horsfield tortoise shell looks like its coming apart!

by Paula
(west yorkshire)

Hi, I have a 6 yr old horsfield called shellby. I got her given by someone who didn't want her january 2009. I love her to bits. I took her to the vets for a check up and had her nails clipped the same day I got her. The vet told me not to let her hibernate as she was too thin and would not survive. She had been a little over looked in the home she had come from and was not in the best of conditions. After a few days she was like a different tortoise, full of life and scared of nothing!! amazing! we have had a lovely summer with her in the garden and I have bought her a vivarium and stuff and she seems happy. we still get her out now and then and let her roam around and excersize. She has a lumpy bumpy shell so I powder her food and have got a sun lamp bulb in her viv, I bathe her a couple of times a week, I ger the complete tortoise food pellets along side fresh veg and weeds and flowers (depending on wot is in the garden). Her shell does not look to be getting better. Is it ok to keep them awake all year or is it best to let them hibernate?