The shell is the armor that protects the fragile and slow turtle from any attacks, finding dents in this armor will likely be very worrisome to you. This strong body part is generally quite durable and not one to have dents.
This article looks into why your turtle’s shell is dented
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Why is my turtle’s shell dented?
If there is a dent in your pet’s shell then you may think there is a place of weakness in your pet’s shell, this isn’t good as the shell protects the vital organs of the turtle’s body
This article looks into why your turtle’s shell is dented:
Injury:
One reason why there may be a dent in your turtle’s shell may be because the reptile suffered an injury that the shell could not protect from.
Your turtle could have been bitten by a dog and the animal’s teeth may have left a dent in the shell.
Turtle-related injuries that could have caused the dent, these turtle related injuries could have been caused by other turtles, from falls, or the turtle may have accidentally injured itself
What to do:
As long as the animal isn’t bleeding, and as long as there isn’t an open wound at the dent site, then your pet should be fine, keep an eye out for any signs of distress in your pet just for good measure
If the site is bleeding or has a wound then take your pet to the vet.
Age:
Another reason why your turtle’s shell may have a dent in it may be because of the reptile’s age. As turtles age their shells develop dents in them, this is a natural process. These depressions are generally quite small.
These dents happen because of age-related changes in the tissue of the periosteum.
When turtles age the process of cell renewal starts to slow down, mineral loss also happens and so does the decrease of moisture in the connective tissue, the result is a loss of electricity in the connective tissue and this causes dents to form in the shell.
This happens earlier on in turtles who are in human care. In the wild, this happens with turtles who are about 50 but it happens at a younger age with turtles in captivity.
What to do:
You don’t have to worry if this is happening with your turtle it’s simply a sign of old age.
As long as your pet is kept in an enclosure that is big enough for it, as long as the animal is getting enough exercise, and as long as the animal’s diet is appropriate then your pet should be fine.
Metabolic bone disease:
Another of the reasons why your pet turtle has dents in its shell is because of metabolic bone disease.
This is a common condition that affects turtles that have an imbalance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in their diet, a good balance is needed to maintain a strong and healthy shell
If your pet’s shell is not strong and healthy then it will cause the shell to become misshapen.
In addition to the dents in your turtle’s shell other signs of this condition include reluctance to move, weight loss, decreased appetite, pliable jaw bones, lethargy and weakness,
What to do:
Turtles who have this condition usually completely recover when given vitamin supplements.
Vitamin D supplements and calcium supplements are recommended and giving the animal full-spectrum ultraviolet light is also recommended.
If your pet’s condition is severe then you may have to take the animal to the vet
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other turtle/tortoise related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Turning Blue?, Why Does My Turtle’s Shell Look Cracked?, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Breaking?, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Shiny?, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Turning Green?, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Squishy?, Why Is My Turtle’s Shell Getting Darker, Why Is My Turtles Shell Caving In?, Why Is My Baby Turtle Not Growing?