Do you have a pet lizard, snake or other reptile? Does your pet turn his/her head up as though searching the sky, gazing at the stars? This could be a sign of a problem with the central nervous system. Stargazing could be caused by a toxic substance, an injury, bacterial, viral (particularly IBD or Inclusion […]
Reptile Diseases
Ball Pythons and Anorexia
Some ball pythons stop feeding during the winter months. It is called winter anorexia and is not unusual behavior. This may be related to shorter hours of daylight during winter months. If your ball python shows any signs of illness during this time such as high weight loss, breathing open-mouthed or other signs of respiratory […]
Reptile Pets and Salmonella
Contact with a reptile is a major source of salmonella infection. About half the cases of salmonella in children under the age of 5 are caused by this. About 90% of all reptile pets carry salmonella. They may sometimes shed it in their feces, which causes it to remain on surfaces for a long period […]
Metabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is commonly found in reptiles that eat plants and/or insects. Because iguanas are popular reptile pets, MBD is seen most often in these creatures. The primary cause of MBD is a breakdown in the metabolism of calcium. Calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D are out of balance. These three act together to […]