Vet Q&A-Reptile

How do I get my bearded dragon to eat? He is not eating at all and it's been 2 days.

Thanks for reaching out about Draggy. There can be multiple reasons for a bearded dragon to stop eating. The first thing to look into is the husbandry. Bearded dragons need to be kept at a very warm temperature, and if allows to cool, will decrease or stop there digestive tract and ability to digest. The cold temperature will also decrease the immune system and other physiological processes. The possibility of an intestinal infection or parasites are also possible. A veterinary visit will be needed to diagnose this. At home, attempting to syringe feed your bearded dragon with a vegetable baby food, can aid in providing nutrition and fluids. Providing a warm wear soak in a shallow pan, such as 2-3 cm of water will sometimes stimulate defecation and/or drinking. This has sometime resulted in eating after. If that doesn't work, please seek the aid of a veterinarian.

Hello my bearded dragon has a swollen leg and it’s very stiff but I don’t know what to do the photos below are comparing the two front legs

The swollen leg may be due to injury, infection or nutritional deficiency. Ideally, Rainn should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. This may require x-rays and lab work. Review his diet and environment with your veterinarian. The basics required include a 10 gallon tank (at minimum), UVB lighting, a heat lamp focused on a basking spot, 2 hides (one on the coolside, one on the warm side and a shallow water bowl. The heat lamp should provide a temperature gradient across the enclosure. Substrate can be reptile carpet, slate, paper towels or wood chips. A balanced diet of appropriately sized prey (crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, Phoenix worms, etc) and fresh greens and vegetables should be offered daily. Vitamin supplements and calcium supplementation should also be provided. You can review dragon care at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

Hi, I have noticed this pinkish coloring on my Mississippi Map turtles belly and i am concerned that this is the early stages of septicemia. If it is, what should i do to try and get rid of this

Thanks for reaching out about Shelby and including a photo. Even though the shell appears pinkish, it also appears symmetrical, which is not necessarily an indication of sepsis. If the lesions progress or Shelby becomes lethargic, a veterinary visit and probably antibiotics are recommended. Check water quality parameters, as dirty water can lead to immune suppression and secondary infections. Investigate diet and correct any deficiencies. Good luck.

My tortoise(indian star tortoise,age 9 years)fell from the balcony(about 9 feet).he looks normal but is bleeding from mouth and nose.i think it is internal bleeding.i dont find any reptile vet in my area so can you please suggest me some medicin and cure to stop bleeding.

There is no medicine that you can buy over the counter stop bleeding in a tortoise. If there is internal bleeding it will either stop or not, there is nothing you can do about it unfortunately. You cannot give those medications anyway, unless you know there is actual internal bleeding or you will cause more issues. I'm sorry this happened but there is nothing you can do but either get him to a vet or just wait it out and see how he does. I suggest you try to minimize handling in the next few days as to not stress him and keep him in a calm, quiet area away from any other pets.

When i found this bearded dragon he was almost dead and i have gotten back to fairly decent health. My question is about the bump at the base of his tail. Could it be an impaction or do you think its an injury. He does have mobility problems and problems pooping, but he is showing steady improvements.

Thanks for reaching out about Sneaky Pete and including photos. This is a possible spinal luxation, possibly due to previous metabolic bone disease. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Ensure UVB exposure and diet contains adequate calcium. A review of diet and husbandry is recommended also. Good luck.

My bearded dragon isn't eating. What do I do? I am very worried.

Hello, I'm sorry to hear that Jiggy hasn't been eating. A lack of appetite in reptiles is often a first general sign of illness. Bearded dragons are prone to respiratory infections, intestinal parasites, metabolic bone disease, and some stomach cancers. I would recommend taking Jiggy into a veterinarian to be seen. They can perform a physical exam and will likely recommend bloodwork and x-rays to start investigating the cause of his problem. Once they have a better idea after diagnostics, they can talk to you about treatment options. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Boop by Petco!

My iguana has this what can I do

It may be an abscess or injury in the mouth. He would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles for confirmation and treatment. He may need antibiotics.

I would like to identify a turtle species, was found in Israel on land that is far away from water and it wont eat anything

I would love to help you identify the turtle, but it would help to have three photos (sharp) : top of carapace, bottom of carapace (belly) and from the side with the head extended (out, not hiding). It would also help to know the name of the area where it was found. It may be a Negev tortoise or one of the other two species of land tortoises: the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, the most common turtle in Israel and the much rarer Egyptian tortoise, a desert species.

My leopard gecko is breathing hard, her throat and sides of chest are moving with each breath more than usual. She is not eating, and is lethargic. There are no signs of discharge or other obvious external symptoms.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.