I have just been giving my little tortoise a cuddle and a quick check over as I do every day, and I have noticed a small tear in the loose skin at the back of her neck, it isn't red or weeping or anything like that but I'm really worried, do I keep an eye on it and leave it to heal itself or do I take her to a vet???

can you get a picture of this please
is it a tear or could ur tort be sheading skin>? i have thaught this a few times and its been loose skin coming off souds silly but its worrying ,
if it is defo a tear i would keep eye on it post a pic get more opinions and then go from there check again its not just thick skin coming off,and new growth

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home sweet home

Sometimes it can be were they rub against their shell

I'm sorry but I cant get a photo as she keeps on putting her head in, I calle a pet shop that sell tortoises and asked if he could recomend a vet, but he did just seemed bored and didn't really give me an answer, i have called a few in our area and there dosen't seem to be any of them who deals in tortoise. I know it's a long shot but if anyone knows the name of a reptile vet in the Sunderland area I would be eternally greatfull if you could pass it on please,

ps i have just had a friend call to take a look at her, he said not to worry unless it becomes sore looking, it looks as though the skin is shedding, a bit like us having a wicklow! he said it is because reptiles have very dry skin, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

hi yes i have had this with a young leopard tortoise every time anyone passed him he would pull his head in quite quickly and he had a little scrape on the back of his neck from the constant rubbing,of course it stood no chance of healing like that so i put a small fabric plaster on his shell so it wouldnt scrape his neck .it took a couple of years before it was completely better. but now as an adult he is my dominant male in the group and pulls his head in for no one.if you look to see if he is scrapeing it on his shell when he pulls his head in it may well be the same thing.

terry

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Thanks everyone for all of your advice, I have calmed down a bit today , I have taken another look during todays cuddle and check over, and it does actually seem as though the skin is shedding, it looks alot dryer and I can see new skin growth underneath when she moves her head about. I will definately keep an eye on it though, she still seems a little on the quiet side unless that is me being over protective again, I honestly can't help it !! I love her sooooo much

If it is flaky and translucent... normal shedding.

If it is where the skin meets the shell... vet attention is needed. If the tortoise is active and eating this is probably not the case.

If the skin is actually torn you will see red... either blood or muscle.

Ed

Thank you for that advice -EJ,
she is as active as ever, and still eating a varied diet, she was out of her viv playing about all day yeasterday and seemed happy and alert and there is no redness whatsoever, and so it must be where the skin is shedding, I will continue to keep an eye on her though untill I am completely happy about her health, gave me one massive shock.
And can I just say, that I also followed your advice on the feeding problems I was having with her, I don't know if you remember that post? but I have persevered and she is now happy to eat the T-Rex tortoise food served moist along with her fresh food

You're welcome.

Ed