Vet Q&A-Reptile

I found a baby turtle outside my yard and it has three bumps on it's back I don't know if a water turtle or a land turtle

If you are able to take a photo of the turtle to post on our site, we may be able to help identify the type of turtle. Without seeing it, it is impossible to say just by describing the bumps on its shell as some different species can appear to have bumps. The safest thing to do is probably to replace the turtle where you found him in your yard, as he may have already had an idea where he was headed, unless you are afraid your pet may eat him.

Hello Sir/ Ma'am, I wanted to know what are the late signs of a Russel viper bite on a dog and for how long to observe the dog after the bite in order to ensure he is completely safe. I found a russel viper in my backyard and i am not sure since how long its been there. Though i did not find any puncture marks on my dog, i did find a wound on his scalp and his leg, but im not sure if its a snake bite wound. Anyway, its over 24 hours & he appears completely normal. But im still concerned. Thanks

Oh no, poor Trevor! If he was bitten by a Russell Viper, you would see extensive swelling and significant pain in the wound area. Given that it's been more than 24 hours and Trevor seems completely normal, I would suspect he hasn't been bitten by a viper. I would gently clean the wounds with warm water and antiseptic soap, and keep an eye on him. Monitor the wounds for redness, swelling, pus, and warmth to the touch, indications of infection. Should you see any of those signs, take him into the vet for antibiotics. If Trevor does develop any swelling, becomes lethargic, stops eating, and starts vomiting, I would take him into a vet right away. Hopefully, however, he will be just fine :-)

Is there something wrong with my Russian tortoises shell?He has a slight whiteness on the front right of his carapace.

It doesn't appear to be anything to be concerned about, especially if he is behaving normally otherwise. It is possible he is rubbing that area against the rock in the enclosure as he moves about. Wipe it with a moist towel and monitor the area. Watch him to see if he is rubbing against anything in the enclosure. If so, adjust objects or remove them if necessary. Allow a 15-30 minute soak in water 2-3 times weekly to rehydrate and to cleanse.

I have a bearded dragon approximately 2-4 months old. It has developed a very fat belly, but still eats and poops every day. It doesn't seem to have any problem with paralysis of the limbs, front or back. I have given it soaks and gently massaged it's belly to encourage more pooping, but I generally only see 2-3 piles of poop per day combined from both dragons (same approx. age). Is this something I should be worried about?

If there is any chance the beardies are any older, I would be thinking that one could be pregnant. This usually doesn't occur until at the youngest around 10-12 months however. It is best that they don't breed until even older than this as well, so hopefully this is not the case. Other causes of distended abdomen in these lizards are gastrointestinal impactions, constipation, overeating, obesity, and certain cancers. GI Impaction seems unlikely in this scenario due to the movement of the bowels. If this is an issue with constipation, enemas can be provided though I would not recommend performing this at home unless you are very familiar with reptilian anatomy. An x-ray would really help in this case provide all the information we need. It would show us if there are any eggs, if there is constipation, any sort of tumor (probably), and many other possible issues. Hope this helps!

Hi i have a gecko lizard and i think she is a girl and her name is pinky. I have been watching her non stop because she is losing weight like crazy she cant eat nor swallow when i pick her up she falls over i thought she had something stuck in her mouth so i dropped a little bit of water in her mouth and she tried to swallow but it just poured out of her mouth please help

Pinky is severely emaciated and weak. She needs to see a reptile veterinarian immediately for any chance to save her. They may be able to help diagnose her underlying disease and offer supportive care or nutritional support. If her disease had progressed too far they can offer humane euthanasia to prevent her from suffering further.

I have a box turtle that lives outside in a large caged habitat. His shell is dry & cracking on the edges. He also has a sore on top of his head that is dry and flaky. What could be the cause and what treatment would you advise? Thank you, Terri Sylvester

Box turtles need a fairly humid environment so that may be part of the problem. However looking at the pictures, I'm worried there also may be some nutritional deficiencies. If possible find a veterinarian comfortable treating reptiles to examine Squirtle. In the mean time give him soaks in warm water daily. You can also alternate soaks with carrot juice or green veggie juice. Either buy in the produce section of grocery or make your own by blending warm water with appropriate veggies. They absorb some nutrients this way and usually drink while soaking as well. Make if not humid outside to mist or house part of his enclosure daily. Here is a great article on box turtle care. Remember they can live 50+ years so make an investment in keeping him healthy for a lifelong pet. http://www.anapsid.org/box.html

my anole lizard wont eat, is becoming extremely skinny and will not open his eyes. please help me

This is a quite generic but concerning sign. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence last for more than 24hours. 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.

My dog has loose skin on his testicle area what causes thst not what can I do its like a snake losing his skin

He could have a skn infection or possibly an allergic dermatitis. You could bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo and see if that helps. Otherwise, have him examined by your vet to determine the cause and treat the problem. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or corticosteroid to help treat.

I have 5 baby aquatic turtles Less then a year old in a 40 gallon tank 2 of the 5 are the same breed of turtle and they've all been together but just a day ago one of them has been nipping at the others feet and trying to hurt him I have no idea why it's doing this but I'm very concerned.. I don't know the sexes of any of my babies but don't want them getting hurt .. what can I do and why is the one trying to hurt him ...????

Separate out the aggressive one. It could be nipping due to hunger, stress or aggression. Consider hand feeding to avoid accidental bites as well as dividing them into two tanks to provide more space. As they mature, they will require a significantly larger space. This number of turtles ideally will need a tank in the hundreds of gallons range or a small pond. A general guideline is 10 gallons per inch of turtle. Sexing turtles is easier when they are mature. Without knowing the species, it can be difficult, but in general, females are larger than males. Males have a shorter, thicker tail in comparison and usually have longer front claws. A female will have a flat plastron whereas the male will have a slight concavity. Males have a v-notch at the rear of the carapace to accommodate the tail when mating. Lastly, you can check the cloaca, or vent. Females will have a rounder vent closer to the body whilst males will have more of a slit farther down under the tail. All these differences are best seen when comparing two turtles or a proven pair.