calcium supplement should be dusted onto foods regularly. You can review slider care at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html