Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my morocans had a hard mass in its stomach and it turned out to be a tumor, now my other moroccan has a hard mass. It it just below the ribcage on the right hand side. Could it be poo, it feels like it is the same size and shape, plus it is a little squishy unlike the tumor which felt harder than wood but not as hard as a rock. I am giving him/her a warm bath right now to see if it will pass, if it doesn't can you guys tell me the esiest way to give a water enema, i did one for my large moroccan but it was very difficult, and i just want to know if there are esier ways out there. It is below its ribcage, could it be an organ? Or is somewhat "tender" or soft, but it is somewhat like a hard mass in the shape of a pice of poo. I just gave him a warm bath, but nothing came out. So what is the best way to do a water enema?

Also some good news again, my hatchling after giving me a scare gained 3 grams in 1 week and filled out a lot. Since my ornate moved back in with the adults i am puting the hatchling in the quarantine cage which is much bigger than his last cage.
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Mike
1.1.1 maliensis (Spike, Marshmellow, Hummer)
1.1 acanthinurus-werneri (Mongas, LS)
0.1 ornata (Chubs)
0.1 Pit Bull/German Shephard/Lab/ect. mix (Kodak) - looks like an over grown toco bell dog.

Uromastyx Pics

I consulted with Doug Dix (Deer Fern Farms) and he walked me through giving Houdini an enema. First of all, Houdini had a very hard mass on the lower right side of his belly. It was about the size of a kidney bean. It was so hard I couldn't mash it up without hurting him. Baths didn't help either.

For a warm water enema you will need a stainless steel, ball-tipped force feeding needle (as pictured below)...

My needle is 14 gauge and is 3 inches long. I suppose other needles would work, but it has to be something that won't easily bend and it has to have a smooth tip so you don't rip open the colon when going in.

You will also need water that is at least 100 degrees (very warm bath water) or you can use Pedialyte heated up. You want the liquid warm enough that you can put your finger in it and leave it there without it burning you. If it burns you it will burn the uro.

The only other thing you need to give the enema is a syringe. I used a 5 cc syringe. You can get this from your vet. You may even be able to get the stainless steel ball-tipped feeding needle from your vet too.

To do the enema, you will need to gently insert the feeding needle into the anus. With Saharan's they have a flap of skin that you have to go around to get in. I don't know if your uro is the same - you'll have to investigate and find out.

Have someone else hold the uro on his back with his tail pointing slightly upward. To go around the flap of skin at the anus you have to start by inserting the tube towards the tail. You won't have to go far ... then turn the tube around so that it's pointing towards the head. You only need to go in 1/2 of an inch or so. Apply pressure where the tube went in (so the liquid doesn't squirt out) and slowly administer 1 - 2 cc's of fluid for a small uro (under 150 grams). For a larger uro you can go up to 3 or 4 cc's. You will start to see the belly inflate with the liquid. Just give enough and not so much that it could cause discomfort. Then you want to slowly remove the tube. The next step is easy, gently massage the hardened mass. The warm liquid should break it up. If it doesn't break up right away don't get discouraged. I had to give Houdini 3 enemas (within a 36 hour time frame) to completely get rid of his blockage. You can give up to 2 a day.

Good luck!
Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

out of curiosity - does this happen to a lot of Uros? Not something that I have ever thought about before? THanks

From the time that I've been on here, I get the impression it is not a common occurrance. Usually, a warm water soak is enough. I had to give Ra a soak recently to "get things moving down there" but it hadn't developed into a large mass yet. If you're careful and closely monitor your uro's bathroom habits, you probably notice if anything is amiss.

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1 Mali Uromastyx named Ra

That's why I had to seek the advice of Doug Dix. My vet wasn't in and I had to do something. Also, you should know that Houdini is on meds and is very ill. He was a little dehydrated and that's why he got so impacted. I could tell by feeling it that he probably wouldn't be able to pass it and if he tried it could cause a prolapse. After that episode we now have to give him dextrose injections to keep him hydrated because his body isn't absorbing the liquids in his stomach. Poor little guy.

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

If nothing come out by friday i am going to get the stuff to perform the enema. The reason why i am waiting that long is, He is still hydrated, and what i dont understand is he is still eating. If he was impacted would he still eat? Also, I felt for the mass, he was puffing up so it was difficult but i am almost posative it has gotten a lot softer and it is possibly almost gone. Do you think i should give him the enema if he is still eating, acting normal, hydrated, and it feels like it is getting softer. I cant even feel the shape now. Yesterday before the bath i could feel exactly what shape it was and it was hard. Now i cant really feel it, but i do know it is a lot softer. I am going to give him another bath today to help it pass. It is almost impossible to notice when he poops because he has 3 other cagemates. So what should i do, should i really put him thru the stress, and possible risk of injury in an water enema. Or should i give him baths for a few days, make sure he stays hydrated and see if it passes, and if it doesn't take him to the vet, because it sounds somewhat risky with that skin so i dont want to injure him.

PS
Also, Before i was unscertain if it was a male or female, but now i can see wax excreting out of his pores, just like in georgio's picture except there wasn't that much wax. And i am starting to see a slight tint of very light blue in his armpits, and on his back. It is just the slightest highlights that are only apparent when he is basking. Is it normal for a moroccan to have blue? His base color is lime greed with black freckles. He has red on his tail which is starting to spread, and now i am starting to see this blue, what do you think he will look like when he is done coloring up. He is only 108 grams and about 8-9 inches long.
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Mike
1.1.1 maliensis (Spike, Marshmellow, Hummer)
1.1 acanthinurus-werneri (Mongas, LS)
0.1 ornata (Chubs)
0.1 Pit Bull/German Shephard/Lab/ect. mix (Kodak) - looks like an over grown toco bell dog.

Uromastyx Pics

Hopefully he'll go soon for you Mike. If you don't want to do the enema that's ok. It is a little tricky the first time you do it. If you have your vet do it make sure you ask to watch.

I was in a tight spot with my vet not in and Houdini was very ill. He hadn't gone in days... that's why I had to do it myself. If you want to wait a day or two more that's your call. Just find out if you have a place to take him over the weekend if something happens. I'm glad that the mass feels like it's getting softer and smaller. That's a good sign. Keep bathing him everyday or even more often than that if you want to. Just be careful if you end up taking him to the vet for an enema. One of my friends lost her bearded dragon after the vet did an enema and ruptered the colon. Poisonous liquids flooded the beardies body and he was dead in 12 hours. And the vet was a reptile vet too. Sometimes these things happen. Just be careful and ask LOTS of questions! Ask what equipment will be used and how the proceedure will go. You can even ask to be present during the enema too. None of that behind the scenes stuff.

Good luck with your little guy. Sorry I don't know anything about the coloring of different uro's. Sounds beautiful though.

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons