Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that there is no way for you to definately be able to tell me what is up with this sav but any oppinion is welcomed.
In short I got a rescue sav over the weekend and then noticed yesterday it had a swollen back leg (I assumed it was broken) and after i managed to contact the owners i was told it had been like this for 10-15 days when it arrived it wouldn't eat or drink but this afternoon it ate and drank but i have just checked him and changed water e.t.c and he appears to be going lame in his back legs and now both have swollen, before you say it, i have him booked in a vets but he can't be seen till thursday and i have rang all the other vets in my area and none will take him.
Anybody got a clue as to what this could be??

I don't think anyone could help you, even if they wanted to. The first thing a vet will do, is a physical exam, followed by an X-Ray, then possibly blood tests. Without these results, there is not much that can be done, and depending on what is found, there still may not be much that can be done.

From experience, I would say, make sure the lizard is comfortable, make sure it is hydrated, and that the conditions you provide are appropriate (What this is depends highly on the lizard and how it is acting), and don't do anything drastic (shoving food down it's mouth).

I do hope it is just a broken leg.

Best of luck,

--Robert

I would call yor vet and let them know its a emergency. My vet always fits me in if its important. And this sounds important!!
Diana

I have tried telling them that is an emergency but they still won't have him in because the vet that deals with reptiles here is off until thursday and i have said exacly the same with the 30 or so other vets i have rung i even tried them again this morning hoping that perseverence would pay off, as his symptoms have now worsened further it appears to be a steady muscle wastage/paralysis as now his front legs seem to hv lost around 60% of there mobility and there is just no strength left anymore, although i did place a heated pool in his tank and you wouldn't know anything was up with him when he is in there but when he comes out it is a saddening sight to witness as with the little mobility he has left he drags himself around with his front legs and head but suprisingly he can still use his stack and manages to climb quite well, I do not advocate force feeding unless it is 100% necessary so shall not be going down that road but for now am just doing my best to keep him comfortable, I worked in a reptile rescue for a few years a whilst back and have been taking them in for a while myself but don't recall ever seeing anything like this and wondered whether anyone had seen similar symptoms present, i checked him over and am thinking that it is some kind of infection as his toes now on the back leg are becoming discoloured on the cuticle like the flesh is dying
cheers mat mchugh

Wow! What a bummer!!
Have you checked the on line list of herp vets in your area, and surrounding cities?
It sounds like any vet would be better than no vet!!
You could at least get some antibiotics into him!
My heart goes out to him!!
Keep trying!
Diana

The closest reptile vets is a 4-6 hour drive and i was tempted to book him in there but by the time the heat packs would arrive i was told that to would be thurs or friday so i am kinda stuck with what to do and i don't wan't him to be out that long unheated as it is still kind of cold where i am (England)as i said before if any of the other vets i rang would take him i'd be there like a shot but they just won't either the vet dosn't feel "comfortable" because of the size or they only treat mammals and birds, but i shall keep trying
thanks for the replys
mat mchugh

I am afraid I have seen that exact thing. I hope I am wrong, but it sounds exactly like kidney/organ failure that was mentioned (by Jody on the other forum). I am afraid other than keeping it hydrated and keeping it comfortable there is not much that can be done till you see the vet, and even then it's very doubtful anything good will come of it.

When a lizard is crashing (shutting down), secondary infections spread like wildfire. What you are describing is exactly how I've seen most monitors die, slow systematic shutdown.

I feel for you, I have seen it way too many times, and it is never an easy thing to see. But don't give up, just prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Good Luck,

--Robert

The symptoms can be a number of things, from simple stuck shed stopping blood flow to the leg. To parasites, to viral, to kidney failure.

I'll go out on the limb and say it is either parasitic, kidney failure, or a bacterial infection. Blood tests are in order to figure out the cause first before you can start treating it.

The bacterial infection I speak of attacks the spine and travels up to the cerebral spinal fluid and attacks the brain. It is very much like menangitis.

There are parasites that attack the body in the same fashion as the bacteria.

Kidney failure typicaly shuts down the rear end, rather then traveling to the front. But I guess it could happen.

Just make it as comfortable as you can and see the vet as soon as you can get in. Tell them everything you know and have seen, feel free to mention what I have said on here.

Good luck

I would just like to thank everyone for there input on this, i will make him comfortable and wait until i get him to the vets and hopefully find out what is going on then.
cheers mat mchugh

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