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Management of freshwater turtle shell injuries

Lab Animal volume 38, pages 13–14 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Repair of injured turtle shells can be difficult and time-consuming. This article describes how to manage the freshwater turtle in this phase of healing and how to keep fracture sites 'water-free'.

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Figure 1: Names of the individual scutes of an eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis).
Figure 2: Three standard radiographic views, lateral (a), craniocaudal (b) and dorsoventral (c), should be obtained as soon as possible to provide information regarding bony fractures and respiratory compromise and to determine whether the turtle is gravid.

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Affiliations

  1. North Shore Veterinary Specialist Centre, 64 Atchison St., Crows Nest NSW 2065, Australia

    David Vella

Authors
  1. David Vella
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Correspondence to David Vella.

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Vella, D. Management of freshwater turtle shell injuries. Lab Anim 38, 13–14 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0109-13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0109-13

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