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Question - Papilloma (warts) & Collareds

kellybee Oct 10, 2008 03:18 PM

Hi does anyone know anything about warts, and particularly treatment of them? I have a little collared lizard who suffers papilloma on his head:

I have been told that these are harmless and will usually recede within 6 months, and not to worry, but it has been over a year, and they have begun to develop on his lower lip as per the photos. He also has what looks like a crust of the same texture around his vent which the vet believes is also a wart (its definitely not SHAPED like the one on his head thats for sure) The vet says not to worry, but of course I do. He said that if it were a larger lizard then he would give him a jab and fix him up, but that at 19grams he is just too small, and to leave it alone.
I live in the UK and so reptile vets are few and far between. Collareds are not native to the UK obviously, so most vets here want to know what a collared is, and there is nowhere that treats reptiles within travelling distance that I can go to for a second opinion.

Does anyone have any sort of alternative remedy? Or does anyone have any sort of suggestion?? I@d be happy to leave it as the vet says but the simple fact is that I'm not convinced by his response and I'm not happy that it appears to have spread
-----
Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk

1:1:0 Common Collared Lizards
1:1:0 Auriceps
1:2:0 Desert Collared Lizards
0:1:0 New Mexico Collared Lizard

Replies (1)

joeysgreen Oct 26, 2008 03:11 PM

I don't understand why the doctor is refusing to proceed. Have you told him that it is spreading? I don't think the treatment is to just cut it off. Most papilloma virus's arn't really treatable unfortunately. Is this guy quarantined? I would keep him seperate from the rest of your collection until this is sorted out. If treatment is unreasonable, then I would consider
a) to cull him and prevent further spread
b) to keep in quarantine, happy and healthy until the symptoms reduce the quality of life... then euthanise.

Good luck,

Ian

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