Turtle Septicemia, also referred to as sepsis, is a generalised blood infection. Today, we’re going to look at this poorly understood illness. This serious condition can be easy to spot but progresses very quickly.
Fortunately, there are ways of diagnosing and treating it if caught early enough. That’s why it’s important to learn septicemia’s tell-tale symptoms so that you can quickly get on top of the situation.
Generally, the main causes of septicemia are an injury that gets infected or an illness such as shell rot that has gone unnoticed for a while. As with many other conditions, a turtle’s overall health plays a role in how likely it is to get this disease.
In this article we’re going to explain what Turtle Septicemia is, how to prevent it, treat it, and when to see a vet.
Turtle septicemia, also known as sepsis or blood poisoning, is a serious condition that pet turtle owners need to be aware of. As turtle enthusiasts, we want to keep our shelled friends happy and healthy. Being informed about septicemia will help us recognize early signs and get prompt veterinary treatment.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll cover what turtle septicemia is, what causes it, symptoms to look out for treatment options, and prevention tips. Let’s dive in!
What is Turtle Septicemia?
Turtle septicemia is a blood infection caused by bacteria entering the turtle’s bloodstream. Normally, bacteria live on a turtle’s skin and shell without issue. But when the physical barriers of skin and shell are compromised due to injury or infection, bacteria can penetrate into the blood and multiply rapidly.
Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria and their toxins spread throughout the body This causes a systemic infection affecting multiple organs and tissues. Septicemia leads to sepsis when the immune system responds poorly and organs begin shutting down. That’s why timely treatment is crucial
While any turtle can develop septicemia aquatic species like red-eared sliders are most susceptible since they live in water teeming with bacteria. Captive turtles are also at higher risk due to suboptimal husbandry.
What Causes Septicemia in Turtles?
There are a few key factors that allow bacteria to breach the skin and shell defenses and cause septicemia:
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Injuries: Cuts, abrasions, and trauma from sharp objects in the habitat can create entry points for bacteria.
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Shell infections: Pre-existing conditions like shell rot weaken the shell, enabling bacteria to penetrate through lesions or damaged areas.
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Other infections: Skin, mouth, and respiratory infections compromise the skin barrier too. Abscesses are also culprits.
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Weakened immunity: Poor diet, insufficient UVB exposure, stress, and improper temperatures can impair a turtle’s immune defenses against bacteria.
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Dirty environments: Unsanitary habitats with accumulated waste products encourage bacterial growth. High nitrates and poor water quality also play a role.
In most cases, septicemia begins as a localized infection that spirals out of control when the turtle’s immune system cannot contain it. Underlying health issues and inadequate care are often contributing factors.
Recognizing Symptoms of Septicemia
Being able to identify septicemia early is key to saving a turtle’s life. Here are the most common signs:
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Lethargy and loss of appetite: Affected turtles become increasingly inactive and stop eating.
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Pink or red plastron (underside of shell): Septicemia causes blood vessels under the shell to dilate and become visible, making the plastron appear pink or red tinged.
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Red skin discoloration: Legs, neck, and any exposed skin may take on a reddish hue as blood vessels dilate.
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Swelling in legs or neck: Fluid buildup in tissues leads to swelling as infection spreads.
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Petechiae: Pinpoint red/purple spots under the skin from bleeding capillaries.
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Pale mouth: The inside of the mouth appears pale instead of the normal vivid colors.
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Breathing issues: Labored, open-mouthed breathing indicates respiratory distress.
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Unresponsiveness: In advanced stages, the turtle may have seizures or lose muscle control and coordination.
If you notice any of these symptoms, especially lethargy plus skin/shell discoloration, suspect septicemia and call your exotic vet right away. Blood tests and bacterial culture are needed to confirm diagnosis.
How is Septicemia Treated in Turtles?
Septicemia requires intensive treatment under veterinary supervision. Key components include:
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Hospitalization: The turtle must be hospitalized for close monitoring and supportive care.
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Fluid therapy: Fluids and electrolytes are administered to prevent dehydration and organ failure.
