Like all pets, snakes, lizards, and other cold-blooded creatures require veterinary care for illnesses and injuries. To ensure your pet receives prompt care when it’s needed, you should familiarize yourself with some of the warning signs of medical issues in reptiles and amphibians. Here are a few key indicators that you should take your pet to a reptile veterinarian.

Signs It’s Time to Bring Your Reptile Pet to an Animal Hospital

1. Audible Wheezing

Similar to mammals, reptiles and amphibians can contract respiratory infections. In addition to wheezing, you may notice a gaping mouth and bubbling at their nostrils. The infection is uncomfortable for your pet. It could be caused by excess humidity or poor temperature regulation in their cage, so be sure to fix this issue and visit a reptile veterinarian.

2. Swelling in the Limbs

Noticeable puffiness in your lizard is typically a result of insufficient calcium intake. This leads to a condition called metabolic bone disease, which causes muscle weakening as well as the buildup of fibrous tissue. Using UV lamps and improving your pet’s diet can typically turn the condition around, but a reptile veterinarian may also recommend supplements.    

3. Refusal to Eat

Temperature changes can impact appetite, so look out for your reptile not eating. If prolonged refusal to eat persists for more than a month for snakes, three days for a lizard, or a week for frogs, salamanders, and turtles, you should visit a veterinarian to get to the bottom of it.

4. Injury

A cracked turtle shell or a broken limb should be addressed by a specialist. Likewise, serious bites from other animals or burns from lamps warrant veterinary care. If your reptile gets burned by a light in their cage, remove the equipment to prevent reinjury.

5. Fungus

Fungus can be a sign that your pet’s cage needs to be cleaned more often. It can develop in amphibians and turtles, as the species tend to have larger volumes of water in their cages. Discuss the best course of treatment with your veterinarian, including whether you should clean or replace the cage.

When your reptile pet needs top-notch care, take them to a veterinarian who specializes in treating reptiles. Contact A-4 Animal Hospital, located in Lancaster County, NE, for your reptile care needs. In addition to providing comprehensive services at their clinic, they also offer house calls for your convenience. Visit their website to learn more about their services, or call (402) 475-2282 to schedule an appointment.