Stomatitis:

Stomatitis or Mouth rot affects most tortoises at some point in their lives. When a tortoise eats something sharp, like a thorn a small lesion or even just a piercing can occur. Even the smallest scape or cut can get horribly infected if not kept clean. It is hard to avoid all causes of stomatitis, but some things can be changed to help prevent this painful and potentially life threatening condition. 

 

Causes:

• Lesions inside the mouth 

• Badly done beak trimming

• Foreign body obstruction

 

Symptoms:

When a tortoise has stomatitis they usually present with the following behavioural and physical symptoms.

 

Behavioural:

• General discomfort

• Avioding solid food

• Anorexia

 

Physical:

• Red, swollen gums

• Swelling in the side of the gum facing the inner cheeks

• Halitosis/bad breath

• Plaque

• White or bloody discharge from the gums

• Weight loss

 

Prevention

• Clean out your tortoise's habitat regularly and always check for foreign objects that are sharp or toxic.

• When feeding your tortoise, make sure to check for sharp things like thorns in their food.

• Check your tortoise's mouth as often as once a day to see if there is any sign of obstruction.