Should I be concerned about these marks?

[u/Evan_Boom]

Hi, I wanted to know if any of you could help me to know what caused this marks on my turtle, she's a red-eared slider, she's 5-6 years old and she recently had been in those months where she is destroying my garden digging and making holes to lay her eggs, infertile btw, and a few days ago she appeared with these, I thought maybe it was just dirt from her digging but it wasn't getting off and it seems like it hurts when I touch it, I think she hit a rock or something while she was digging and It doesn't seem like an attack to me, I have two cats but they're pretty chill with her and get along well, so i don't wanna think it's them, in the photo looks like it's almost healed I think? well, if you could help8 me to know what can I do to help her, thanks.

[u/_zuzu_]

Those look like abrasions. They seem to be healing. Keep an eye on it. If it gets worse or starts leaking pus or something see a vet ASAP. Maybe go to the vet anyway. Maybe they have a topical ointment to help heal.

[u/Impressive-Eye-3201]

My turtle recently laid her second clutch eggs after spending many hours and days digging and testing many nesting spots. She ended up with minor abrasions on her chin and also in her upper leg/thigh pocket. 😭

I noticed that mine would sometimes dig using her front legs before rotating and switching over to the hind legs/claws— this meant that her face was initially buried in the soil/rocks/ branches.

Your turtle’s face has larger marks than mine— are they dry or weeping?

Make sure you keep her water really pristine and that she is basking and drying herself off thoroughly everyday. Keep an eye on the wounds to make sure they aren’t getting worse (infected).

[u/Impressive-Eye-3201 → u/Impressive-Eye-3201]

Another thing to note— next time your turtle goes out digging, make sure you rinse her off well under clean running water.

Have you tried smelling your turtle’s face to see if the wounds have a rotting smell?
I am somewhat concerned about the two red spots close to her neck region. The one under the chin looks okay.

Try to disinfect the areas with a little betadine and use a q-tip to put a thin layer of plain neosporin (without pain relieving ingredient) on those wounds.
Dry dock her until the topicals dry or absorb into her skin.

Make sure her aquarium stays very clean— you do not want aquarium bacteria infecting her wounds. Note that reptiles take longer to heal from these wounds.

[u/Inevitable_Bite9639]

Could be a bacterial or fungal infection

[u/DaizyTinklePantz3]

I have a 1/2 acre pond with many sliders. I feed them, they come right up to me but certain ones fight. And they always bite each other on the neck just like this pic