Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a juvi geyri. She is about 26 grams - 6" long. She was eating, pooping, etc. just fine. Yesterday I noticed her belly was bloated. It still is bloated today. I soaked her yesterday and today - no change. Substrate is washed playsand.

Called the vet who said it was a possible impaction and that the only way to fix it was to bring her in for xrays and treatment. Is this truly the only route or is there something more I could do at home?

I can get her to the vet later today if that is the route needed.

Any help is appreciated

It has only been the second day she is being bloated? If she is still eating, drinking, but NOT pooping, then I'd say yes..could be impaction. Also could just be gas built up. (which if she continues to go poop, will relieve itself usually).

When my uro had food lodged in his intestine, I gave him baby food with a syringe (not the needle part) to try to soften whatever was stuck. It was lodged pretty darn good in there (hadn't passed food for 2 months!!!!) but it eventually came out. I did however get an xray to make sure first.

You can also force a little water too that might help to soften it and help it pass. But if she is pooping already, I'd say not impacted.

my 2cents

frye,

I know that you were having some difficulties with your geryi a few weeks ago. How are those two doing? Is this one of them?
What were the results of the vet appt on the 18th? Did the vet prescribe any medications or indicate that there were any problems?

Yes this is one out of the three of them that I wrote about before. They did all go to the vet for check up and nothing was wrong. He said they were doing well just two were slower in acclimating than the other one.

This one, Leela, was doing well by the time we got to the vet, eating, pooping, etc. She still is active, basking and walking around just fine. I have noticed that her belly is bloated. Can not feel any obvious lumps, etc. but then again I am not sure what that would feel like.

She does not appear to be eating as much and because she is with two others I am not sure if she is still pooping.

If I don't see her doing these things I will have to remove her but I was hoping it would pass before I had to stress her out with another move but that may not be possible.

The vet can see her tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. to take xrays if she is still bloated looking.

I have as I mentioned soaked her yesterday and today. She is still energetic.

I am now reconsidering the choice of playsand for substrate and wonder if she was too young for this. Would paper towel or soil be a better choice?

Again, appreciate all your help.

I would recommend paper as a substrate for now. It will also be easier to collect a fecal speciman if you need to.

Does her belly remain bloated all the time or does it go down and then bloat back up?

You should be able to plapate the underside of her stomach and feel for larger masses.

I have been checking and I can not feel any hard masses or lumps in her belly but she is still bloated. It stays that way all the time by the looks of it. Since I checked her yesterday and today it is the same. It was ok on Monday.

I guess I am going to have to have her xrayed to know for sure - are there any risks involved in having that done?

Thanks again

Aren't Uro's generally sort of fat? They aren't the slimmest of reptiles out there. I wouldn't worry about the sand as it's so darn tiny...

You can flush the animal out with a little olive oil not to much about one drop. There is nothing wrong with play sand if your animal is healthy, Handeling and soaking the animal to much is creating another problem. Buy the book Understanding Reptile Parasites.