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Injectable antibiotics: Powerful broad-spectrum antibiotics are given intravenously to start fighting the systemic infection.
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Oral or topical antibiotics: Antibiotics may also be applied on skin lesions or given orally once the turtle is eating again.
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Anti-inflammatories: Drugs that reduce inflammation and fever may be prescribed.
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Nutritional support: Assisting feeding and vitamins are provided until the turtle recovers its appetite.
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Wound care: Any injuries or lesions need topical treatment to resolve.
With aggressive antibiotic therapy and supportive care, mild to moderate septicemia can be successfully treated within 1-2 weeks. But delaying vet care reduces survivability.
Preventing Septicemia in Turtles
An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure when it comes to septicemia. Here are some key prevention strategies:
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Eliminate habitat hazards: Ensure decor items have smooth edges. Use proper substrate to avoid cuts and abrasions.
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Maintain excellent hygiene: Conduct partial water changes 2-3 times a week and full cleanings every 2-3 weeks. Disinfect with pet-safe products.
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Test water quality: Use test kits to monitor ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, and temperature. Keep parameters in the optimal range.
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Offer proper UVB lighting: Ensure UVB bulbs are replaced every 6-12 months per manufacturer recommendations.
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Feed balanced diet: Include veggies, fruits, proteins, and calcium for optimal nutrition. Appropriate vitamin supplements are helpful too.
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Allow basking: Maintain proper ambient and basking temperatures to support immune function.
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Quarantine new turtles: Isolate new turtles for 30-90 days before introducing them to existing ones. Monitor closely for illness.
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Address health issues promptly: Seek vet care for any signs of infection, injury, or illness before it worsens.
With attentive husbandry and early intervention, turtle owners can greatly reduce the risks of septicemia. But if it does occur, recognizing it quickly and getting veterinary treatment gives a turtle the best chance of recovery. With proper care, our shelled buddies can live long and healthy lives.
How to prevent Septicemia in turtles
plastron of red ear slider with septicemia
First off, it’s important to recognise that septicemia doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. In pet turtles it comes from opportunistic bacteria that were living in the enclosure and have found a way to attack your pet.
The first line of defence in a turtle’s immune system is its outer covering: the skin and scutes. This is what you call a physical barrier. Just like in humans, a cut through this physical barrier lets in germs that can colonise and attack the tissue underneath.
We’ve mentioned shell rot and injuries as the two most common causes of septicemia for this reason; they both break through the skin or shell. Following this breakthrough, the germs then either get killed or multiply and cause an infection. If that infection enters the blood stream it becomes septicemia.
Now at first glance, what I’ve said above makes it seem like any cut can lead to septicemia. This isn’t strictly true, however. Turtles are prone to topical infections because they spend so much time in water, which typically contains higher levels of bacteria than air. Fortunately, turtles are extremely tough, and a skin or shell infection can go on for some time before turning into septicemia.
The main factor that determines how bad an infection gets, and how quickly it progresses is your turtle’s overall health. A healthy turtle with a balanced diet and UV light exposure will be much better at fighting infection.
All in all, what this tells us is that to prevent this condition, you need a two-pronged approach. One way is to focus on enclosure safety, and the other way is to focus on overall health.
Enclosure safety is the easiest of these two factors to control. In an indoor enclosure, make sure that any rocks, branches, or decorations are smooth. Make sure that ledges the turtle climbs onto to bask have smooth edges too. Finally, make sure that the water is deep enough for the turtle to dive into if startled without banging into the bottom.
For outdoor enclosures take similar measures but be sure to re-inspect them regularly. Don’t forget that broken glass, sharp rocks, or other hazards can be found in soil. Even aquatic turtles may have a dig occasionally, especially if getting ready to lay eggs.
Overall health is more complicated – but very much achievable when using resources like this website to research your pet’s husbandry.
As always, the most important factor for overall health is temperature. A reptile’s immune system just can’t function at the wrong temperature. This can be different for each species, so it’s worth thoroughly researching and buying the right equipment to measure it.
