More Turtle Drama

[JWBear]

We found Norma in the yard this evening; bloody and injured. She has several punture wounds in her shell. We rushed her to a nearby animal hospital. The cleaned her up and injected her with antibioticas and painkillers. The vet said that it was from a dog. She's home now, in the bathtub in the guest bathroom. We have to take her in on Friday to have fiberglass patches put on her wounds.

We couldn't understand how a dog got to her. then we looked in the backyard and found a hole under the back fence. The neighbors on the other side have a big dog....

I'm not sure if she will make it.

[wendybeth]

I hope she's okay!!!!!

Sounds like doggy needs to meet up with a big ol' snapping turtle.

[€uroMeinke]

Ah man, that's horrible - after all Norma's been through - we'll be sending good thoughts Norma's way and hope for a swift recovery.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Poor Norma! Hope she pulls through.

[Not Afraid]

NORMA! You must LIVE!

Lots of love to the friendliest turtle I've ever met. I promise to feed her lots of grapes when she gets better.

[JWBear]

Thanks for all your kind thoughts.

I just wiped her down with hydrogen peroxide. the vet said to do that a couple times a day. She's still bleeding a little, but not much. She's more active now, but she still won't eat - not even grapes!

[JWBear]

Here's a picture. I spoiler tagged it to spare the more sensitive:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c60/JWBear61/IMG_2387.jpg

[Not Afraid]

Poor Norma! Have you talked to the dog owners? Is the fence hole patched? I'm worried about Ninja, although she's a shy one and probably would hide quickly.

[JWBear]

Poor Norma! Have you talked to the dog owners? Is the fence hole patched? I'm worried about Ninja, although she's a shy one and probably would hide quickly.
Ninja stays very close to the pond. She would never leave the yard. No, we haven't talked to the neighbors, and I doubt we will. It's not their fault that our turtle wandered in to their yard.

[Snowflake]

Well, I'm sending some good thoughts to you and Norma (and Ninja). I'll bet she is more than happy to be home and in your care. Fingers crossed she continues to heal and has a full recovery

[Gemini Cricket]

I'm sorry about your turtle, JWB. I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for her.

[Not Afraid]

Well, that will teach me to read more carefully. I thought the dog to into your yard rather than Normal dug her way out into theirs.

[katiesue]

Here's to a speedy recovery for Norma!

[Ponine]

Well, that will teach me to read more carefully. I thought the dog to into your yard rather than Normal dug her way out into theirs.
Thats okay, I leaped the same way you did.

[cirquelover]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope Norma has a speedy recovery and is back to her old self soon. I also hope she stops her wandering ways, she's been in enough trouble lately.

[JWBear]

She ate 3 grapes this morning, which is a very good sign. She's much more active; another good sign.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hooray. You've got a regular hero in a half-shell over there. Turtle Power!

[JWBear]

Well, that will teach me to read more carefully. I thought the dog to into your yard rather than Normal dug her way out into theirs.
I'm sorry. No. She got out. I didn't make that clear in my OP.

If their dog had gotten in to our yard, I would be calling animal control!

[JWBear]

We took her in to the vet this morning. They're going to repair her shell.

She's doing much better. She's eating normaly now, and is much more active.

[Not Afraid]

She's one hellofa turtle, that Norma.

[Kevy Baby]

Yeah! Turtle OK

[JWBear]

I forgot to post an update last night.

We wnt to the vet to pick her up. They didn't patch the holes. It seems that she still has some infection going on in the wounds, and the vet doesn't want to seal them until it is gone. So, he gave her more antibiotics, We have to take her in tomorrow for more shots, then if everything is ok, they will patch her up on Monday.

[Scrooge McSam]

Would her shell ever seal on its own?

[lashbear]

I always wanted a turtle. I hope all goes well for her.

It's traumatic being a Daddy sometimes !

[JWBear]

Would her shell ever seal on its own?
It might, but infection would kill her before the shell could grow over the hole. It's like missing a part of the skin - the muscle tissue is exposed.

She ate regular turtle food this morning (along with 2 grapes). Bill was vacuuming a little while ago. She did not like the sound! she was trying to claw her way out of the bathtub - pure panic mode. I had to shut the bathroom door.

