I just got a seriously ill collard lizard dumped off on me by uncaring owners. I think it may be too late for her, but I would like to try to bring her back. She is only about 4inches snout to vent, she looks like she has some early signs of Metabolic Bone Disease (kinky tail) even though she has been housed under a 10.0 uvb light. shes only been fed crix and mealies (mostly mealies) and has never been offered water in her cage, only when she is out to be fed.
They brought her to me beacuse they say she hasnt been eating well, i figured, okay so shes on a hunger strike.... I was shocked at what I saw, you can see every bone in her body! I got her here and gave her 2 meal worms (mealies are all I had) and she took them, but puked them back up a little later, so I began to offer a slurry made from pedialyte, squash baby food, calcuim withD3, and a multi vit. She's been taking 3 or 4 little drops at a time.
The soonest the vet will see me is thursday, because he is out of town until wednesday and their is only one herp vet within 8 hours of here. I doubt the people are going to pick up the bill either.
Is their anything else I should be doing? I have her set up in a 10 gallon tank with UVB and a basking spot that is in the high 80's, a lid with a couple dusted mealies, and a thing of water.

These pictures are so sad...

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Poor little thing! This lizard is in seriously bad shape! Looks like they haven't been feeding it correctly,... if at all! There is a possibilty of a heavy parasite load as well!
Try soaking it in a bowl of warm (85ish) water and pedialyte. Collared lizards are carnivorous so I would replace the squash baby food with chicken baby food. Be very careful with the dropper feeding. You don't want to aspirate the little guy. Good luck with it and I hope it survives till you can get to the vet!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Hello,

I am with Merlin. Switch over to chicken. You could also blend up some freshly molted mealies.

Dropper feeding can be dangerous, so be careful. I would also use some nutribac in that mix if you have any. If you can keep him hydrated, and get some nutrients in him, he may be able to make a recovery. Good luck and keep us posted.

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Basking temps want to be nearer 120°F, apart from that do what others have suggested and let us know what happen. Good luck

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I'll think of something to put here soon.......

That is so sad! You're wonderful to try to help her!

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~Juliane~

Good luck with him/her.. Looks like you have received some great advice. Please keep us posted on her status.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Things aren't looking well...she hasn't moved at all since I put her down last night around 8. She remained standing all night. I was planning on switching over to chicken or turkey babyfood once I get to work, squash is all I have and I figured some vegetable nutrients are better than no nutrients at all. She is still taking the food willingly off of the syringe so should I be worried about her aspirating her?
I'm going to have to get her a larger lightbulb if it needs to be 120 degrees! She's only in a ten gallon tank (I need to be able to easily move her from home to work with me since I work long days) Should I really try to get it that hot? I think she only had a 60 watt bulb in a 60 gallon tank....Thanks for your help. Things still aren't looking up, but i'll keep you posted.

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

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Firstly, what you said about the way this baby was kept before coming to you doesn't sound like anything was done wrong, so either your friends are lying or this little one has a serious overload of parasites or an illness.

It looks young - how long have they had it? It reminds me of one of our hatchlings from last year who was the runt of the clutch and, despite our efforts, didn't make it. Could it be so young?

First things first - please read our care sheet - collard lizard care
I commend you for taking this little one in, but how can you expect to bring it back to good health if you don't know how to properly look after it?

Yes temps should be much higher than you have them - basking spot of around 110F with a cooler end in the low 80s so the baby can get away from the heat. Have you a UV light in there now? Also, the regurg may have been due to the low temps you are providing, but I would also stear clear of mealies at this stage.. try small/size 1 or 2 crickets.

To be honest, i'm really sorry, but it does look like it might be too late for this poor baby. I hope that's not the case and I hope you can get it back to good health but it looks like it may have sadly crossed the line already.

Good luck, please read the care sheet and we are all thinking of your poor little one, whatever has caused it to get in this state is not good.. don't accuse your friends but try and find out if they really did keep it as you said, because if they did it would be unlikely to be so ill.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

thats really sad. hope it works out.

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I'm pretty sure that my friends weren't exactly forth coming with me, I had to pry info out of them. It is only their second herp, they also have a leopard gecko that is beautiful. The guy they bought it from said that she was CB, but i'm pretty sure she was WC.
She is looking a little more perky today, I switched over to chicken babyfood and pedialyte and shes been gobbling it up. She refused live food again today. She also deficated, mostly urates, mostly yellow, with only a tiny bit of feces. Her temps have been raised, but she still isnt active. I'm a little more optimistic since she made it through the night though. I think she may be a hatchling from this year, but I do not know. They got her in July.

This morning (size comparison)



Looking a little more hydrated

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

~*~Lacey~*~

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