Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Argentine Black and White stopped eating and using his front legs a few days ago. Although he had a lamp which emits UVB and plenty of food he spent a lot of time hiding. Im afraid that he might have some deficiency or metabolic bone disease, but I am open to suggestions.

I have been making sure that he is getting supplements, calcium and D3, and I have been making sure that he is eating. If anyone has any insight or experience with this sort of thing it would be very helpful.

People that I talked to said that it might be MBD, but that the problem with the front legs was odd. The complete syptoms include front leg paralysis and decreased appetite. Could the problem be neurological or something other than MBD.

Please reply if you have any insight or advice.
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Melissa and Corny the Corn Snake

There is to much we would need to know and even knowing everything it would still be hare for anyone here to help you. Paralysis is a major concern your Tegu needs a vet now!

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

It's been my experiance that a calcium deficiency in baby tegus usually shows up in the rear legs first . It usually starts of with mild tremors , left uncorrected it usually leads to rear leg paralysis , then progresses to the front legs with full body shaking. This is usually caused by the owner having fed it lean meats such as ground turkey /hamburger /chicken without being supplemented correctly - ie dusting turkey with a reptile calcium .(reptile calciums are designed to be used with insects)

If you haven't seen rear leg shaking and haven't been feeding it turkey etc. with a reptile calcium as large portion of it's diet I would not rule out MBD but I would definetly look for a physical injury .

Could he have climbed onto something in his cage and fallen ?
Do have a heavy water bowl / basking stone in his cage that he could have tunneled under and it partially colapsed on him ?

He should be seen by a vet as soon as possible . If he were mine I would have an exray done and have his calcium levels tested.

Blue Tegu .com

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Stella St.Pierre
www.bluetegu.com