Vet Q&A-Reptile

I have an aquatic red ear slider turtle. He is very lethargic and his legs are swollen. He hasn't been eating. What should I do?

The swollen legs and poor shell condition may be due to poor husbandry (diet and environment). Confirm proper environmental parameters, especially temperature. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. The stress of being in low temps can lead to illness or infection. A poor diet, especially one low in calcium, can lead to poor shell condition and MBD ( metabolic bone disease). This may account for the swollen legs. Ideally, Dave should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Supportive care and calcium supplementation may be indicated to get him on the road to recovery. In the meantime, maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water. Provide a balanced diet including protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc.) fresh greens and vegetables and commercial pellets. Provide a multivitamin and a calcium supplement along with adequate unfilterer sunlight or UVB lighting. You can review slider care at the links below. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/

How should you care for your reptile during a power outage?

Here are some tips on how to care for pets who require continuous heat, such as reptiles and snakes: - Before a power outage, if possible, buy a generator. This will allow you to keep your reptiles warm during the outage. - Amphibians will do okay without heat for a period of time. Try to limit the number of times you open the habitat. - For a heat source, you can go to your local sporting goods store and purchase the heat packs used to warm feet and hands. These can be placed underneath the habitat (just like you would place an electric heating pad). This will allow your reptile to get heat. Do not put the pack into habitat with the reptile. - Another way to warm cold reptiles is to use a pillowcase. Place the reptile gently in the case and place the pillowcase next to your body under your shirt for warmth. - Pillow cases can also be used to transport reptiles if needed. - Do not feed your reptile as they need heat to digest their food. - You can save plastic milk containers and put warm water in them and place in the habitat for warmth. You can heat water on a BBQ grill or your hot water heater. Be careful not to use hot water, as it could burn your reptile. - Be advised that most reptiles will do fine with cooler temperatures; they go into a body slow down, so the temperature change won't hurt them for a short period of time: 24 - 48 hours. - Contact friends that have power and see if you can move your animals to their homes. - It is important to plan ahead of a power outage and have these items on hand to care for your reptiles. Additionally: Usually, IF a reptile needs to be kept warm during a short outage (few days or less), it is recommended that you place them into a small cooler (those little $5 styro ones can work) in a small container. A plastic shoebox or sandwich container can work, with some air holes. Hand warmers, hot water bottles, etc. can be placed into the cooler as well. This will form a very insulated area with a small amount of volume to heat. Be sure there is ventilation provided, though, as the hand warmers can suck oxygen from the air for the chemical reaction. This is a method that can be carried out for a relatively long period of time if necessary, and a digital thermometer with a probe can be placed in with the reptile and monitored from the outside, so you don't have to open the cooler and let out the warmth to check that the heat packs are still working. In all honesty, though, all but the most tropical reptiles can go a few days with temperatures into the 50's or 60's.

I think my cat ate a common house gecko. Please advice what to do?

The gecko itself should pose no risk other than possibly mild gastrointestinal upset. It is another source of protein for your cat. Geckos can harbor parasites such as liver flukes or other intestinal worms though. It would be best if you can prevent Vanilla from ingesting them. Regular exams and deworming would be recommended to keep her healthy. Feed a bland diet for a few days if she vomits or has diarrhea eating one. See your vet if the GI upset does not resolve.

My turtle has got a white colour pimple on his neck .I has stop eating food also. What should I do?

This may be localized infection or inflammation. It could also be an old injury. Keep the area clean. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean the area daily. Maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular partial water changes. Check temps in the tank as well. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. You can review slider care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

My checked my turtle today and he has 3 legs. Help

There are several reports out there of three-legged box turtles. The biggest concerns you will have regarding this is damage to the shell and ability to move on certain surfaces. I would find a good wildlife veterinarian or at least one who is familiar with reptiles to work with. Depending on the part of the leg and foot that is missing, certain mechanical modifications can be made and/or attached to the turtles shell to provide both stability and protection. On the other hand, there are some turtles that have three legs that end up doing just fine. I would interested to know how you noticed that a leg was missing. If it was because you thought Flash wasn't getting around well, then discussing solutions with a veterinarian would be your best bet.

I have a female Indian Flapshell Turtle. Today i noticed that she had slight watery eyes and she blew bubbles with her nose. I also saw that she was floating in water. I checked online and saw that it is some respiratory illness. But she has been hiding inside mud in my garden (i assume she eats worms.) I'm not clear about her illness, please guide.

Yes, it is possible Melanie has a respiratory infection. She should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to confirm the diagnosis. Antibiotics will be necessary if this is the case. Left untreated, she may develop pneumonia which can be life threatening. If an experienced reptile vet is unavailable, your local veterinarian may be able to consult with one online or by phone. Follow this link for a file regarding care of flapshells: http://www.infowares.com/j/indian_flapshell_turtle_caresheet.pdf You may need to take her from the garden and set up a tank for Melanie while she is being treated. It will make it easier to treat and monitor her condition.

Hello doctor My pet is a red eared turtle. For last 2weeks it is not eating anything and its eyes are swelled shut. Its shell is also covered with white patches. I am afraid that he is very sick. Please suggest me its cure and steps to care for him. I would be very helpful. Abhay

These symptoms are usually relate to Vitamin A deficiency, you will need to take him to a reptile vet ASAP in order to get a vitamin A injection as well as vitamin A eye drops. vitamin A deficiency is caused due to lack of it in the food, you will need to make some dietary changes.

This is gonna sound strange but I'm totally serious. I have a few snakes as pets. My favorite one is a Prairie Rattlesnake I've had since she was a little under a foot long. Now she is about 25 inches long. I recently found a New Mexico milk snake. I was bit the same day I put them together. I have been able to hold her numerous times. The rattlesnake I mean. Somebody had told me the reason she bit me was that she was jealous because I put the milksnake in. Is this possible?

It is unlikely that your rattlesnake bit you because she is jealous. I do not think they can be jealous, however it is possible that it felt crowded or threatened when you introduced the milk snake. I am assuming when the rattle snake bit you, it was a dry bite, ie your snake did not inject any venom. You cannot rely on the fact that it may dry bite all the time, so please be careful and make sure you do not get bit again. I see that you are from Mountainair. If you would like to learn about snakes you should visit here: http://msb.unm.edu/divisions/amphibians-reptiles/ and http://www.nmherpsociety.org/ The University of New Mexico has a very good herpetology division and the professors there are really helpful.

My baby turtle can not do latrine or toilet because it's latrine area's skin has fungus. What to do....?? It try to do latrine but can't .please help

If Tuti has a fungal infection, or any type of infection, she should be examined by a veterinarian. If you cannot find one experienced in treating turtles, see a small animal veterinarian who may be able to consult by phone with a herp vet. Check the water quality as well. Turtles need large tanks with powerful filtration to maintain adequate water quality. If not, bacteria and fungi can grow out of control and infect the inhabitants of the tank. You can request a consultation to discuss the case in greater detail and to discuss tank set up, feeding and husbandry.