How Often Should Tortoises Be Vaccinated?

Tortoises are members of the super order Chelonia that live on land, have feet that are not webbed and heavy shells. Although many tortoise owners never take their pets to the vet, tortoises need regular healthcare; poor husbandry and insufficient healthcare are the most common causes of death in these animals. Tortoises are not normally vaccinated; instead, they require de-worming and parasite prevention treatments that are normally administered orally.

  1. Tortoise Vaccinations

    • Vaccinations for tortoises are not yet widely available. As of 2012, a few experimental vaccinations for variants of the herpes virus and some bacterial infections are being tested in zoos and laboratories, but pet tortoises don't need these vaccinations to be healthy. Regular de-worming treatments serve a similar function in tortoises to the function of vaccinations in humans and can help your tortoise to live a long and healthy life.

    De-Worming Treatments

    • Intestinal and blood parasites are the biggest threats to tortoise health. These parasites can invade your tortoise's body and absorb all of her nutrients, creating a severely malnourished and weak tortoise. Some parasites weaken specific organs or spread bacteria to the tortoise that can cause infections. Most captive tortoises have some form of parasite, so it's important to quarantine new tortoises until a veterinarian can examine them. The veterinarian will then administer preventative worming treatments that should be re-administered once per year.

    Fecal Examinations

    • Your turtle should get a fecal examination once per year. The veterinarian will place a small fecal sample under a microscope to check for parasites, infections and signs of nutrient deficiencies. Many infections and parasites are highly treatable in the early stages, and an annual fecal sample allows you to catch any illnesses before your tortoise shows signs of infections.

    Injections

    • Many people confuse vaccinations with injections. Vaccinations prevent specific illnesses before they occur, usually by administering a small amount of the illness that boosts the body's immunity. Injections are simply medications administered through a needle, and some tortoises do require injections. Metabolic bone disease is a common affliction among captive reptiles and occurs when the tortoise gets inadequate sunlight or does not get enough calcium in her food. It leads to bone damage and weakness, and calcium injections can help stop metabolic bone disease in tortoises who are already sick. These injections are typically administered one time in a vet's office; if your tortoise is severely ill, you may be required to administer them daily for up to two weeks. Some tortoises require antibiotic injections after surgery or if they are suffering from serious infections. The administration schedule for antibiotics varies greatly, but most antibiotics are administered at least once a day for at least five days. Never give your tortoise an injection unless advised to do so by your veterinarian.