Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a collared lizard w/a leg injury. I took him to the vet and he prescribed baytril. Does this med make their appetite decrease?? He wouldn't even eat one cricket Monday. I fed him beef babyfood last night, but wasn't sure if this was okay. I did put some calcium and vitamins in the baby food. Is there something else I should be putting in it or something different I should be giving him??

I asked on the collared forum and they aren't familiar w/this med.

Thanks Bunches!!
Carrie

Enrofloxacin is Baytril, just another name for it and is a broad spectrum antibiotic that is often used on reptiles, it can also be called Cipro or ciprofloxacin.

All meds can have side effects, but they are rare and the need for them often outweighs they risk in them. Depressed eating is one of them.

We have used these on our dragons in the past and had no side effects but decreased eating, they picked back up with the meds were finished. Also use a probiotic when giving this med as it does also destory the good bacteria in their tummies they need for digestion and to know they are hungry

Just make sure you have at least 2 hours between giving the meds and any dustings with Vitamins and minerals as it does bind with several when ingested in a time period closer than that.

Also, try chicken baby food, that usually appeals to the babys more than beef and add some baby food squash or sweetpotatoe to it. They like the color and the taste.

Thank you very much!!

One more question, what's a probiotic? I knew my beardies had good bacteria, but didn't know my collared did too. That's good info to know.

I'll also switch to chicken and add some squash too. Would it be okay to add some crickets and blend them in the blender?? I give his meds in the morning and feed him when I get home in the afternoon, so binding shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks again! Carrie

If you want to try to blend them, you can, it wouldnot harm him, but I gave up after the first try and watching them hang onto the blender blades.

Probiotics are a supplement that you can give them to replace the good bacteria in the digestive tract of almost all living things with a digestive system. You can use human designed ones in powder form and sprinkle it in their food, Liquid form and use 1/3 to 1/2 capsule in a drink, Benebac (I think is a bird supplement) or PetSmart carries a product called acidophiLIZ that I really like.

Matt_price wrote an excellent review of what the purpose of them is, how and why they work, its on the URL below
Why Probiotics in reptiles