Vet Q&A-Reptile

My snake spit up water the other. She's never done this but has been sleeping in her water. She doesn't have mites I checked. What's wrong with her

Snakes will regurgitate or vomit when handled roughly too soo after eating or drinking, when stressed, ill or if ambient temperature is low. Just one episode is no cause for concern. If it continues, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. In the meantime, confirm proper temperatures and survey the area in and around the enclosure for negative stimuli. Reduce or eliminate any negative stimuli.

I found a depression over my turtle neck since two days It was not there before Is it anything serious Plz tell me any this And what should I do And he doesn't come to bask by himself ? I put him in sun for an hour a day.

It could be local infection. Monitor it for change or growth. You can gently cleanse the area using diluted betadine or chlorhexidine once or twice daily. Confirm adequate water quality to prevent secondary infection and to promote healing. Consider increasing the water and basking temperatures by a few degrees to aid in recovery. Ideally, a UVB light source should be provided for 12-14 hours daily. It should be no more than 14 inches away from the basking spot and unblocked by either glass or plexiglass for maximum benefits. If the spot does not heal or spreads, have Tabby examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. You can read more about care at this link: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Minerva bit down on her log in her cage and broke her jaw trying to get a cricket, there was a small bump and the vet said she should be fine and was put on antibiotics. The bump got smaller and then got bigger. She was on antibiotics twice and its still there. It has stopped growing but is getting harder, Minerva is still eating and drinking and acts like a regular dragon. Does she need surgical treatment on her jaw? That's the only thing she hasn't tried because of how expensive it is.

The lump may be the bony callous at the site of the break. This means it is healing. Have her rechecked by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. An x-ray of the jaw/skull can be done to confirm the jaw is mending properly. If it is, she likely does not need surgery.

Hi, I just want to make sure that these are all approved foods for my bearded dragon. (The image is attached)

Yes, these can be fed to a bearded dragon. All prey should be appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between your beardie's eyes. Prey should also be gut loaded for 24 hours prior to offering and dusted with a vitamin and mineral supplement. The frequency of dusting depends on age. Some plant matter should also be offered. It should make up about 20% of the diet. Green beans, collard greens, escarole, squash, carrots, mustard greens, cantelope, raspberries and mango are just a few veggies and fruit that can be fed.

How long does it take to see signs of recovery from mbd in a bearded dragon after getting adequate lighting?

First of all lightning is not the only factor, he also needs calcium supplement (powder). results of recovery can vary greatly in time, in many cases the disease is too far gone and the beardie might never recover, in other cases it may take several weeks or months.

One of my two, three year-old red eared-sliders has become lethargic, not wanting to eat. The turtle sleeps all day and moves very little. Also, its eyes have began to sunk, and every time it is underwater it closes them; they get red a little, as if they itched. My other red-eared slider eats plenty, is always on the move, and weighs plenty, in contrast to the first one which weighs little (it used to weigh more maybe two months ago). I didn't notice until recently and am very concerned.

If possible, separate them until you get a diagnosis. Get a stool sample from the sick turtle and submit it to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial infection. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles is strongly recommended given the marked weight loss and lethargy. Increase water and ambient temperatures by a few degrees to support the sick turtle. Offer a biologically appropriate, species specific diet as well as proper vitamin and mineral supplementation. Check the UVB bulb and replace it of it is older than 6 months old. The symptoms you describe have multiple causes, so it is important to have an exam and testing to reach a diagnosis. Treatment will depend on the diagnosis. Follow the link below for information regarding care and husbandry of red eared sliders. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

We found a white oak snake that has one black eye and a clear eye is it special

It may be a retained eye cap, injury/infection or could indeed by a genetic "defect". Have it examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Wild snakes generally should not be kept as pets as they do not transition to easily to captivity. They may also harbor parasites and bacteria that professionally bred snakes are not exposed to.

my tortoise wont open its eyes i was told its lack of vit a i have been bathing him in pureed carrot . his eyes are moving under neath

Hello there. Yes it does sound like a Vitamin A deficiency. Bathing him in carrot puree is not likely to help. You need to get him some topical eye drops such as these: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11311&cmpid=07cseYY&ref=6196&subref=AA&cmpid=PLA_G_6196&gclid=CK6lo834ktQCFVKPfgodyvoJKA I am unsure what product is comparable in the UK. If you go to a reptile pet store I am sure they would have something. You honestly need to address the husbandry issues - diet, humidity, lighting, etc. This article may help. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=17+1797&aid=2589 Reptiles have a slow metabolism so they get sick slowly and hence it will take a long time for them to get well. Don't expect an overnight fix. My best recommendation would be to have him evaluated by a reptile veterinarian so you can get the best treatment plan as he may have more going on than just the Vitamin A issue. I hope this helps. Dr. Amber

My bearded dragon I just got which is a month and 3 weeks old is having problems with back legs. I noticed her back legs wobble and shake, and seems unenergized. Anything I can do to help her ?

This may be due to nutritional deficiency or digestive issue (impaction impinging on nerves). If Medusa is defecating normally, it likely is not a digestion issue. If she is having difficulty defecating, soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. Gently massage her abdomen during the soak to encourage defecation. Feed appropriately sized prey to prevent impaction/constipation. Prey should be no bigger than the space between her eyes. Gut load prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Check temperatures since low temps can affect appetite and digestion. A calcium deficiency is another possible cause. Juvenile beardies need more calcium and vitamin supplementation than adult beardies. Rep-Cal's Herptivite multivitamin powder and Calcium with D3 powder are the gold standards for supplements. Dust prey twice weekly with the multivitamin and 5 days per week with the calcium powder. As your beardies mature, they will require less frequent supplementation. An adequate UVB light source is also required to allow proper utilization of the D3. Change the bulb every 6 months. Make sure it is not blocked by glass or plexiglass and confirm it is not too far from Medusa to be effective. Trauma from a fall may be another cause. Arrange cage furniture to prevent falls from heights. Monitor for other signs of injury (swelling, scrapes, bleeding,etc). If husbandry changes do not improve Medusa's condition, have her examined by your veterinarian or by a vet experienced in treating reptiles.