Vet Q&A-Reptile

Turtle was being treated for a bacterial infection with Fortaz injections. Last injection was on 1-16-17. Between then and now the leg in question is beginning to swell (front right). First 3 injections were in the front, left leg. Last 2 injections were in the infected leg. Could the swelling have anything to do with the injections being administered in the infected leg? Or something else? Appt. is scheduled for 1-27-16, anything I can do in the meantime to ease the swelling?

The swelling could be related to the injections although it's more likely due to the infection. you can try cold compresses several times a day on the affected leg, if the swelling is too severe you should take Jazzy to the vet earlier.

My Miniture Schnauzer got a patch on his cheek where the skin hardened and he is now shedding the piece of skin with hair. Where the skin is coming off there is already new hair underneath. It reminds you of a reptile shedding his skin. What can this condition be. It does not fit any description or photo of any of the known skin diseases.

It sounds like he has a hot spot which can be caused by allergies, infections, licking/chewing/scratching, mites/fleas, etc. Have your vet take a look at the area to determine the exact cause. Your vet may need to shave and scrub the area and he may need an oral antibiotic and a steroid to help treat the problem.

I have a crested gecko and he has been very lethargic lately. He's not eating, not climbing, and spending most of his time on the ground.

Anytime a reptile becomes excessively lethargic, you must check the ambient and basking temperatures. Low temps can dramatically affect activity and appetite. Set daytime temps between 78 F and 82 F . Night temps can drop into the low 70s F. A small basking area set at around 80 F should be provided. They are nocturnal, so don't expect a lot of daytime activity. Offer a variety of appropriately sized prey (crickets, dubia roaches, etc.) as well as a commercial gecko diet. You may need to hold prey in front of him or tap his nose to elicit a strike. Do not attempt to force feed him. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Gently stroking his abdomen during the soak may produce a bowel movement if he hasn't been defecating. The soak will treat or prevent mild dehydration. If he continues to exhibit this behavior or does not start eating, have him examined by an experienced herp veterinarian. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites.

My turtle alex has something on her head and it has made her shell get soft I'm not sure what to do or if it I contagious to my other turtle Leo.

Unfortunately it looks like Alex has a bad case of wet shell rot also known as SCUD. As this is quite severe I would take him to a vet with experience of chelonians asap as untreated it can progress into blood poisoning. If possible it woukd be best to isolate Alex as it is usually due to an infection of bacteria or fungi.

So, my red slider turtle (male, name is Mr. Grumpy) has a round tail, it kind of looks like a pimple in a way, but more longer and cylinder like. I've noticed that my other turtle Silent, she's the female, has a regular pointy tail. I've done research on red slider tails, and they all have the same tail as Silent, or similar in structure, but not Mr. Grumpy's. Can anyone help me determine why his tail might be disformed? Should I take him to a vet? Please help!!

It appears as if he had a tail injury at some point in his life that resulted in a short or stunted tail. You can have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to make sure it isn't a recent occurrence and that there is no infection. If the end is normal and healthy, Mr. Grumpy should be fine. A short tail will have no negative affect on his life or activity.

Hi my baby bearded dragon has an odd shape around the stomach more like a circle then an oval he/her has an sibling with the normal oval stomach. Aslo a tiny bump at the start of the left part of his/her tail the dragon was born on July 5th this year and this is the same as with my other bearded dragon. I would greatly appreciate if you help because I'm starting to get a little worried, Thanks

I think I just answered this question. I will answer it again just incase! The round body is usually just a confirmation difference. It can be from weight gain and usually the rounder belly is a little fatter bearded dragon. I would not be concerned at this time. I would just monitor there eating and weight!

I have an African Fat Tail Gecko that is 14 years old. I don't know his sex, but he's adorable. He is eating, shedding and appearing normal, Except he is all of a sudden extremely thin. Almost skeletal in his head area and his body is smaller, although his tail is still proportionate to his now smaller torso. How can I help him

Have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Confirm proper environmental parameters which may be affecting his appetite and digestion. If he will eat more, offer more prey. Gut load them for 24 hours to maximize nutritional value. Dust several times weekly with appropriate calcium and vitamin supplements. . Soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Do this daily for 10-15 minutes to prevent or treat mild dehydration. Do not hesitate to post additional questions or request a consultation for more detailed information.

I have a small spur thighed tortoise and she does weird noises as if she has a cold and while sleeping i can see bubbles comes out of her nose sometimes, and sometimes it's like she's choked or something she open her mouth and yawns a lot

It sounds like your tortoise has an upper respiratory tract infection. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian that is comfortable treating reptiles. She may need x-rays to determine what is going on. Your vet will probably recommend antibiotics and possibly a breathing treatment to help clear up the nasal passages. Good luck.

I've never had a crested gecko before and I'm about to rescue one from a girl. This gecko has MBD. I need all advice and tips on how to help it. Thank you!

As you probably know MBD is a metabolic disease due to lack of Calcium. Treatment must be done properly at your local vets, while prevention (or cure of mild forms of MBD) can be achieved by following these recommendations: Gut load live food prior to feeding making them more nutritious, dust live food with Nutrobal, Calcium, and/or Calcium D3, use correct UVB light, avoid excessive phosphorous in a diet (most fruits are high in P and low in Ca).