Urgent Care :: lump on top of my turtles head.

[adaram]

Hello. I need to know if my turtle is hurt or needs urgent care. Let me start out with a history. I got her last October, when i got her she was smaller than a quarter. Now she is about 7inches long. About a couple months ago i noticed a scab formed on her head. It looked like her shell was rubbing her neck. It healed but now she has a scar. Well today i noticed while she was sun bathing that she has a bump on the top of her neck. Its hard to the touch, it feels like a calyst. I have tried to touch it but shes not the one to let you play with her head. I clean her tank regularly, and its also filtered. She eats fine, she sun baths and she is perfectly active. but this lump is really starting to worry me. Oh and her name is Squirt, i dont know if she is really a she. lol

[steve]

Welcome to the site. First, she's been over fed greatly. I don't clearly see a lump, is it in the same area as the scab?

[adbritta]

I don't think the original scab and scar are much to worry about, other than the scab getting infected. Some turtles (like mine) like to stretch their necks all the way out and turn them upwards when they're basking, so their necks are constantly rubbing against their shells. I've attached a picture with what I think is the bump circled - is that correct? If so, the bump doesn't seem to be close to the ears or eyes, although bumps on the side of the head usually indicate an infection of the ear. If it's exactly where the scab was, it's possible that the original injury became infected. Either way, I would definitely take him/her to a vet as soon as possible. From what I've read, lumps anywhere on your turtle's head (or anywhere else for that matter), are definitely not "normal" and usually are indicative that there's an infection under it.

I've also seen a few people recommend gently dabbing some Betadine onto the lump. I've never done it, so I don't know if it's effective or not. If you do decide to do it, put her into a warm box for a few hours afterwards to let it dry and sink in, and then she can go back into her water. I would also do a water change, because if it is an infection, she needs to be kept in as clean of an environment as possible.

I'm not an expert at all, but I would say that if you try the Betadine and don't seen any improvement within a day or so, take her to the vet for sure. If it were me, I would probably just go to the vet straight away.

[nena87]

Is it an abscess??

[steve]

Appears to be so.