Vet Q&A-Reptile

Hi, My friend was tortoise-sitting for us while on vacation. We just got "Torty" back & discovered he's infected with worms (very long white worms). Do I need to warn my friend? Could the worms infect her children or have been transmitted to our tortoise by her children? As a note, she has an acquatic turtle which had brief contact with our tortoise. Also, we have a large garden behind our home, will the infection clear on its own now that Torty is outside, or do we need to treat him?

Hello, & thank you for using Boop by Petco. Yes, you should tell your friend about the worms. Intestinal parasites are quite common & over time can cause some serious problems for your tortoise, as well as your friend's. It is important to check a fresh stool sample, at least twice a year, & deworm your pets with an appropriate medication. This should be a part of the routine care that should be given to all tortoises. As for the children, hopefully they know to wash their hands after handling any animals, as all parasites & most other infectious diseases are transmitted through the fecal oral route. Hope this helps. Take care.

I just bought a created gecko and i put him in his enclosure and he ran really fast and then stopped and went under the eco earth and i dug him out and then he went and is laying on the soil now, i misted the tank and i am just nervous that something is wrong since he burrowed right away i know they're nocturnal i just am really nervous

Check the temperature and humidity in the enclosure to ensure proper ranges. He may be searching out moist substrate or warmer/cooler temps. He may also be stressed at the change in environment. Provide a secure hide at each end of the enclosure. Confirm proper environmental parameters. Allow him a few days to acclimate. Don't try to handle him until he settles in and only then for short periods of time. Monitor for lethargy or loss of appetite. Ideally, any new pet should be examined by a veterinarian within 72 hours of arriving home to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any pre existing conditions.

Hello. I have a baby yellow bellied slider turtle. I got her last week she's about 2 inches. The temp is 27C and her water temp is 30C. She's still not eating since i got her. She occasionally opens her mouth whenever i put her outside in sunlight with water. I researched it and it says a possible RI but she loves soaking even in her tank and the symptoms says that if the turtle doesn't want to be in water then it is really a possible RI. Please help.

Be sure to feed her in the water. Water depth should be no more than 3-4 inches at her size. You can offer appropriately sized prey such as crickets or dubia roaches. Brine shrimp, tubifex worms and fresh greens and fruit can also be offered. Commercial pellets or sticks should be a staple. Lethargy, swimming crooked or blowing bubbles are typically signs seen in cases of RI. The "gaping" (opening her mouth) could be her attempt to intimidate you. Follow the link below for more information regarding care. The link is for red eared sliders, but care of YBS is the same. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

My kitty is an indoor/outdoor kitty, every summer, she seems to get thinner and gain a bit during winter. I was told it could be because she eats Lizards and their Vet told them to give them milk because it dilutes the toxicity. Is this true?

River could certainly be losing light in the summer from more exposure to parasites, more activity while hunting, and many pets actually do tend to eat less during the heat of the summer months. There are parasites that the cats can pick up from hunting and keeping them on a routine parasite prevention Such as revolution or Advntage multi would be a good idea. There may have been a recommendation to give the cats milk if they were excessively foaming after hunting lizards and frogs as this will decrease the taste in their mouth to stop the hypersalivation. thank you for using Boop by Petco.

I have an aquatic turtle and she has not ate in the past 4-5 days & she has 4 "indents" on her she'll that weren't there a few days ago. Can you please let me know what this could possibly mean?

If there are soft areas in the shell, Ryder may have shell rot or metabolic bone disease. I would recommend a visit to a reptile vet to assess and diagnose her. Untreated these can potent be fatal. Good luck and I hope she recovers quickly. Arav.com may help you find a vet if needed.

I have two corn snakes, one is red the other is albino and as a first-time snake owner, I'd like to know how ill know when they are about to shed and what to do for them during this time. Thank you. Also what is the best type of bedding for them

Just prior to shedding, the skin will become dull and the eyes will turn a cloudy blueish white. The snake will also begin to rub on anything and everything in the enclosure. Increase humidity or provide a moist hide to facilitate shedding. A water bowl should be provided as well. Aspen shavings are ideal for bedding. Avoid anything dusty such as sand or kitty litter.

I ran out of crested gecko food. I will be getting more tomorrow, but for now I blended pear, apple, strawberries, and banana only for today. Is this okay to give to my crested gecko?

This is fine it it is just for one feeding. Fruit can be offered in addition to the usual live prey (crickets or dubia roaches). You should consider keeping a container of commercial gecko diet for just these occasions as well as to vary the diet.

How can I transport my bearded dragon? how do I keep him warm(it’s starting to get pretty cold now), safe, and happy/calm? and which carrier do you recommend? The plastic ones or the bag-like ones? Thanks so much!

An appropriately sized plastic carrier would retain heat much more effectively. Pad the carrier with towels for protection. If you are traveling any distance, consider wrapping a hand warmer in a towel and placing it in the bottom to provide heat.

Hi! A couple of days ago (Dont remember when exactly) my dog started to whine really loudly, i got very worried and went to check on him, i saw that he was limping and i thought the worse, like abroken leg maybe a snake bite, so i carried him where we could lay down and i tried calming him down- it only worked for like 30 seconds. A couple days passed and he was back to normal, making me wonder what happen, everytime i touch his leg, its like i can feel bone- no muscle. What is wrong with him?

Lucky is a very cute dog! There are several possible causes of temporary limping. He could have had a muscle strain, a knee cap that popped out of place and bothering him for a few days (this is called a luxating patella), he could have had a partial cranial cruciate ligament (the dog version of the ACL in the need) tear, or he could have stepped on something and gotten some material embedded in his paw. If he's no longer limping, there's nothing you need to do now. If he's still limping, I would recommend a veterinary visit for an exam and x-rays of the leg. A veterinarian will be able to do a much more detailed exam and figure out exactly where Lucky is sore. Good luck to you and Lucky! Let me know if this was helpful advice or setup a consultation if you need further help.