Which reminds me: We were at the vet's last night to pick her up. We had her in a plastic bucket and she was doing fine; head stretched out, moving around. Someone came in with a big dog. The dog barked, and Norma pulled in to her shell and just lay there shaking. She didn't calm down until we got hime. Poor thing.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Aww. Norma has post-traumatic stress disorder. I'm sending her (and you two) vibes for turtle health and happiness.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Well, one thing is certain, this is one loved turtle. :)

I hope Norma makes a full recovery and I'm so sorry to hear that you've had to go through all of this.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm very glad to learn that things are looking up for Norma.

I'm wondering if, perhaps in her case, post-traumatic should be a phrase passed over for the rather more obvious "shell shocked."

[JWBear]

^^ Ouch!

[JWBear]

Update:

Her holes are patched! (Why does that sound dirty?)

I took her in this morning. The stuff they used is clear; you can barely tell that it's there. I was expecting something more dramatic!

She has to stay in the bathtub for a few more days. So, I won't be here to see her return to the pond. :( But, she can have supervised basking sessions now!

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'm so glad she's going to be ok! :)

[AllyOops!]

Update:

Her holes are patched! (Why does that sound dirty?)

Because, like your sweet Norma, I too, hope to get my holes patched. Tonight. Sans clear coat. Because given the choice between me & my boyfriend seeing Pirates or staying in, well.... I'll just say this: hole patches argghh great! :argghh:

:p ;)

I'm so happy your little sweetie will be okay! I've been thinking wonderful well wishes for her! :) :snap:

[JWBear]

We found Norma in the middle of the back lawn this morning. Her legs were mangled or missing and she was barely alive. We had to put her down.

Merry Effing Christmas....

[Ghoulish Delight]

:(

May she finally have some peace...and may the owners of that dog drink some salmonella infected egg nog. Assholes.

[katiesue]

Oh no, JW so sorry to hear that. I'll send some positive thoughts your way.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Oh man, that's rough. I'm sorry for your loss. :(

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'm *so* sorry.

[Disneyphile]

Sorry, JW. :(

I hope there's something you can do to bring the dog owners to justice somehow.

[Prudence]

That is just awful news. I'm so sorry. :(

[Not Afraid]

Oh no! Poor Norma! She was quite the adventerous girl, so bold and lively. I'm sorry that her wonderful spirit was the thing caused her harm. RIP Norma the Explorer. :(

[Brigitte]

That's horrible, sorry to hear that.

[tracilicious]

Oh! That is horrible! I'm so sorry. She was a lucky turtle while she was on earth.

[JWBear]

We don't think it was the dog. We made sure she couldn't get under the back fence again, and there was no damage to her shell - just the legs. We've seen some possums in the neighborhood, maybe one got to her while she was out basking. Maybe it was a bird of prey. We really don't know.

[lashbear]

{{{Big Bear Hugs}}} I'm sorry to hear the news. You did the only thing you could. At least she's not suffering now. :(

[Strangler Lewis]

Very sorry to hear about your turtle. You did a good job taking care of her.

[€uroMeinke]

Poor Norma, she was quite a turtle - I'm very sorry for your loss

[BarTopDancer]

:(

[Nephythys]

I'm very sorry- but why was she back outside??? I guess you thought it was safe again-I bet that feels awful

Poor turtle-that must have been horrible.

Do you know whose dog did it? Can't they be held responsible? (on edit- I guess if it was not a dog- it just seems like she was targeted) are you sure a person is not reponsible? I hate to suggest it- but.....

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I'm sorry

[JWBear]

We can't find the other turtle, and 2 of the fish are missing.

[Nephythys]

We can't find the other turtle, and 2 of the fish are missing.

At this point it sounds like you either have a predator that thinks your house is a buffet- or you have a sick neighbor who is doing it.:mad:

[Not Afraid]

Racoons? A hungry Opossom? A Night Heron? There are quite a few possabilities for a "circle of life" occurance, howver, nature sucks sometimes.

[CoasterMatt]

It's the Kraken!!

[JWBear]

Racoons? A hungry Opossom? A Night Heron? There are quite a few possabilities for a "circle of life" occurance, howver, nature sucks sometimes.
We haven't seen any raccoons, but the other 2 are definite possibilities.

[Morrigoon]

*hugs* I'm so sorry to hear it :(