What's wrong with the turtle opening its mouth

Turtles are cute and are loved by people of all ages. Many people have a cute little turtle at home. This kind of family pet is relatively worry-free to raise, but if it is not raised properly, the turtle may develop various diseases. For example, if you notice that your turtle suddenly becomes very fond of breathing with its mouth open and appears to be having difficulty breathing, this may mean that it has pneumonia.

The turtle may have pneumonia. The turtle opens its mouth to breathe, makes sounds, and floats in the water, appearing unable to sink. These are symptoms of pneumonia. This is mainly caused by the large temperature difference. For example, when changing water, the temperature difference between the original water temperature and the new water temperature is too large, or the temperature difference between the air temperature and the water temperature is too large.

2. Symptoms of Pneumonia in Tortoises

The most "famous" symptom of pneumonia is the turtle breathing with its mouth open. Since the turtle's mouth will open and close slightly in the water, a nervous turtle might mistake this normal phenomenon for pneumonia. Turtles also yawn. As long as they do not breathe frequently with their mouths open and do not make explosive sounds when breathing, they do not have pneumonia.

3. Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Tortoises

In the early stages of pneumonia, the turtle will have a fever, difficulty breathing, and sometimes wheezing. Its eyes will be dull and it will have tears, a runny nose, or nasal blisters. In severe cases, scabs will form on the nostrils and the eye circles will turn white. The turtle will gradually become thin, its head will retract, and it will stop eating. If the condition continues to deteriorate, it may develop lung abscesses, gangrene, and eventually suffocate to death.

If aquatic turtles with mild pneumonia are willing to go into the water, they can be kept in shallow water. It is recommended to use water level above the feet and pay attention to the water quality. Even if the turtle is kept in shallow water, a landing platform should be provided to facilitate it to leave the water to rest and prevent it from choking on water. In severe cases, dry breeding is recommended, with humidity maintained between 40% and 70%. Dry-raising means keeping the environment quiet and relatively dark so that the turtle can get a better rest. Dry-raising means feeding water with a cup and observing the turtle's drinking habits. If the turtle drinks very little or refuses water, in addition to the necessary anti-inflammatory infusions, additional fluid replacement should be given 1-2 times a day. Dry-raising allows for better observation of the turtle's urination. If there is no urine or the urine is very little, very yellow, or very thick, the amount of fluid replacement should be increased according to the situation. If the turtle does not improve after 7-14 days of treatment, the medication must be changed.

5. Prevention of Pneumonia in Tortoises

The most important thing to prevent pneumonia in turtles is to prevent colds. Ensure that the temperature in the turtle house is constant and the temperature difference does not change much. Pay attention to ventilation in summer. When the ambient temperature drops suddenly, increase the temperature in time. When changing water, the water temperature should be kept consistent before and after, and the maximum temperature difference should be controlled within 2°C.

When heating the turtle box, pay attention to ventilation; maintain a certain humidity to ensure the moistening of the nasal mucosa; avoid irritation of the respiratory mucosa by the powder layer; avoid temperature differences caused by sudden highs and lows; avoid inhalation of harmful gases; provide a certain space to increase the turtle's activity; diversify the food and increase nutrition; increase the intake of vitamin C to promote the immune system's ability to fight germs.