Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 5+ year-old Calico chuck (75% San Esteban Island x 25% Angel Island) that has bladder stones, which can be removed surgically. However, I am still waiting for the x-ray results to determine if she has a fractured vertebrate as well. If so, she might not be able to use her hind legs much, if at all. (Her hind legs are almost completely immobile right now.)

Question: Supposing that after the surgery she is still unable to use her hind legs and assuming that she might not be able to urinate/defecate on her own, does anyone have any experience with this sort of situation with a view to caring for her?

Hi David. I responded to your post, but since I followed the thread below, you may not have seen it. Hope she is doing better. Is there prolapsing of the anus?

Hello. No, she fortunately does not have a prolapsed anus. She is currently undergoing a treatment regimen to build up her calcium level as well as to enable her to defecate. That said, both the vet and I were surprised when he was able to express stool from her by gently applying pressure along her digestive tract.

She eats well, and she's very alert. If she continues to make progress such as she is, it will probably be a matter of expressing her stool on a regular basis so as to keep her healthy. She evidently will not be able to use her hind legs again, but she gets around well by using her front legs nonetheless.

Keep us posted about how she is doing, particularly after the bladder stone is removed. Who knows if that is affecting those back legs...or WHAT is affecting those back legs.