Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend brought me an 18 month (approx) Chuck that has twitching legs and the forearms are twisted leaving the poor thing crippled. According to her, it has a healthy appetite and it is fat, but I think it is exhibiting lax muscle tone. I believe she has been giving it the proper diet and Reptical as a vitamin supplement. Any ideas? Thanks!

It really sounds like a MBD problem The shaking sounds like low blood calcium levels. I would try to get it to a vet.

Yes! That's what I thought. Low calcium and magnesium and a need for some good old vitamin D3. I have a feeling the vitamins were neglected, even though she claims she gave them. Thanks again...and you're right, I do have my hands full!

When I have animals that are doing poorly I can't even sleep at night. Is it warm enough there where you can put the poor thing outside? I would supplement and try to get some natural sunlight on it. Maybe there is some type of injection the doc can give to give the guy a boost. The front limbs sound pretty bad if they are twisted. Eve does have hooty who seems to live a good life although handicapped. Keep us posted and good luck.

Hi Tom and Maureen,
When you take him to the vet (highly recommended) they can draw blood and send it off to the lab for a complete work up. Included would be a blood calcium level analysis as the vet can then see if he needs a series of calcium lactate or cluconate injections (IM). He may also recommend some oral calcium glubionate for long term continued therapy. It sounds like moderate to possibly advanced MBD to me but a visit to your vet would really help determine this and get the chuckwalla started so that it may at least stabilize. It's condition may not be reversible or completely healable at this stage but only your vet can give you that prognosis.

If dehydrated the vet can inject fluids subcutaneously and even instruct you in how to continue this re hydrating therapy at home. He may supply you with saline and loaded syringes for this somewhat simple home therapy.

Good luck with him.

John

Thanks for the words of encouragement and recommendations! I have been feeding kale and broccoli, both high in calcium and dusting dandelions with reptical and every 4 days he gets a drop of boneaid and a drop of vitamins with D3. His puffiness has subsided and he is walking better,..even running around his cage! One front paw seems to be straightening out, the other is still twisted, but I have hopes. The climate is not quite what it should be for outside cages, but I will definitely put him out to bask any day that goes beyond 70 degrees.

By way of sharing info on the forum, I was advised to try full strength Batadine on the warty looking skin of my old male. He seems to be improving. I soaked and then scraped off the "warts" on the side of his tale and the skin underneath looks good. We'll see if the "warts" (fungus) reappear. I'll let you all know.

Thanks for being there!

I'm glad to hear your rescue is doing better, he's very lucky to have ended up with you. Good luck with all your guys and keep us updated on their progress

-Alice