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1488 Questions

Cat has a large mass on side of neck. Is clearly not acting herself. Normally very loving and now she does not want me to pick her up. She is pregnant. We live in country. There are snakes around here.

Poor Brownie! This looks like it could be an abscess, a tumor of some kind, or possibly a snake bite. Not wanting to be touched or handled is common when cats are in pain or not feeling well. This definitely needs veterinary attention, so I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam today if possible. He/she can palpate the swelling to help determine what it is. If it's an abscess, it may need to be lanced and flushed out under sedation, and she will probably need antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication as well.

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My wood turtle has not eaten or pooped in the week that I have had her and I am worried if she is not comfortable or may have something wrong with her

One of the most common reasons for a reptile to have a decreased or absent appetite is because of husbandry. I would recommend starting there, and ensuring that the husbandry is as perfect as possible. Often times, even seemingly minor things can make a big difference for a reptile. For example, it looks like your turtle has a glass enclosure from the picture (I apologize if this is not the case), and often this can be stressful for them as they don't understand the concept of glass. It is recommended to keep them in opaque/non-see-through containers, such as turtle tables or large Rubbermaid containers for example. Alternatively, this may also be a problem that started before you acquired Hades. Reptiles can take a long time to get sick, and then when they show their signs of illness, it can seem to come on suddenly. Due to this, I would recommend taking Hades in for an examination with a veterinarian, as this is a good idea for any new pet, including turtles! At the visit, your veterinarian will go over the husbandry for Hades, and can make recommendations. Additionally, they may recommend radiographs (x-rays) to look at bone quality, as metabolic bone disease is very common in reptiles. They may also recommend blood work and/or a fecal sample as part of a wellness exam to look for any signs of infection, anemia (low red blood cells), to look at organ function, and to evaluate the feces for parasites. If you would like to try husbandry changes first, and want to talk about Hades further prior to your veterinary visit, I would be happy to do a consult with you. I hope this gives you a place to start!

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My yellow belly slider (turtle) has green on his belly I was rinsing his shell and when i touched it up by his head (on belly) he snapped at me my boyfriend said maybe he just didnt qanna be held but I've had my turtle for 5 years and hes never tried to bite me out of water NEVER

Thanks for including the pictures. I would be concerned that the shell discoloration on the plastron (lower shell) is a clinical sign of an infection or bruising. On one picture, there appears to be several areas where the shell is discolored (grayish). If it appears green to you, see if you can scratch it free with your fingernail, it could be algae. Algae build up on the shell is often a sign of water quality issues. If the discoloration seems to be deeper, it might be an infection and painful, and why he tried to bite. If this is the case, a visit to a reptile veterinarian is recommended.

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My snapping turtle had a tape worm. I cut it off as close to the anus (don't remember what its called) as I could. The turtle pooped a little bit more out and I made sure to get it out of the tank asap. A week later She started to poop out another one and I pulled it out of her completely. Another small piece came out next poop. Its been over a week, two water tank changes and there seems to be no sign of tape worm. Is it possible that it is gone completely?

Depending on the parasite, your turtle may be fine...or may still be infected but not have any adult parasites. Certain parasites require an intermediate host to complete the lifecycle. Ideally, you should submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to definitively diagnose or rule out infection. if your turtle is positive for parasites, a dewormer can be administered. You may need to repeat it in several weeks.

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I just read an article about sulcata tortoise care hoping to gain more information about what the best things to feed them are and saw that one of them is grass hay. Would that be the type of hay you normally feed guinea pigs?

Yes, it is the same type of hay. I recommend Oxbow brand. You can use orchard grass, timothy, oat or a combination of them. Just do not use alfalfa hay. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/oxbow-orchard-grass-hay )

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My leopard gecko (about 3 months) dropped his tail during the night and had had a black dot on it. it won’t come off when I rinse it and I have asked leopard gecko owners and they thought it was a piece of loose substrate and not a scab. I’m not sure what to do

It could be some dead skin. Leave it be for now. Do not pull on it. Keep the stump clean and dry. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean it once or twice a day. Dry thoroughly afterwards and keep him on paper towels until he heals. Do not use any sand or wood chips or gravel which can stuck to the stump and introduce infection. You can dab some triple antibiotic ointment on it after cleaning. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible.

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My leopard gecko wont eat mealworms. What should I do?

Check temps in the cage. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. If temps are normal, make sure the mealworms are appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between the eyes. You can also offer freshly molted mealworms which have less chitin and are easier to digest. Other options include crickets, dubia roaches and phoenix worms.

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Is it normal for a leopard gecko to lick it’s vent “private area” my leopard gecko does it everyday. I thought she has a parasite but she isn’t showing any signs of having it. She has a great appetite, her stool looks normal, her tail is fat, she is alert, she is active and her eyes look good

Occasionally is normal. If it is frequent, it may indicate infection, irritation, parasites or constipation. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to definitively diagnose intestinal parasites. Look her over for any unusual redness, swelling or discharge. If you see anything suspicious, have her examined by your vet or an experienced herp vet.

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How much do I feed a baby bearded dragon and how much to an adult

Thanks for reaching out about Buddy. Both babies and adults should always have access to food daily. Baby bearded dragons are predominately carnivorous but make sure the insects are gut loaded with a wide variety of vegetables. Adult bearded dragons should be predominately vegetarians. Both need access to heat support and UVB lighting for optimal growth and health.

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