Laurie Hess, veterinarian, ABVP (Avian Practitioner)
Lizards make great pets. From bearded dragons to geckos to iguanas, lizards come in all shapes and sizes and are fascinating to learn about and care for. Different species have different requirements for temperature, humidity, light, and nutrition. Before bringing a reptile into their home, prospective reptile owners should learn about the needs of the species they are considering and make sure they can meet those needs.
Lizards (and all reptiles in general) have a very slow metabolism, so when they do get sick, symptoms often don’t show until the disease is advanced, and sometimes until it’s too late to treat. It’s therefore important for reptile owners to know the signs that their pet is ill, before the animal becomes too deteriorated to be treated by a veterinarian.
What should lizard owners look out for to indicate that their pet is ill and needs to see a vet as soon as possible? 5 Signs Your Lizard May Be Sick:
Anorexia
Lizards generally love to eat. Some lizards, such as iguanas, are herbivores (eat vegetables and fruits), others, such as leopard geckos, are insectivores (eat insects), and some, like bearded dragons, are omnivores (eat insects and vegetables/fruits). Regardless of what a lizard eats, Lizard Food Feeling nauseous after eating is one of the early symptoms of the disease, and not eating at all at all is a sign that cannot be ignored.
Additionally, if your lizard ignores insects in the tank and doesn’t eat them within a few minutes, the insects should be removed, otherwise they may bite your lizard, causing serious trauma and infection. Lizard owners should closely monitor their pet’s appetite and take them to the vet immediately if they notice any changes.
Reduced feces
Reptile feces are divided into two parts: a white part made up of uric acid or solid urine, and a green or brown part made up of feces. A decrease in feces volume usually coincides with a decrease in food intake, so lizard owners should pay special attention to their pet’s appetite if they notice a decrease in feces in the tank.
Whether your pet’s reduced bowel movements are due to a loss of appetite or constipation, a lizard with reduced bowel movements should be soaked in fresh water to rehydrate and should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Apathy
Healthy lizards are generally bright-eyed and active, moving around the tank and, in some species, climbing rocks and branches to sunbathe. They react to what they see and hear, appear alert, and stand on all fours, ready to move at any moment. Sick lizards, on the other hand, may remain motionless for hours, sometimes even hiding underground. Lizard Bedding They may bump into other objects in the tank, or move in a snake-like slithering motion, as they have too little strength to move from their abdomen to their legs. Reptile owners who witness this behavior or notice their pets becoming weak should have their animals examined immediately.
Sunken eyes
Generally, healthy reptiles have wide open eyes, moist gums, and supple skin. Reptiles absorb moisture through the food they eat and through their skin when submerged or misted. Sunken eyes, mucus in the mouth, and loose skin are all signs of dehydration. Lizards showing these signs should be immediately rehydrated by submerging them in warm water or misting them, and examined by a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of dehydration, which may include a major illness, a loss of appetite in your pet, or insufficient humidity in your lizard’s tank.
Lizards that have not eaten and become dehydrated should be syringe-fed a liquid food appropriate for their species, while lizards that have become dehydrated from exposure to excessively dry air, such as cool indoor climates in winter, should be provided with additional humidity through daily bathing or misting.
Weight loss
Weight loss in lizards is not always obvious until a significant amount of weight has been lost. There are several physical changes that lizard owners should look out for that can signal weight loss, such as a tapering tail (where lizards normally store fat) and protruding ribs. In some reptiles, the skull may be more defined due to a loss of head fat. Lizard owners who notice these signs should take their pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the cause of weight loss and begin supplemental nutrition until their pet reaches an appropriate weight.
Many reptiles can literally go without food for months, so lizard owners often wait for their pets to start eating again and gain weight back. While they wait, their pets will become thinner and thinner, less able to fight off the illness that is causing their loss of appetite, and eventually die of malnutrition and starvation. If you suspect your lizard is slowly losing weight, don’t wait, take him to the vet as soon as possible.
A knowledgeable owner keeps your lizard healthy
Reptiles often become ill due to improper care and feeding. All reptiles, including lizards, have an optimum temperature zone, or temperature range, where they are suitable for breeding. Many lizards need daily exposure to ultraviolet light (not filtered by glass) to produce Vitamin D in their skin so they can absorb calcium from their food. Lizard owners should be aware of these temperatures and Lizard Lighting By not meeting the requirements, you will not be able to provide the right environmental conditions for your pets, which will ultimately result in the animals becoming ill.
Indoor lizards should be fed a variety of foods, depending on the species, to ensure they receive proper nutrition, usually supplemented with calcium and vitamin D. Feeding your lizard only one type of food (be it insects or vegetables) over and over (a common mistake made by many lizard owners) can lead to malnutrition. Learning about your lizard’s nutritional and environmental needs and setting up their tank properly can help prevent illness before it occurs.
Having your pet examined by a reptile-savvy veterinarian when you first get your pet, and annually thereafter, can not only prevent problems from developing, but may also detect illness when it first occurs before it is too late to treat.
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