Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:16 pm
Swollen eyes can be the result of a Vit A deficiency, but an eye infection is often the result of dirty water (and swollen eyes can be the beginning of a respiratory infection). Is just one eye swollen and the other looks normal? A salt water bath in AQUARIUM salt can be effective against fungus, but is irritating to the eyes.
I'd try a solution of 97% distilled water to 3% boric acid to cleanse the eye. You can also buy eye drops for this purpose (not that expensive). You could try the cod liver oil, but if you don't see any improvement after a few days, it's probably not a vitamin A deficiency.
You can safely increase the Vit A in your turtles diet by including foods high in beta carotene (which you turtle will convert to Vit A as needed) such as carrots, pumpkin, squash, dandelions. Adding Vit A supplements to the diet is tricky and potentially harmful because Vit A is toxic if overdone, and it's difficult to give the correct dose, especially to a small turtle.
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -Antoine de Saint Exupery-