Vet Q&A-Reptile

Hello! I have two questions. 1) how can I safely take my juvenile bearded dragon to the vet? It's about 20-25 minutes away and I'm planning on taking him soon. The only thing stopping me is the cold weather. Is it safe to put hand warmers under a blanket or towel to keep him nice and toasty? Any other tips for traveling( especially how to keep them calm- Clyde hates being in his carrier even for <5 mins) would be great too!! thank you so so much! :) I added some cute/funny pictures too lol sorry

Clyde is adorable!!! To keep Clyde warm during transport, you can use a cooler as his container. The cooler will keep things warm or cool. If you put Clyde in the cooler with a heated towel (straight from the dryer) Clyde should stay plenty warm without a heater. Heaters such as hot hands could burn him! The cooler will also prevent Clyde from seeing and hearing the outside world which may help keep him calm. Good luck! Thanks for using pet coach!

I've had a leopard tortoise for 20 years. This year her shell has started turning upwards. Is this normal? Every thing else looks normal.

Hi there. It would be most helpful if you could post some photos. Without seeing what you are referring to it makes it hard to say.... That being said, my guess is that you are talking about pyramiding which is not normal. It indicates a nutritional deficiency. Pyramiding is a form of metabolic bone disease (MBD). Usually if you push down on the shell it feels soft in places. If you want to post again with specifics about her diet and some photos that would be best. Take care!

How can you tell if your dog was bitten by a snake? There's no blood. I just saw a small gray snake in my backyard and my dog had been around that area. She was looking at the ground weird and then turned around and went to the door to go inside without going potty. I'm not sure if she was bit by it or not. Or what kind of snake it is.

When a dog gets bitten by a snake, the area where it was bitten will quickly swell and you can find 2 puncture wounds near each other. if you find those on Milly you will need to take her to the vet urgently for treatment.

My baby leopard gecko has a very thin tail. He is rotund in his belly and active but he does not seem to be eating any of his crickets. I have quarantined him and am monitoring closely for changes in behaviour. I have suspicious this may be cryptos, but I am not sure.

Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. Provide appropriately sized prey. A juvenile will need very small crickets, 1/2 inch or smaller depending on Qwert's age. Use the space between his eyes as a gauge. Crickets or prey should be no bigger than this space. Check enclosure temperatures as well. Juveniles require warmer temps than adults. Low temps can affect appetite and activity. If he won't eat crickets, try different foods such as dubia roaches or a commercial gecko diet. Follow the link below for more information. You can also request a change consultation to discuss care and set up in greater detail. http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html

My name is Maggie and my Iguana, Li Mai, (I'm uncertain of her exact age, but I'm guessing 1 1/2 yrs. old) and I caught her eating her poop and was wondering is this normal or is this a warning that she needs a vet visit? She's got a big, healthy appetite and she's shedding (again). The photo of her was just taken minuets ago so you can see what she looks like...she's eating Kale at the moment.

Coprophagy is rare in reptiles but it has been observed. It is unknown why they do it. Reasons range from hormonal changes to aggression or simple boredom/curiosity. It is typically a self limiting behavior that may last days or weeks. If she is eating a balanced diet and is behaving normally otherwise, then a vet visit is likely not necessary. Try to clean up her stool as soon as you can to prevent the behavior. Monitor for lethargy, loose droppings or a decrease in appetite. These symptoms would warrant an exam with your herp veterinarian.

Hi, What specific type of the Oxbow Critical Care formula would you suggest for a box turtle that is not eating? I see they have different types. Does that have to be given orally or could this be mixed with water in a container where you can soak the turtle so that she gets those nutrients. How many times per week would you use the formula? Thanks so much

You can use the Omnivore formula. Another similar product is Emeraid Intensive Care Omnivore. These dietary are typically fed via tube feeding if the will not eat willingly. If you've never tube feeding, have your veterinarian show you how to do this. Soaking her in either will do nothing. The amount fed and frequency will depend on her weight. You should also offer live prey (waxworms, mealworms, etc) as well as a variety of dark, leafy greens and fresh fruits and vegetables.

My Boston Terrier was out last night, and I knew there was a snake in that corner somewhere, and I have black snakes all the time. And I've noticed today that his right back leg is giving out on him. There is no swelling anywhere on him . Otherwise he and he wants to be in every room that I am in. And you can tell it hurts him. He was just at the hospital for fluid behind his ears last week he had MRI and stuff done, I paid a lot of money and really can't afford to take him back to the hospital.

If it was a poisonous snake, then it would cause a great deal of swelling, so I wouldn't worry too much about a dangerous snake bite. There are some nonvenomous snakes there that can bite and cause pain, but they are usually not that bad. I would suspect that something else could be causing the pain. It could be an injury to a muscle, tendon or ligament. It may be OK to wait a couple of days to see if it gets better. If Rocky is otherwise acting normal and you don't see swelling, then it likely won't hurt to wait it out. It really depends on the injury though and it's difficult to know without seeing Rocky. In the meantime, you can ice the sore leg for 15 minutes twice a day. This may help.

Dog bit by rattlesnake yesterday afternoon. The vet discharged her today and told me to order X-rays for a possible mass on her spleen. Would the snake bite contribute to her spleen being swollen?

Hi and thanks for using Boop by Petco! Sorry to hear about Rocks. I would think that since the spleen plays a big role in the immune system and a storage area for red blood cells, that a subsequent enlargement of the organ is entirely possible. I would say this though......if the spleen remains enlarged a month or two after the snake bite episode, I would pursue the x-ray and/or ultrasound to evaluate why it is truly enlarged. Many middle aged to older dogs end up having problems with their spleens including hematomas, splenic cysts, or even splenic tumors which can either be benign or malignant. Sometimes these problems with the spleen cause internal bleeding from the damaged organ thus often necessitating an emergency splenectomy. Your vet is correct to advise imaging studies to try to detect an enlarged spleen and attempt to treat it if necessary in a non emergent setting. Good luck with Rocks and I hope this is all related to the snake bite.

Hi, I have a 3 toed female box turtle. She was doing great, eating well and very active. However, 5 days ago, I noticed she had swollen eyes with some pus (I think this is what it was). She does not have a runny nose, but I was told she may have pneumonia. I was told to give her ceftazidime injections. Can I also use terramycin ointment on top of the injections? What do you suggest I do? How can I get her to eat if she cannot see. She does not want to eat anything. Any help please? Thanks

She should be examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles to definitively diagnose the underlying condition. If Olivia have pneumonia, the vet can prescribe or dispense an appropriate dose of antibiotics. The eyes may have a secondary infection and topical treatment can be administered if indicated. You may want to increase the temp in her enclosure by 5-10 degrees F to aid in recovery. A soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte will help prevent dehydration. You can also offer the appropriate formula of Oxbow Critical Care for her to eat.