Other Turtle Discussion :: My turtle fell 7 stories and survived!

[Cristian30710]

I have a small turtle and live on a 7th floor. I also have dogs, so sometimes I USED to place my turtle box on the balcony because the dogs can annoy the turtle. So basically Dario (my turtle) managed to get off his box (which was bigger than him and I didn’t even think it was possible..), so long story short he fell 6 stories and luckily fell on a plastic roof that the parking lot has and after that he jumped to the first floor... so when I realized this happened because the security guard called me, I went down freaking out, I found Dario spitting blood... I was terrorized and took him to the vet and they checked him. He didn’t have big injuries, and I took him home right away. 2 days after this Dario is back!! I guess a turtle’s shell is really strong and saved Dario. Really greatful for this and not leaving him on the balcony EVER!

[litefoot]

Hope so for Dario. [ They checked him. The vet for your dogs? Not a Herp Vet ... ] Visual inspection done or what test done ?

Something did happen from the fall. [[ "didn't have big injuries " ]] ??? Blood… yes nothing visible wrong / nothing big to the eye. Shell strong yes , not broken yes but what’s going on internally ? Relative to Dario's size that's like you falling from 1500 feet !

Was any x rays taken and what kind ?
How good a doctor can read them matters too. A few offices the vet does all on his/her own no specialist in the office.

I know some still use a old film style x ray machine that does not show soft tissue well , this saves them money. Much better digital machines been around for some time and have a smaller footprint and offers much better / higher resolution than film x rays and cheaper for you. They show soft tissue very well. The fact spitting blood from the terminal velocity of the fall / 6 stories , to impact on plastic roof then from that to the first floor something very possible happened internally.
Is your vet a “herpetologist” / turtle specialist or dog and cat vet ?
Did a "radiology technician" take the x ray or the doctor ?
Did a radiologist “read" the x ray and make a diagnosis to the vet ?
Or did the vet do all ... ?
Lots of questions need answering still before the all clear .
In my career I found turtles yes are hardy but hide things well , another doctor ( Herp Vet that treats turtles) for diagnosis with a digital x ray needs to be seen , if "no" to any answers to above ...
Here's a link for Herp's : http://www.anapsid.org/vets/

[hyzhenry]

you might want to have your turtle checked by a vet just in case there are internal injuries to be sure.