Repairing Turtle Shells With Eye Fasteners: An Innovative Solution

Bra hooks and eye closures can be used to repair cracks in turtle shells. The hooks and eyes are glued to either side of a shell fracture and then pulled together with a zip tie to stabilize the injury. This method was popularized by Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, a North Carolina-based animal rescue group that treats turtles with shell injuries. The group puts out a call on social media for discarded bra hooks and eye closures, which they use to mend turtle shells. The hooks and eyes act as fixators, helping to wire the shell back together until it heals. Once the shell has mended, the fasteners are easily removed before the turtles are released back into the wild.

Bra hooks can be used to repair cracked turtle shells

When a turtle is rescued with a cracked shell, wildlife experts use epoxy glue to attach the hooks of bra clasps on opposite sides of the fracture. They then wind a zip tie through the hooks to pull the shell together, allowing it to heal. Once the shell has mended, the zip ties and bra clasps are removed, and the turtle is released back into the wild.

There is a lack of specialised tools for treating severe turtle shell wounds. Using bra hooks is a creative and ingenious solution that helps stabilise the injury. It is important to stabilise shell fractures to reduce pain and promote healing, just as with human bone fractures.

Some rescue organisations have put out calls on social media for donations of bra clasps. However, as they have received an overwhelming response, they now ask that people share their cause or donate money instead of bra clasps. People can also contact local wildlife rescue groups that rehabilitate turtles to see if they need donations.

Zip ties and glue are used to bind the shell together

Zip ties and glue are used to bind a turtle's shell together, a method often employed to save turtles that have been hit by cars. This is a common occurrence, especially in the spring and summer when female turtles search for soft soil to lay their eggs. When a turtle's shell breaks, it can be fatal. Thus, it is important to bring injured turtles to a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitation center for treatment.

To repair a turtle's shell, zip ties are gently tightened to bring the pieces of the shell together so they can heal. The cable ties will stay on for several weeks, and wildlife experts will regularly check the stability of the setup. In addition to zip ties, glue is applied to the shell to hold the pieces in place. This glue eventually wears down, allowing for easy removal once the turtle is ready to be released back into the wild.

It is important to note that not all shell cracks can be fixed at home. If there are large defects or infections in the cracks, a veterinarian should be consulted. They may prescribe antibiotics and recommend other treatments, such as applying a fiberglass patch and resin to the shell. The turtle's environment should also be considered, as turtles that live in water need to be kept dry until their shells heal to prevent bacteria and debris from entering the cracks.

Overall, zip ties and glue play a crucial role in repairing cracked turtle shells, but proper veterinary care and monitoring are also essential for the turtle's recovery and rehabilitation.

Turtles are released back into the wild once healed

Turtles are extremely vulnerable to injury and shell damage, with many falling victim to lawnmowers, boats, and cars. The latter is especially common during the spring and summer months when turtles are more abundant and are moving onto the shoreline to lay their eggs.

Once rescued, the turtles' wounds are cleaned, and antibiotics are administered if required. The turtles are then kept dry, as water can cause bacteria and debris to enter the cracks in their shells.

To repair the turtles' shells, rescuers use bra hooks, clasps, and eye closures, along with zip ties, wire, and glue to bind the broken shell together. The hooks and eyes are glued to either side of the fracture and then pulled together with a zip tie to stabilize the injury. This method acts as a fixator, allowing the shell to heal.

Once the turtles have healed and the glue has worn down, the clasps can be easily removed, and the turtles are released back into the wild.

Broken shells can be fixed at home

Turtle and tortoise shells are very hard, but they can still be damaged. Large breeds of dogs such as Akitas and Dobermans possess enough power in their jaws to break shells. Turtles and tortoises can also damage their shells by falling from a great height or being hit by a car.

If your turtle or tortoise has a cracked shell, it can often be fixed at home. However, sometimes the injury will need to be seen by a vet that specializes in exotic animals. If there is any blood or dirt on the shell, you will need to clean the shell with chlorohexidine solution or diluted iodine a few times a day for about a week or until all the dirt and debris are out of the wound. Keeping the wound clean will help speed up the healing process and will discourage other conditions such as shell rot. If your turtle lives in water, you will need to keep it dry until its shell heals, as water from its tank can cause bacteria and debris to enter the cracks.

If there are large defects or infections in the cracks, your turtle or tortoise will require antibiotics such as Baytril or ceftazidime, which can be prescribed by a veterinarian. You will need to administer the antibiotics for at least a week. Infections that are still present when the fractures begin to close will be allowed to fester, and the "trapped" infection will make your turtle or tortoise very sick.

Very large cracks should be left to an exotic vet, as they have plenty of experience in this area. However, small cracks can be fixed at home. You can use a turtle and tortoise-safe fiberglass patch to cover up any cracks or depressions on the shell. This patch will need to be adhered to the shell with glue. After attaching the fiberglass patch, you will need to ensure that the turtle or tortoise is in an area where things can't attach and get stuck to the glue, such as a clean surface or a plastic container. After a few days of drying, you can apply the resin to their shell to keep water from getting into the wound. After a few more hours of drying time, you can return your turtle or tortoise to its normal enclosure. However, it's important to note that their shell can take up to a few years to fully heal.

When to see a vet

It's always best to get the opinion of a vet in the instance of an injury as critical as a cracked shell. For very serious damage, including puncture wounds from an animal bite or any wound that is bleeding, you need to take your turtle or tortoise to the vet as soon as possible. Many of these wounds can easily get infected, and the infection may spread throughout your turtle or tortoise's body. In severe cases that are left untreated, there may be extensive internal damage that cannot be seen by the human eye.

Vets can repair shells with small pieces of fibreglass and epoxy resin

Vets can repair turtle shells with small pieces of fibreglass and epoxy resin. This method is commonly used to repair fractured or damaged chelonian shells. The process involves cleaning and drying the affected area, then applying a patch made of sterilised fibreglass cloth impregnated with epoxy resin. It is important to ensure that the epoxy resin does not get on the edges of the bony plate, as this may impede bone healing.

The fibreglass cloth is cut into round pieces that overlap the defect by 1.5-3 cm, as square pieces tend to unravel at the edges. The epoxy resin is applied to the periphery of the defect, not the edges or inside the cavity. The first patch is worked into the ring of epoxy, and a light coat of resin is applied to the centre of the patch. This process is repeated, with each layer being allowed to dry before the next is applied. Generally, two layers of the patch, plus a top coat, are enough to complete the repair.

The two-part epoxy components are mixed in a 1:1 ratio, and the polymerisation time is about 3-5 minutes. The resin loses its tackiness and hardens in another 4-5 minutes. Before placing the turtle back in its enclosure, the patch can be sprayed with vegetable oil to prevent substrata from sticking to it. In aquatic or semi-aquatic turtles, a top coat of slower-polymerising boat-repair resin should be applied a day or two after the patch.

This method of repair is effective in treating fractures and damage caused by infection. It is important to stabilise the animal and ensure it has full use of all its limbs before beginning the shell repair process. Antibiotics are also administered to prevent infection. With proper care and treatment, vets can successfully repair turtle shells using small pieces of fibreglass and epoxy resin.

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