mali uromastyx kidney

Question
Hi Tracie,

My mali uromastyx, Charley, hasn't been acting his normal self. He's been really lazy and not eating. Also the skin on his stomach is noticably tough. I took him to the vet and he took a blood test and injected Charley with fluids, anitbiotics, and painkillers. The day of and after the vet's visit, Charley was back to his normal self. The vet prescribed the pain killers, and antibiotics, and this liquid (to apply to his skin). I've been giving him the meds as directed. The vet called today with the blood test results and it says that there is something wrong with his kidneys. I researched this and all I could find were websites that say that this happens when mali's get too much protein from crickets. The thing is, I dont feed Charley crickets. I feed him peas, lettuce, lima beans, and greens like that. I tried to give him crickets (not very often just a few times about a year ago) but he didnt seem to like them. I'm really worried about him and I don't understand how something could be wrong with his kidneys. The vet also said that the skin on his stomach was hard because he has a skin infection (thats what the liquid he prescribed was for). I'd really appreciate anything you can tell me. Charley is only 4 years old and I want to do whatever I can to make him better again.

Thank you.

Answer
Hello Lauren,

Wow, that is too bad about your mali.  I am glad that you went ahead & got a bloodtest on him.  Did the vet specify exactly what could be wrong with his kidneys, did he have a kidney infection per say, or was it more along the lines of gout?  
Can you get me the bloodtest values, so I can see what the uric acid & the protein levels are at?  
Did he say what type of skin infection he has?
Can you tell me a little bit about his setup?  What are his temps, & what do you measure his temps with?  What type of basking light are you using, a bright white light or a colored light?  Do you use UVB light?  What type & brand of UVB light do you use?
Do you use calcium & if so, how often?
GREAT that you do not feed him crickets, they cannot digest them very well.  They are herbivores anyway.  :-))  So you feed dark green leafy veggies, peas, beans, & veggies?  Does he get enough moisture & vegetation?


Tracie