help needed with slider turtle

[ilikebirds]

my husband just rescued a red eared slider from his ex wifes house. it has been severely neglected. has had no food, water or heat for a VERY long time. i believe she is trying to hibernate, but the conditions were way off, and she will die. we are soaking her in a tiny bit of water/electrolye mix, and very slowly raising her temp. her eyes are sunk in, and so dry she cant blink or shut her eyes. i gave her eye drops, and later will gently clean them. this turtle has been wandering around their house for months, and smells like the cat has peed on it, a lot.
we also gave her a full spectrum bulb.
dunno what else to do.
she just looks terrible. if i saw her outside, i would think she was dead.
sliders are illegal in oregon, and im afraid if i take it to the vet it will be confiscated, or they wont treat her.
camera is dead, will maybe take pics later.

 

[Flahmingo]

I don't know about red sliders, but if she's suffering you should get her to the vet. There are many turtle rescues out there and someone should be able to either help her or humanely euthanize her. This sounds like an emergency if her eyes are sunken in. Please do what you can to help her.

 

[MollyMouse]

I agree if she is really ill you need to go to the vets

 

[ncGreyBirdLady]

Have you been able to get him to eat? Here is some info I found-I hope it helps-Good Luck

• <LI class=body>How to Care for a Sick Turtle | eHow.com

• 
  Turtles are beautiful creatures to have as pets, but when they get sick, ... If you are worried about treating your turtle by yourself or have any questions ...
  How to Care for a Sick Turtle | eHow.com
  <LI class=body>How to Identify a Sick Turtle | eHow.com
  How to Identify a Sick Turtle. One reason pet owners enjoy turtles is ...
  How to Identify a Sick Turtle | eHow.com
  <LI class=body>Sick Turtle Summary - Turtle Times Forums
  There are several methods for treating this, and I have them listed ... Raise temperatures to sick turtle levels. Get vitamins into him, ...
  Sick Turtle Summary - Turtle Times Forums
  <LI class=body>Basic Care - Water Turtles
  All sick turtles should be isolated from other turtles, and newly acquired ... Immediately consult a veterinarian experienced in treating turtles and he can ...
  Basic Care - Water Turtles
  <LI class=body>How To Help Your Sick Turtle
  How can you tell if your turtle is sick? Some obvious signs of a sick turtle include: lethargic movement, or just not moving not eating changes in shell ...
  How To Help Your Sick Turtle
  <LI class=body>Seeing a vet - Happy Turtle Site - Online Pet Turtle Information Site
  Jan 8, 2002 ... In general, if your turtle is sick with anything that you don't ... lf your turtle is sick or maybe sick, and you don't know what to do. ...
  Happy Turtle Site - Online Pet Turtle Information Site
  <LI class=body>help! my little turtle might be sick! - Paw Talk - Pet Forums
  help!my little turtle might be sick! - he's just kind of sitting in one spot all the time, and not really moving or eating.
  help! my little turtle might be sick! - Paw Talk - Pet Forums
  <LI class=body>Tortoise Trust Web - Red-Eared Slider Care
  There are also some general guidelines for treating and nursing sick terrapins and turtles which are worth mentioning: Sick turtles should be kept warm. ...
  Tortoise Trust Web - Red-Eared Slider Care
  <LI class=body>Sick Sea Turtle Swims Right to Hospital Doorstep | NBC Miami
  Mar 30, 2009 ... A sick sea turtle swims to the doorstep of the only place in the world ... actually waited several hours before treating the turtle because ...
  Sick Sea Turtle Swims Right to Hospital Doorstep | NBC Miami
  [*]YouTube - How to Care for Turtles : How to Identify a Sick Turtle
  Added to queue new video of the turtle's (one is sick)by ... Added to queue sick little ninja turtleby yootyoob1015883 views · 2:18. Add to ...

 

[Magic]

well honestly she needs to be seen by a vet she could have RI and if she does she needs meds but for the moment keep her warm and plenty of water also you can give her pedia lite and you can maybe get some earth worms see if she will eat one it sounds to me she is very dehyrated and underfed i own alot of turtles most have ben rescues becouse ppl didnt want to bother with them anymore i do understand that it maybe illegal to own it where your at but if you have no intent of keeping it call a vet and tell them you found it this way or a wild life rescue place so it can get some help . if you need anymore info you are welcome to pm me

 

[marian]

Do you have an extra tank and heater to set her up in? Rubbermnaid sterlite containers work well also.You should keep her water temp at about 80.She'll also need a basking area....a regular light bulb 75 watt should work on a clamp light this is her warmth over the basking area....plus a UVB light. I sure hope you can save her.Keep us updated.

 

[ilikebirds]

we do wish to keep her. not only are we horrified at her conditions, but this is a species i kept as a child, very sucessfully, and i have a soft spot for them. i have a lot of knowledge on these turtles, i just have never seen one so close to death.
there is no turtle rescue here. there is a herp club, and i am waiting to hear from a member. he is a breeder of reptiles, and a rescue, and really knows his stuff. his animals are spoiled rotten.
as far as i know there is no good herp vet here, but i will ask my friend. another friend i have, found a large green lizard in his backyard. took it to the vet, the vet identified as an iguana, gave them caresheets on the species. out of curiousity, i made a visit to see this lucky lizard. it was not an iguana, but a water dragon. our town reptile vet identified a water dragon as an iggy...no wonder he wouldnt eat his veggies...
the turtle is in a plastic tub, with maybe half inch of water. she is so lethargic, i am worried she may drown. she has pedialyte. i doubt she has strength or will to eat. she has a heat lamp.

 

[ilikebirds]

forgot to add she had a GIANT drink of water, and is moving a bit.

 

[Magic]

well it sounds like your doing all you can for her and she is in good hands with you

 

[Chicklet]

Congrats for rescuing her I've worked with reptiles for a couple years now, in the veterinary medicine department and reptiles are much hardier than birds in cases of neglect. IMO if she doesn't show any outward signs of a resp. infection or severe calcium deficiency then she doesn't need to immediately see the vet, especially if your "reptile" vet knows less than the average reptile owner.

As long as she has UV lighting, a basking lamp, which you said she has you should be ok. If you can get her to eat anything though, try and grind up a cuttlebone on it to get some calcium into her. Good Luck she sounds like she's in good hands!