In medical terms, a prolapse means an organ or body part has slipped forward or down. In a box turtle, an organ that has prolapsed will generally slide out the cloacal vent. You will be able to see it dragging when they walk.
This can be life threatening. In most cases, you’ll need to get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Prolapse is a common issue that box turtle owners have to deal with. At some point you may notice your turtle’s penis or internal organs protruding from its vent. While this can happen occasionally in male turtles it is always a cause for concern when internal organs prolapse or when the penis doesn’t retract. Prolapse can be life-threatening so it’s crucial to understand the causes, prevention methods, and treatment options.
What is Prolapse in Box Turtles?
Prolapse occurs when an organ extends outside of the body through the cloaca (vent). In male box turtles, the penis may protrude during breeding seasons but should retract back inside within a few minutes. If it stays outside it can become injured or infected.
More dangerously, internal organs like the intestines or bladder can prolapse through the vent. This is an emergency situation, as the tissue can quickly become necrotic or dried out. The protruding tissue appears red, inflamed, or swollen.
What Causes Prolapse in Box Turtles?
There are several potential causes of prolapse in pet box turtles:
Constipation
One of the most common causes of prolapse is constipation from dehydration or lack of space. Ensure proper humidity in the habitat and provide a large enough enclosure. Soaking in lukewarm water 2-3 times a week can help with hydration and constipation relief.
Diarrhea
Loose stools from diet issues or parasites can also cause prolapse. Avoid too much fruit and iceberg lettuce which can cause diarrhea. Have fecals checked for parasites 1-2 times a year.
Impaction
Swallowing substrate like sand or small rocks can cause an intestinal blockage (impaction). Use larger river rocks or orchid bark to prevent accidental ingestion.
Infection
Bacterial or fungal infections, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, may lead to prolapse. Maintain cleanliness in the habitat to prevent infections.
Injuries
Trauma to the vent area from bites or scratches from other turtles can cause prolapse, especially in the penis. Separate male turtles except during supervised breeding.
Bladder stones
Mineral buildup in the urinary tract causes painful stones that can lead to straining and prolapse. Ensure proper hydration and nutrition to prevent stones.
Dystocia
Egg binding, where a female can’t pass her eggs, causes straining and pushing which can prolapse organs. Provide proper nesting areas and calcium for egg-laying females.
Metabolic bone disease
MBD from poor nutrition causes bone and shell deformities pressing on internal organs. Ensure proper UVB lighting and calcium supplementation.
Preventing Prolapse in Box Turtles
While some causes are unavoidable, you can take precautions to minimize the risk of prolapse:
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Provide a hygienic habitat with daily spot cleaning and disinfecting every 1-2 weeks.
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Use the right loose substrate like orchid bark. Avoid sand, gravel, and small pebbles.
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Soak in lukewarm water 2-3 times a week for hydration and constipation relief.
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Ensure proper humidity between 60-80% with misting and moisture-friendly substrates.
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Feed a varied, vitamin-rich diet with vegetables, fruits, insects, and calcium supplementation.
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Have annual fecal tests for parasites. Deworm if needed.
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Give female turtles proper nesting areas and calcium for egg-laying.
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Separate male turtles when not breeding to prevent vent injuries from biting.
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Use UVB lighting and give calcium to prevent metabolic bone disease.
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Quarantine new turtles to avoid introducing infections.
Treating Prolapse in Box Turtles
If you notice a prolapse, take action right away. Here are the common treatment methods:
Sugar bath
Immediately after noticing a prolapse, place the turtle in 1-2 inches of warm water mixed with 1-2 tablespoons of sugar. The sugar helps reduce swelling. This may allow mild prolapses to retract on their own.
Veterinary treatment
For organs or penile prolapses lasting more than 10-15 minutes, seek emergency veterinary care. The vet will clean and disinfect the tissue, reduce swelling, gently reinsert the prolapsed organ(s), and stitch the vent closed for healing. Antibiotics, pain medication, and supportive care may be given.
Surgery
If tissues are damaged or necrotic they may need to be removed surgically. Surgery also allows examination for underlying causes like bladder stones, dystocia, infections, or intestinal obstructions.
Outlook for Turtles with Prolapse
With rapid veterinary treatment, mildly prolapsed organs can often be repaired and most turtles make a full recovery. Severe or chronic prolapse has a poorer prognosis.
