Urgent Care :: Large area of shell discoloration

[jant]

My RES lives outside in a pond during the spring-fall. Upon bringing her inside this month, I noticed that her shell was discolored. Does this look like shell rot? Of course I've googled many pictures of shell rot, but I haven't found anything that looks just like this. The discolored patches are still very hard. I've had her for 11 years and her shell has always been gorgeous and colorful, so I'm really concerned. I'm going to make an appointment with the vet tomorrow, but I just wanted to have an idea of what it could be before I go. Thanks!

[steve]

I'm not sure either but it looks like the top layers of scutes might come off. I've discussed this before but those members were not regulars and updates have been impossible to get. There is probably some type of infection, either shell rot and/or osteomyelitis.

[jant]

Actually, those scutes just came off recently. This discoloration seems to go deep down in those areas.

[steve]

And I wouldn't be surprised if they came off too and exposing a bone layer. This will probably require a long recovery time.