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I have a 5 1/2 year old female leopard who has been healthy all her life. She eats well, gets soaked twice a week, has all the right lighting, heat, vitamins, calcium, D3, outside time in the spring, summer and fall. About a month ago she was nearing 22 pounds - that was about the time it got warm enough to begin bringing her outside for a few hours 3-4 times a week. At about the same time I got a new supply of orchard grass - her primary supply of food. I have noticed that this batch of grass is a little bit more coarse than what she is used to.

Anyway, over the past few weeks she has gradually lost some weight. This morning she weighed in at 19 pounds even. She has always fluctuated in her weight from week to week but this seems to be a trend of slightly less weight each week. She seems to be eating the same as usual. During this past month I have also given her a significant amount of fresh dandelion leaves and flowers - because they were blooming in great force and she does not get fresh over the winter.

The orchard grass seems to be passing right through her, as her droppings are not well formed. The grass is spread all over her enclosure every day when I check on her after work (grass that she has eaten).

One other observation - usually her water dish will stay relatively clean when I place it in the middle of the enclosure because she usually walks around it and only dips her head in to drink, well now everyday her dish is almost empty, and what is left is filthy dirty like she tried to take a bath in it and deficate in it - every day!

In summary what has changed - a lot of fresh dandelions, coarser grass, outside time, water dish messed up. What has not changed - appetite, mood, energy.

Anyone have any idea whats going on? Is she sick? Is she egg bound? (had a male that we sold two years ago, got a new baby 18 months ago and they are in the same enclosure).

Thanks for your help,

Ben
St. Paul

Where are you located (local weather)? Have you done any changes... enclosure... the big question is the changes.

ed

>>I have a 5 1/2 year old female leopard who has been healthy all her life. She eats well, gets soaked twice a week, has all the right lighting, heat, vitamins, calcium, D3, outside time in the spring, summer and fall. About a month ago she was nearing 22 pounds - that was about the time it got warm enough to begin bringing her outside for a few hours 3-4 times a week. At about the same time I got a new supply of orchard grass - her primary supply of food. I have noticed that this batch of grass is a little bit more coarse than what she is used to.
>>
>>Anyway, over the past few weeks she has gradually lost some weight. This morning she weighed in at 19 pounds even. She has always fluctuated in her weight from week to week but this seems to be a trend of slightly less weight each week. She seems to be eating the same as usual. During this past month I have also given her a significant amount of fresh dandelion leaves and flowers - because they were blooming in great force and she does not get fresh over the winter.
>>
>>The orchard grass seems to be passing right through her, as her droppings are not well formed. The grass is spread all over her enclosure every day when I check on her after work (grass that she has eaten).
>>
>>One other observation - usually her water dish will stay relatively clean when I place it in the middle of the enclosure because she usually walks around it and only dips her head in to drink, well now everyday her dish is almost empty, and what is left is filthy dirty like she tried to take a bath in it and deficate in it - every day!
>>
>>In summary what has changed - a lot of fresh dandelions, coarser grass, outside time, water dish messed up. What has not changed - appetite, mood, energy.
>>
>>Anyone have any idea whats going on? Is she sick? Is she egg bound? (had a male that we sold two years ago, got a new baby 18 months ago and they are in the same enclosure).
>>
>>Thanks for your help,
>>
>>Ben
>>St. Paul
>>
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I am located in Minnesota - climate outside has changed of course, but inside is pretty much the same. Maybe the humidity has gone up, which happens evey year. Her enclosure has not changed. About 4 months ago I put an extension on her enclosure to give her more space.

Thats all I can think of.

Thanks for your help, Ben

What about air conditioning?

Ed

>>I am located in Minnesota - climate outside has changed of course, but inside is pretty much the same. Maybe the humidity has gone up, which happens evey year. Her enclosure has not changed. About 4 months ago I put an extension on her enclosure to give her more space.
>>
>>Thats all I can think of.
>>
>>Thanks for your help, Ben
-----
Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Hmmmm. Air conditioning could be an issue - they are in the basement and the cool air drops. We have not had the air on that much, and the air has not been an issue in the past. In the winter I open vents into their space to add heat, and in the summer I close those vents, but they still get some cool air. I don't know, I think the temp in their enclosure really has not changed much.

What are you thinking? Wouldn't they get runny noses?

Ben