After making sure your temperatures are correct, you need to make sure your pet has a balanced diet to avoid deficiencies. Vitamin A deficiency in particular is common in turtles and makes their skin more susceptible to infection. You can find an article on vitamin A deficiency here: Turtle Swollen Eyes and Vitamin A deficiencies.
Another factor that influences overall health and immune function is UV light exposure. Turtles use UVB light to synthesise Vitamin D, a vital hormone for calcium absorption and other functions. Lack of UV light makes illness of any kind much more likely. Always remember to change indoor UV bulbs every 9-12 months, as they lose effectiveness after this time. (See our UVB Bulb guide for more)
Last, but not least, pay attention to your pet’s hygiene. Regular water and substrate changes, a good filtration system and the removal of uneaten food all help maintain good hygiene. The better your pet’s hygiene is, the lower the microbial load in their enclosure will be. Low microbial load = less work for your pet’s immune system and better resistance to infection.
What causes Turtle Septicemia?
As with many turtle diseases, the main cause of septicemia is poor husbandry. Most cases are in fact caused by shell rot or injury. I recommend reading the Shell Rot article on this website for more information on preventing that condition.
Regardless of the root cause, septicemia in pet turtles usually involves bacteria. Previously, mainly gram-negative bacteria were blamed, but veterinarians are now noticing that a wide array of bacteria can be responsible, some of which are gram positive or gram neutral. Whichever group they belong to, these bacteria usually live in the animal’s enclosure without causing any issues beforehand.
An example of a gram neutral bacteria that has caused cases of septicemia is Mycobacterium chelonae. Interestingly, this was only noticed in 2009, when it infected a captive Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone s. spinifera).
In wild or farmed turtles, on the other hand, viral septicemia is also a problem. The Chinese Softshell (Pelodiscus sinensis), for example, is farmed in huge numbers in China. Since 2007, it has been the victim of a widespread septicemia epidemic caused by a poorly understood virus. As far as we know, this form of septicemia is contagious and quickly lethal.
Though sad to hear about, this strain of the disease is no concern to you if keeping captive bred turtles. Only fresh imports could carry it, and these rarely make good pets anyway.
Overall, septicemia in pet turtles is rarely infectious or viral. In fact, it is almost always from a bacterial skin or shell infection that was not caught early enough.
Respiratory Infection in Turtles: Symptoms and home treatment
FAQ
How to treat septicemia in a turtle?
Septicemia (bacteria in the blood) is uncommon. Treatment with an antibiotic and topical iodine is recommended. Feeding crayfish to turtles is often the cause of this condition and should be discouraged.
How do you treat septicemia in reptiles?
Treatment for septicemia includes systemic antibiotics, providing the sick reptile with an especially warm basking site, and fluid therapy and nutritional support as it recovers.
What are the chances of surviving septicemia?
Even with treatment, 30% to 40% of people with septic shock, the most severe stage of sepsis, will die.Jan 19, 2023
What is one of the first signs of sepsis?
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Temperature Changes:
- Fever: A high fever (over 101°F or 38.3°C) can be a sign of sepsis.
- Hypothermia: In some cases, sepsis can cause a low body temperature (below 96.8°F or 36°C) instead of a fever.
- Fever: A high fever (over 101°F or 38.3°C) can be a sign of sepsis.
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Rapid Heart Rate and Breathing:
- Tachycardia: A fast heart rate (over 90 beats per minute) is a common sign.
- Rapid Breathing: Increased breathing rate (over 20 breaths per minute) can occur as the body struggles to get enough oxygen.
- Tachycardia: A fast heart rate (over 90 beats per minute) is a common sign.
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Changes in Mental Status:
- Confusion or Disorientation: A person with sepsis may become confused, disoriented, or have difficulty thinking clearly.
- Confusion or Disorientation: A person with sepsis may become confused, disoriented, or have difficulty thinking clearly.
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Other Signs:
- Shortness of breath
- Sweaty or clammy skin
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Pale, blotchy, or blue skin, lips, or tongue
- Skin rash
- Nausea and vomiting
- Decreased urination
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath