Vet Q&A-Reptile

My snake recently got out of its terrarium and i found it in the bushes with cuts on its body what should i do

If the snake has wounds on its body I would recommend a veterinary exam to be sure antibiotic treatment isn't necessary. You can clean off the wounds with a mild warm soapy water for now and schedule an appointment with your vet when they open tomorrow. The topical antibiotic I have used in snakes is called silvadene, but it is a prescription only medication so if that is what is required, you will need to get a prescription from your veterinarian for this medication.

I just bought herbivorous reptile entrée fortified daily diet for my new veiled chameleon, I just bought the chameleon a few days ago and was wondering if it would eat this, before I open the package in case I need to return. I don't know much so far about veiled chameleons so I would greatly appreciate any information given about this.

Veiled chameleons have been known to occasionally eat vegetables and greens but they are mainly insectivores. It may eat the pellets or not. The only way to find out would be to offer some in a cup. Leafy greens, berries, sliced fruit and veggies may be easier to offer.

I’ve recently bought a Russian tortoise that I keep inside and my question is : Is his enclosure the right size for him?

That looks like a good start but you will need to upgrade in size as Oogway grows. Here are a couple of good resources for basic care and habitats. http://www.anapsid.org/russian2.html http://m.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=2719

we have an 11month old Bearded Dragon normally full of life and bouncing about in and out of his vivarium but for 2 days seems uniterested eating and hunting as normal but no poops for 2days which is unusual

I'm sorry that taz isn't feeling well. He is mighty cute. There are several things that can cause decreased appetite and not pooping including intestinal parasites or a blockage (from eating something he shouldn't). I would recommend to contact your vet for them to do an exam and some diagnostics. They may want to run a fecal or some abdominal x-rays. I hope he starts to feel better really soon! Please feel free to contact us again on the forum or set up a consult if you have additional questions or would like more information.

hi i have a bearded dragon and i feed it a lighting bug/firefly and it died last night or i might have smashed but i sleep with him everyday so i don't think i smahed it was it the firefly please email me to tell me. myacooper0801 gmail.com

I am very sorry for your loss. spike was obviously loved very much !!! Please do not blame yourself. It was not the firefly that made him pass. Unfortunately reptiles are very good at not showing us signs of illness

Hello So this morning when i woke up, i found my cat lying on the stairs. I let her in and she seemed really sleepy and sort of annoyed. One of her front paws is really swollen [twice the size of the other] and she doesn't want to eat, drink nor move. We live in the countryside so we have alot of snakes, wasps - you name it. Could she have been bitten/stung by someone, or is it something more serious. Thank You in advance

It sound like Frank is definitely an outdoor kitty, so I would definitely lean toward that assumption. Look hard on the leg and paw for any sort of puncture wound, entrance wound, or evidence of cuts and bruising. If you feel some and can't see it, it might be helpful to clip some of the hair to get a look. If Frank doesn't want to eat or drink, or even move, if might just be in yours and her best interest to have her seen by a vet. There is a good chance that she may require some treatment including fluid therapy and antibiotics. They will also be able to provide an anti inflammatory to help with the swelling on the hand. If they find a puncture or anything like that, depending on the extent of the situation they may even lance the area. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

My snake had "scales" that stick up and out more then other "scales said the reptile store person and when I finally thought that they didn't look right and got the tweezers it had legs. What are they?

Those are ticks. I would suggest placing mineral oil over the body of the tick, as this will help to kill it, which will make removal easier. Use forceps/tweezers to remove the ticks and make sure to get the head out. If you leave any part of the tick in the skin it may cause an infection. After removing as many ticks as possible from your snake I recommend you get this spray and use as directed to treat the environment. This will kill any remaining ticks (there may be small ones you can't see) and larvae. http://pro-products.com/provent-a-mite/ This is going to be a long process (like months) to get all the ticks removed from the snake and environment. Remember to keep his enclosure as clean as possible at all times. I hope this helps. Best wishes!

Help me, why my baby bearded dragon not eating well ? And if it tail bends it's symptom of metabolic bone disease ? Please give me tips to make sure he's can be healthy again . I

Yes possibly these are signs of MBD. Ideally a check up is required to diagnose (an x ray may be needed) and treat it appropriately. Please find reliable sources of informations on this link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/bearded-dragons-diseases. 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.

I need to know what is wrong with my snake please.

I am very concerned that your snake may have developed septicemia which is most often caused by bacteria living in the snakes skin that take an opportunity to infect. You need to go to a reptile vet right away to habe the snake examined. If it is septicemia itis very serious and needs high doses of antibiotics to treat. Sometimes there is an underlying condition that predisposes to it. I wish you the best of luck.