Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am wondering what it is and how they get it. From what I've read so far, one of the first signs would be a lack of muscle strength?? Like in the rear legs??? Thanks, Ursula and Charlie

My cat had it, generally it occurs in animals that are obese and stop eating for whatever reason. As a result of the fasting the body starts to break down body fat, too much fat enters the blood and the liver becomes clogged up. The solution is to force feed until the liver recovers,i.e. no more jaundice and then to reduce calorie intake, slowly,to reduce the obesity problem. It's very treatable but you have to act quickly before perminate damage to the liver occurs. One thing is to also resolve whatever caused the fasting to begin with. In herps, fasting is a normal event, it can be seasonal, parasites, or a result of the obesity itself, or it could be some other issue that may well be more serious then the fatty liver.

Well, I had read about a water dragon that had it after an extended bout with parasites. Charlie had an extended bout with parasites, aggravated by the stress of moving. Charlie had the worst swollen belly!!! It is looking much better now, but I was just wondering about any permanent organ damage. Thank you so much for all your caring responses Rick, you are awesome!

What kind of dewormer did you use? The wrong one can have an effect on the liver and kidneys, Fatty liver disease, is usually reversible, just another good reason not over feed your WD. After deworming, I would be more worried about re-establishing the microflora. Plain natural yogurt with active cultures, or a microbial suppliment that you can get from your vet or online will work.

Well, now I have forgotten! Unfortunately, I couldn't go to a reptile vet - actually we did at one point, very expensive, didn't ask for a fecal and had noooo idea why his belly was like that and why he was so thin. Anyway, I took a fecal sample to the local regular vet, who found the parasites - strongy-somethings.

Not being a reptile vet, he disappeared for a while, then came back with a tiny 'lil bit of the med - darn, forgot what it was, but not the one I keep seeing recommended on the reptile sites. Anyway, he did say he picked it because the exact dosage wasn't as critical as with others. That it was safer, and not so harsh.

I did the first dosage, cleaned out the whole viv, waited 2 weeks, did the second one, sanitized the viv again. He does look way better, the belly is not so big and the appetite is enormous! He is still dragging his belly tho. That bugs me. I am worried.

He will NOT eat any yogurt. I had to give him chicken baby food with calcium added for nearly a month thru this whole ordeal. I knew he was getting better the day he ran up and bit the syringe! Hungry boy! (or girl, still not sure on that.) Also, I tried adding some probiotics to the chicken baby food, and he would never eat it again. I tasted it myself and I could fully understand - yuck!

It has been about 3 weeks, I think, since the last dosage. His appetite is good, he has pretty much always been active and green, but that belly. That bugs me. No, he was never near 'fat' so the fasting couldn't have been so bad - plus, even when he was fasting, he still ate from time to time, just not so much.

Thanks so much!!!! Ursula and Charlie

Post a picture if you can.I'll let you know if looks lie something to be concerned about.

K, I can't post a pic just yet. But, what do you have to say about a dragon with a belly (shrinking) that just skates aroung - ie skating around on his belly, using his legs (all four) to paddle. Have you any insight about that???

Hard to even venture a guess without taking a look at him. Metabolic bone disease, can cause partial paralysis. Usually it is accompanied by muscle tremors/twitching, stiffness or deformity. Vitamin B deficiency can also result in paralysis of the hind quarters. I do remember an iguana that someone brought into a petstore that worked at about ten years ago, that was dewormed with piperzine, a typical cat deworm at the time. Afterwards the iguana lost a significant amount of muscle mass, even though its appetite had increased a hundred fold. It's belly remained bloated and became weaker and seemed to waste away. I suspect that the dewormer caused some organ damage and somehow prevented the iguanna from digesting it's food. MBD can cause similar symptoms so I wouldn't say that was necessarily what is happening. I would suggest you take him to a Vet, it definitely doesn't sound good.

Ha, the only reptile vet around, a 45 min drive, who charges big bucks and says yes he looks bloated, didn't even ask for a fecal???

I am thinking he is recovering now, he is really looking good. Or she. I think the long bout with the parasites has delayed growth and development. I had another fecal yesterday - NEGATIVE!!! Yay, yay, yay! Appetite is so much better, diet of silkies only for now, and soooo spunky!!! Wow! I am so happy! And his emaciated looking hind legs look so much more filled out now. No more indents. Yay! He still skates around on his belly, paddling with his legs, leaving "sled" marks in the substrate, but his front end is being held higher, and I am thinking that he is using those rear legs more now.

What a loooong six monthes, or nine. I have had Charlie over two years now, and I guess I am doing something right, lol, inspite of all the wrong stuff.