My turtle's scute came off. Is my treatment for the injury correct?

Pace the heat lamp over the basking area. If the UVB light runs the length of the tank, she will be fine. Don't worry about getting the Betadine under scutes. If the scutes are loose, the liquid will find way underneath them. Don't peel the scutes up either. They will come off on their own.

Separate them if you can to allow healing. Keep the water as clean as possible to prevent infection. Clean the area daily with a diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution then allow for a 1-2 hour dry dock (out of the water) period. If the wound doesn't heal or if Sammy becomes lethargic or stops eating, then have your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet perform an exam and administer treatment as indicated.

Thanks for reaching out about Snappy and including a photo. Aquatic turtles can be very territorial. Very good water quality is important to healing and decrease to possibility of contamination. A well rounded diet is important to stimulate the immune system and provide nutrients for healing. Antibiotics in the water is not an effective way to treat these wounds, so if appears to be getting worse or not healing, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide injectable antibiotics. Good luck.

The discoloration on the marginal scutes may be due to dietary or environmental deficiencies. It may also be caused by bacterial infection or trauma. The pink coloration in the seams is normal. In other species, it would indicate possible infection. Confirm adequate UVB lighting as well as clean water and heat. A lack of any one of these can cause stress which will lead to infection. Monitor the areas for any rapid change or growth. A physical exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be needed for a definitive diagnose after which the appropriate treatment can be administered.

The peeling scutes may be normal shedding. Do not attempt to remove them yourself. Maintain pristine water quality. You can use a soft bristled tooth brush and a diluted Betadine solution to gently scrub the shell or affected areas. Allow for a 1 hour dry dock (out of the water) after each cleaning. If the UVB bulb has been in use longer than 6 months, replace it. Make sure it is not blocked by fine mesh, glass or plexiglass. Provide a balanced diet including prey, fresh greens and vegetables and a commercial pelleted diet. Dust food and prey with both a multivitamin and a calcium supplement regularly.

It looks like the wound is massively improved, it shouldnt be too long until it is completely healed. You are keeping it clean and applying topical antibiotic so there is little else you could do at home. Keep going as you are, and if it starts to deteriorate head to a reptile vet.

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.