Yawning
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Copyright by Valerie Haecky. This document may be freely 
distributed for non-profit use, provided this notice is
included.


While turtles yawn occasionally just like all animals, frequent
yawning combined with wheezing is a pretty good indicator of some
respiratory trouble. (Oder potential causes could be obstruction of
the airway by a tumor or some other means, but I've never hear this
happening in turtles.)
There are some simple tests that can be done to get a diagnosis:
* Put your turtle into the water. If he floats lopsided at all, then
  he has fluid in his lungs.
* Smear from the throat/airway. This will show a bacterial infection.
* Blood test. This will show bacterial infection and inflammation.
* X-Rays are often taken to determine the same thing. (If there is
  fluid in both lungs, the turtle will swim righted, but he may have
  a harder time adjusting his buoancy.)
* Check my website for more information on respiratory infections.
* Baytril is a good antibiotic drug to start on. There are other
  antibiotics than can also be used. You should be injecting it.
  Make sure you follow the instructions for injection. Make sure the
  dosage is calculated based on turtle weight MINUS shell weight.
  Injection must be intra-muscular, twice daily, 2.5-5mg per kg (kilogramm)
  of body weight. Baytril is not nephrotoxic and you can inject pretty
  much anywhere. Rear legs are fine. Switch legs
  for every injection. Be careful not to poke the bone.
  For respiratory infections, Baytril can be given for several weeks.
  Minimum, as for all antibiotics, is 7-10 days. 2 weeks is a good
  time frame for a first time. The turtle may stop eating during
  treatment and be a bit sleepier from the drug. If there is no
  improvement after 2 weeks, re-evaluate. The stuff takes a few days
  to kick in.

Remember that I am not a veterinarian and I urge
you to double-check all veterinary advice with a qualified veterinarian, in
particular calculation of dosage and confirmation of diagnosis.