sick plated lizard

Question
QUESTION: I have a plated lizard that won't eat. I have had her for about 6 months and she had been doing great. All of a sudden she just stopped eating. I have taken her to the vet and have been told that we are keeping the temp of the tank correct and given us some suggestions on her diet. Also they have advised us to soak her in water 2x a day for 10 mins at a time to help with dehydration. We have been doing this for a week. She still has not eaten so we tried to force feed her some crickets, they came back up. I am not sure if lizards can actually throw up but that is what it appeared she did. The vet has asked for a stool sample but we are unable to get one since she is not eating. I am looking for some advice...is it to late to do anything for her? I am afraid she is just in to much distress..

ANSWER: Hello Heidi,

Did the vet give any medications or do a blood test?  What are the temps in the tank, & what do you measure them with?  The basking temps should only be around 90 & no higher than 95, with the cooler area around 78-82 or so.  
What type of lighting are you using?  What type of UVB light are you using is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light?
Have you changed her tank recently that could have caused her to have relocation type of stress?
You should ask your vet for a powdered food supplement called Critical care, it is very good for sick reptiles.
Let me know how things are.

Tracie


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The vet did not give any medications or do any blood test..I was told a blood test was complicated and they would prefer a stool sample. The temps have been right around what you have stated. I have been using both types of lights one of the coil lights and one for heat. The last time I spoke to the vet they suggested a preventative deworming...does that sound right to you?

ANSWER: Hello Heidi,

Really a bloodtest is not complicated at all.  
However I am pretty sure your problem is going to be with the coil light.  Which brand of coil UVB are you using?  Please remove that one.  How long have you been using that light?  
The basking light, is it a bright white one too?
The best UVB would be a Reptisun 10 flourescent tube light or even a Reptiglo 8 flourescent tube light.  Please stay away from all ESU/R-Zilla flourescent & compact or coil lights as well as Reptiglo 10 flourescent tube lights & compact or coil lights.
The coil & compact lights are very poor quality UVB lights.  They also emit low wavelength of UVB which are borderline to UVC. So they can be harmful on the eyes as well as the health of your reptile.
I think if you change those lights out you should see immense improvement pretty quickly.
What are you feeding?  Right now you need to be doing a greens & feeders slurry daily, at least 1-2 cc's daily.  
Let me know how he is doing.  Please change the lights out as soon as possible.
Also, with the stress of the bad lighting, yes, the parasite or worm levels could have increased.  However, try to get a fecal done before automatically medicating him when it may not be necessary.  

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I will check on the lights and get the ones you recommended. We have been using the same ones since we got her. They were the one the pet store recommended so I am not really sure what brand they are. Can you tell me what the greens and feeders slurry is? The vet is still recommending a weight check and de-worming would you recommend this yet or wait?
Sorry for all of the questions...I feel like a very irresponsible pet owner right now.

Answer
Hello Heidi,

Oh no need to feel like a bad pet owner!  :-((  We ALL make mistakes & unfortunately we never learn doing things the right way.  You had no way of knowing as you trusted the people at the petstore.  In a way, it isn't their fault either.  It is just a bad situation no matter how you look at it.  
The people that should be held responsible are the manufacturers of the poor quality lights that were not tested properly before hitting the shelves, & then the petstore owners for not doing research on their products before selling them.
A greens & feeder slurry is gross, but, very effective.  Get some greens such as mustard or collard greens, some squash, pedialyte, bee pollen, & a few feeders.  Put them in a blender to make a smooth slurry that you can feed through a plastic dropper.  
Well, I think a weight check is fine.  I would not medicate without having a fecal done.  At this point, if she is medicated without cause then it might make her worse.  Get a fecal done first, then go from there.  Make sure to ask what the count is of the fecal, also.
A few other things of importance.  Another reason that she could be losing her appetite is because due to improper UVB exposure, her calcium levels are probably very low because without good UVB her body cannot absorb calcium very well or synthesize D3 either.  
When they have low calcium, they do tend to become more inactive & lethargic as well.  
Could he do a bloodtest too?  

Keep me posted.

Tracie  :-))