If you own a Russian Tortoise then you may want to talk with your vet about health conditions to look out for. For instance, mouth rot is a common condition that occurs in a variety of turtles, snakes, and lizards. Mouth rot (also called necrotic stomatitis) refers to an inflammation of the mouth or the oral cavity. First signs of mouth rot may include inflammation or small hemorrhages on the gums. Excessive amounts of mucus in the mouth that may contain blood or pus may also occur. Lesions and hemorrhages could also appear on the inside edge of the turtle’s lip area. When mouth rot occurs your Russian Tortoise may have a severely swollen mouth and may appear to be breathing through his mouth. Mouth rot is usually a result of other conditions such as illness, injury, poor nutrition, stress, improper environment or temperatures. Talk with your vet Las Vegas, NV to learn more.