Key to success is minimizing time between prolapse occurrence and treatment. Necrotic tissue leads to sepsis and peritonitis which can be fatal.
Catching prolapse early, identifying the cause, and improving husbandry is the best way to manage this condition in pet box turtles. With proper care, most mild cases are completely curable.
Shell Fractures or Trauma
A box turtles shell is remarkably strong, but it can be traumatized. Wild turtles may be found on the side of the road having been hit by a car and they can have serious shell fractures. Turtles may accidentally be dropped, or may fall off a table if they escape from their cage or are left unattended. Pets such as the family dog have been known to chew on a helpless turtle, causing severe damage to the shell (or legs and head). Although these are serious injuries, the shell is bone and can be repaired. Any trauma to the shell should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian immediately, as open wounds can become infected and subsequently cause serious infections. Bacteria from a dog’s mouth can be deadly for all reptile species, even if the bite wound does not appear very serious.
Kinds of Box Turtle Prolapses
Pretty much any organ in a turtle’s body can prolapse.
The organs most likely to prolapse seem to be:
But the urinary bladder and uterus can also do so.
In most cases, if you see one of these organs outside your pet’s body, it means it has prolapsed.
But male turtles sometimes display their penis on purpose. This organ is dark (purplish) and bigger than you might expect. It may look to you like it’s too big to ever get back inside your turtle, but in most cases it will in fact disappear within a few minutes. As long as that happens it has not prolapsed, and you don’t need to worry.
If the penis or any other organ stays outside your pet’s body for more than a few minutes you’ll need to help him or her.
Turtle Tip of the Week – Prolapses
FAQ
How do you treat a prolapsed turtle?
- Pain and discomfort: Prolapses are painful and can cause significant distress to the turtle.
- Tissue damage: Prolonged prolapse can lead to tissue damage, infection, and even death.
- Underlying causes: Prolapses often indicate an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.
Can a turtle live with a prolapse?
In general, any prolapsed tissue represents a potentially life-threatening problem that should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
How do you treat a reptile prolapse?
If the tissue is pink and healthy, then it can be replaced back into the body. If the tissue is black or necrotic, it needs to be surgically removed. If tissue is viable, the reptile will often be soaked in a sugar water solution, as the sugar reduces the swelling of the tissue.
How to treat cloacal prolapse?
Treatment. Regardless of origin, prolapsed tissues should be lavaged and lubricated with a water-soluble lubricant to prevent desiccation.Aug 1, 2009
Why is my box turtle prolapsed?
Whether your box turtle has a sex organ or internal organ prolapse, the most common cause is constipation. Dehydration and small living areas are often the cause of constipation, which can result in prolapse. Ensure you provide optimum humidity levels with regular misting and give your turtle a warm water bath at least three times a week.
How does Bordatella pertussis reproduce?
Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium that causes whooping cough, reproduces by binary fission. Binary fission is a type of asexual reproduction in which a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells. The process of binary fission in Bordetella pertussis begins with the bacterium replicating its DNA. The DNA is then divided into two identical copies. The cell then divides in half, with each daughter cell receiving one copy of the DNA. The daughter cells are then released from the mother cell and can begin the process of binary fission again. Bordetella pertussis can reproduce very quickly. Under ideal conditions, the bacterium can divide every 6-8 hours. This rapid reproduction rate allows the bacterium to quickly spread from person to person.
How does a turtle’s organ prolapse?
In turtles, a prolapse occurs when an organ (intestine, cloaca, urinary bladder, uterus, or penis) protrudes from the vent. The second technique for treating this condition involves making an incision in front of and through the muscles of the pelvis and hind limbs. (The vent is the opening in the underside of the tail from which the turtle eliminates its waste products.)
How do you treat a prolapsed box turtle?
When you get your prolapsed box turtle to the vet, the vet will immediately give your pet pain medication and sedate the turtle, often using sugar powder to reduce swelling, while they clean and remove the damaged tissues.
What happens if a box turtle has a prolapsed cloacal vent?
In a box turtle, an organ that has prolapsed will generally slide out the cloacal vent. You will be able to see it dragging when they walk. This can be life threatening. In most cases, you’ll need to get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Can a turtle prolapse cause a permanent injury?
Prolapses seldom cause pain and most don’t cause permanent injury. turtles and tortoises. Every type of environments stress has medical issues. You will simply need to watch your turtles occur, before the turtle can injure the exposed parts. constipated by an inaccurate diet once too often.