Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently, last 4 weeks or so, lizards appatite has decreased a large amount. The times between poops has also increased to 3 days or so. Took to vet, vet noticed bump on leg and belived it to be a fracture . It wasnt a fracture or a disclocation but some form of soft tissue. Vet noticed poop in lizard and reccomended mineral oil and bath and standard impcation treatment.

Before i got a chance to administer the mineral oil the next morning after the vet apt, the lizard pooped hella before he went to sleep the night before. I still used the mineral oil and have for the past two days. Hes been pooping small amounts each day. Hes hella skinny and no bumps at all in the belly.

Another tissue patch on his front sholder seemed to be developing yesterday, but today has appeared to shrink. He seems very clumsy. Apt to fall from the basking spot, things like that. Will only eat crix if they walk right infront of him. Wont touch veggies. Little over a foot long head to tail.

Temps are right, crix are dusted with rep-cal with d3. UVB is supplied. Tank is 55g. Could calcium overdose be possible. If so what should be done do treat this. The vet appointments are to expensive for it to be left unexplained.

I realize thats alot to read for anyone. I thank you in advance for any ideas you may have.

Also: Should i continue to apply mineral oil. Codes seems to eat even less after a nice shot of that stuff and his tract looks clear.

Kyle

Im sorry, i need to make a important correction to the last message.

The vet saw the poop and knew it was neither a fractor or a dislocation from 2 x-rays he took.

are the soft tissue areas ONLY over joint areas? And are you meaning there is actually additional tissue there that should not be or swelling over them?

Look at the big toe on the back feet, are the joints normal there?

Can you look in his mouth and tell me what color the tissue there is?

The oil is not going to hurt him, but if he is going alright without it, I would continue some warm soaks.

You say temps and lights are good.... Have you checked them recertly and with what type if measure device?

What UVB source are you using?

The weakness you describe, has that just started?

Prior to this, has he been on any treatments for anything in the past?

Sorry for all the question, but it will help figure out something

Hey,

His temps are perfect. Using a digi thermo from radio shack. His main basking spot is 115c by the digi thermo. Other hot spots are 100 and lower. 75 on cold side of tank.

The weakness is that hes not near as nimble. Hes clumsy and unable to climb well.

Im not sure if its tissue. It could just as well be swelling.
So you say keep up with the oil? Will do, although i hate prying his mouth open.

I belive the vet woudl have noticed common things such as dehydration. Perhaps I am mistaken.

Now that you speak of his mouth, its pink. From light to semi red. Nothing like overly red though.
He is sometimes quickly opening and closing his mouth. Like he is panting, but hes not on his hot spot, so hes not panting, and its quick

Thank again

Kyle

Some are usually a sign of a certain illness, but then other things conflict with that.

Mouth should be pink/whitish, not red or reddish at all... that would make me think something bacterial or viral and that could also explain the clumsines, but NOT the tissue around the joint.. my first thought on that was internal fungal if he had been treated in the past with meds, as it will sometimes settle and inflame joint or kidney/liver related as that can inflame joints also.... but you would see yellowing in the mouth usually and bloating, not thinness. Calcium excess can cause neuro problems, but again you usually see other signs such as knotty toe joints (actually excess calcium has some of the same symptoms as not enough calcium)

Now you say he is panting rapid at times, with the mouth color that again would make me think something bacterial or viral and it could be causing.

Call back the same vet you took him too and tell them the different symptoms your seeing and this dragon should have a blood panel done at a minimum. Since they did not find a source of problem the first time, he should be flexible in not charging you a new office visit, but as a follow up/

Now that i watch him more, it actually looks like he is hicuping.
When he does quickly open and close his mouth, it looks like he gives a quick flinch. Nothing like the shakes, or anything from calcium problems, but what a human would look like when they hicup.

I would stop the mineral oil since he is goign regularly. The extra flesh, is it from sudden loss of weight, or do you mean a swelling? If you can pull his skin and let go, and it holds it's shape instead of immediately going back to the way it was before, that would indicate he is dehydrated. Give him a warm soak in a shallow dish of water. You can also drop water onto his snout and into his mouth should he open it, just be careful he doesn't inhale it.