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Don’t run around trying to gather supplies you need after your boxie has been injured. Collect the things you’re likely to need ahead of time in a box and store it with the rest of your turtle supplies.
Voila. Instant box turtle first aid kit!
Supplies For Your Box Turtle First Aid Kit
So what should you put in your kit? A lot of the same things you have in your own, plus a few extras.
- Clean towels (useful for many things, including holding your turtle in your lap while you work on him)
- Thick gloves (helps keep you from getting scratched or bit if your turtle protests your treatments)
- Latex or nitrile gloves
- First aid tape
- Vet wrap (Vetrap by 3M; this special bandaging tape is self-adherent (sticks to itself) so it stays put better)
- Waterproof bandages
- Gauze pads
- Cotton-tipped swabs and cotton balls
- Magnifying glass (for inspecting wounds)
- Antiseptic solution (povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine gluconate are good choices)
- Antibiotic ointment
- Nail clippers
- Sharp scissors
- Small tweezers
- Squeeze bottle of distilled water (for flushing eyes or wounds)
- Styptic powder to stop bleeding (can also use corn starch)
- Repta-Aid (a supplement for reptiles that aren’t eating; you’d want the carnivore formula)
Use Only for Minor Turtle Injuries
Your box turtle first aid kit is a great tool for treating minor injuries your box turtle may suffer.
But it’s a bad idea to try to treat major injuries like broken shells or animal bites on your own. Injuries like that can be more serious than you realize. They can include internal injuries that you can’t see.
It’s best to let a professional handle these cases.
Also check with your vet if you’re not sure if an injury is something you can handle. It’s better to bring him in for a minor issue than to find out too late that it was serious.
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