Reptiles are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency, leading to swollen eyes and ear abscesses. Zoo-Med Repti Turtle Eye Drops provide relief by opening and clearing inflammation from inflamed eyes as well as helping to prevent eye disease and inflammation – ideal for Box Turtles who often exhibit eye problems.
If your turtle has a Vitamin A deficiency, your veterinarian will conduct a physical exam which includes an oral and eye examination as well as asking you about its diet and supplements.
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Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps your turtle metabolize calcium for healthy bones, shell and skin, as well as supporting its mucus membranes lining the mouth, eyes and kidneys. Without vitamin A in their diets, swollen eyes or pus-filled abscesses in their ears may occur, as well as appetite loss, kidney failure and respiratory infections that could potentially occur without intervention.
Deficiency is usually the result of feeding an inappropriate diet to your turtle. This includes all-meat diets, iceberg lettuce and low quality commercial turtle pellets. Vitamin A injections may help, though this treatment should only be considered in extreme cases due to possible toxic levels (hypervitaminosis A).
Assuring your turtle receives enough vitamin A is the best way to avoid deficiency; foods rich in this nutrient include leafy greens and yellow or orange vegetables, while vitamin A drops may also be used to treat swelling around eyes, heal from bacterial or fungal infections in these areas, or simply maintain eye health.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, supporting growth and repair of skin, mucous membranes, eyes and the ducts in turtle organs. A lack of this nutrient leads to squamous metaplasia; an obstruction in fluid flow through ducts within turtle organs which results in swollen eyes, an unfavorable eye appearance and decreased appetite among other things.
Vitamin A can be obtained in numerous ways, from sunlight or UV light bulbs in their habitat, to natural foods like kale, carrots and squash which contain beta-carotene which the turtle’s body converts into Vitamin A. To ensure enough Vitamin A in a turtle’s diet it’s a good idea to give them daily handfuls of leafy green veggies like kale. Offering once weekly servings of carrots sweet potatoes or squash are also great sources of Vitamin A for turtles.
Vitamin E
As a rule of thumb, only give pure vitamin drops prescribed by a veterinarian to your turtle as these can be highly toxic if consumed excessively.
If your turtle has sore or swollen eyes, this could be due to vitamin A deficiency. Your vet may administer Vitamin A eye drops or another treatment method before conducting a full examination on both their diet and overall health – poor turtle diet is often the source of these issues, so be sure to provide daily leafy green vegetables while limiting iceberg lettuce as much as possible.
Vitamin A deficiency in turtles has been linked with various illnesses such as stomatitis, pneumonia and otitis. Furthermore, it helps keep mucous membranes and organ ducts healthy allowing fluid flow through them. Wild turtles would likely get enough vitamin A through diet and natural sunlight; however captive ones often need supplements in addition to providing their regular food sources.
Vitamin C
As an anti-oxidant, Vitamin C is essential for maintaining overall turtle health and supporting an effective immune system. Furthermore, Vitamin C aids with calcium metabolism and absorption while aiding iron absorption.
Vitamin B-12, or Niacinamide, plays an essential role in metabolism activities of the body and maintains healthy blood cells. Additionally, it has also been proven effective at treating and preventing conditions like Squamous Metaplasia that causes blockage of Eustachian Tubes with dead Squamous cells.
Under-supplementation with vitamin A can lead to hypovitaminosis A. This condition typically results from eating too much meat or low quality commercial pellets and often presents with red, swollen eyes with pus-like discharge and may affect other organs such as mouths, ears, kidneys and upper respiratory tract.
