Vet Q&A-Reptile

My laperd gecko tail fell off and half of the tail is black what does that mean and what will happen if not treated

Most of the time when a gecko loses its tail no treatment is necessary. You can try soaking in a dilute betadine solution if concerned about infection. If truly infected, Lala may need a visit to a reptile veterinarian. More about gecko's dropping their tails. http://m.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=2485

I've lost 6 dogs in the last 9 months. One had to be euthanized because he attacked me viciously and his sister died of a heart attack today 3 were very old jrt's one was killed by the neighbors dog. One was hit by a car one had a stroke. I have 1 jrt left he is 11. I need a dog that will be my protector and my best friend. Snake killer would be a plus. Do you have any idea what breed I should go for. I need a companion. And would an animal shelter be better. I have lots of love to give.

I am so sorry to hear about your losses. I would definitely consider a mixed breed dog from a shelter or rescue group. A medium to large sized dog, such as a retriever or pit bull mix might be a good size if you are looking for a dog to be a "protector". You will want to be sure to talk to the rescue group or shelter about what you are looking for in a dog and what your lifestyle is like (active vs. mostly sedentary, living in an apartment vs large fenced yard, other pets in the house) so they can fit you with the right personality for your dog. You can also look at http://www.akc.org/find-a-match/#slide1 to help get an idea of some breeds you may be interested in (however a mixed breed is always a great choice).

Hi, my bearded dragon has femoral pores that look very clogged. Along with baths to loosen the pores, what kind of antibiotics should be used for this? Does the waxy stuff in the pores need to be removed?

Unless there is infection, antibiotics should not be used. If Fireball needs medication, have your herp veterinarian examine him and dispense meds if indicated. Routine soaking and having a rough branch or two to rub on is typically enough to keep the femoral pores from becoming impacted.

Hello i have a leopard gecko i got her from my biology teacher shes super tamed i was wondering if i should feed them crickets or mealworms and how meny

Offer two appropriately sized insects for every inch of a leopard gecko’s total length. A meal every other day is fine. Example: a 4-inch-long gecko would receive eight mealworms three to four times a week. I Make sure to gut-load and dust the insects with calcium and vitamin powder before feeding. Here is a great video on how to feed your gecko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqcGMIqZgo4 Hope this helps. Best wishes!

last night my star turtle got injured by rat. Rat eat his legs and hand outer part what should i do now

He should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. If your vet is unavailable, have him seen at the nearest veterinary ER. The wounds should be assessed and treated as indicated. Antibiotics and pain management will likely be indicated. Secure the tank to prevent incursions by predators or scavengers.

My 10 months old bearded dragon isnt really eating I forced feed him today , he opens hes mouth even when hes not basking im worried it might be a respiratory infection.

I am sorry Attila is not feeling well. It is hard to tell by the picture but it appears she might be a little under weight. I would recommend taking her to a vet for a better exam due to her not eating. It is possible she has an injury or infection in her mouth causing pain while eating. Upper respiratory infections, metabolic disease and fungal disease can cause anorexia. Also, they will decrease their appetite if they are about to shed. I would try to increase the amount of gut loaded or dusted crickets and vegetables. Sometimes feeding vegetables can help stimulate there appetite.

My bearded dragon fell from the sofa on his legs but when he tried to walk after he was dragging his back legs can you help please

You need to take Burt to a reptile ver asap as he may have serious damage. His back could be injured which will make it diffucult for him to walk and go to the toilet. He may need xrayed to make sure nothing is broken and will at least need pain relief.

Hi my horse field tortoise has a slight small ball like bulge to the left of it's jaw. Only came today.

This is most likely an abscess that has formed. Fudge will need to be seen by a vet to have it treated. If it is diagnosed as an abscess the vet will flush it out and place Fudge on antibiotics. I would recommend seeking treatment right away so the swelling does not get any bigger because it may affect Fudge's ability to eat.

My adult bearded dragon ate some sensitive fern fronds, what should I do? Onoclea sensibilis

This could possibly lead to toxicity causing gastrointestinal signs (vomiting/diarrhoea), depending on the amount ingested the severity of the signs can be different. I would recommend an immediate veterinary check up and close monitoring for the next 24 hours (especially appetite and possibly diarrhoea or constipation).