Help! Sick Savannah!!

Skits · 06-23-12, 06:33 PM

My sav has always been healthy and happy until yesterday night. I went to check up on him and found him laying in his hide and having difficulty moving his front arms. I thought it was because the temperatures had dropped in my home, so I placed him on his bask spot and had him in 130 degrees. My dad told me he would be better by the morning. I gave him a warm bath as well and it seemed to help him, and he was moving around a bit more later on. Today I woke up and checked on him and he's not any better. He's not moving at all, he's barely capable of moving his arms, his fingers shake, and his body shakes a lot as well sometimes. I've force fed him water, I've given him calcium supplements, and another warm bath which didn't do anything for him this time. I plopped his mouth open and it seems like he has mouth rot. I feel he might have parasites, mouth rot, or dehydration. His humidity is at 36, cage temp is 81, basking 130.

My dad isn't home and the reptile vet is too far for me without a car, and I have no way of getting in touch with my dad until tomorrow. I'm not sure what to do in the meantime.

Skits · 06-23-12, 06:39 PM

Also he ate fine two days ago, was walking around fine. I even brought him outside a couple days ago and he ran around on his harness. He opens his mouth and gives off a weird breathing sound, so I'm not sure if it's an RI.

KSTAR · 06-23-12, 07:22 PM

I can't really figure anything out right now I had a similar problem with a tegu of mine and I just loaded his food with calcium supplements like the calcium powder with the multivitamin powder in his ground turkey and fed it to him cause he wasnt able to eat on his own and put another UVB/UVA bulb in the enclosure and two days later he was back better then ever

snake man12 · 06-23-12, 07:58 PM

Yes I would try giving him another fluorescent uvb/uva to help his body take in the calcium supplements

infernalis · 06-23-12, 10:26 PM

Can you get the cage hotter? I would jack that up to 100-105 ambient for a few days, get the humidity up to 80% or close.

What is your setup like, can you post pictures? a close up of the mouth would be nice.

Now, stop messing with it, forcing baths and prying mouths open is stressful on the animal.

Please tell us how you have this animal set up. Thanks.

Jay · 06-24-12, 12:52 AM

I know this is touchy, but what's his diet?

BarelyBreathing · 06-24-12, 08:15 AM

Your humidity is WAY too low. Can you post photos of the monitor and the enclosure?

mo9e64 · 06-24-12, 08:52 AM

Address dehydration,security and proper temps,the rest are just distractions from the real problem.Without proper conditions health cannot be addressed.Get the cage setup properly by asking questions and leave it alone.

infernalis · 06-24-12, 11:36 AM

Moe has a good valid point, Monitors are like natures "bulletproof animal" and will do amazing healing all on their own if you get the environment correct.

DiscoPat · 06-24-12, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Moe has a good valid point, Monitors are like natures "bulletproof animal" and will do amazing healing all on their own if you get the environment correct.

I have seen this in person, I got my Savannah Monitor from a pet store that had him in dry heat and he seemed very lazy and lethargic. After taking the advice given on this forum he is now much more active and is a lot better about eating his crickets.

infernalis · 06-24-12, 03:56 PM

A member here once taped a gash on his monitor's side with duct tape, there is not even a scar.....

It was David Kirshner (Crocdoc) who said that, so you can take it to the bank.

DiscoPat · 06-24-12, 07:22 PM

Wow, that is one tough lizard.

Skits · 06-25-12, 02:00 PM

The inside of his mouth is only visible when it's open, it's on his palet. I never got a good look at it because the only time I've seen it was when I was giving him water with the syringe. I've boosted up humidity and heat though and he's already doing a lot better! His enclosure is a 50 gallon tank, which I know is horrible for a sav. We've been having financial problems so haven't been able to afford the glass right now for the enclosure we were working on building but by this weekend, at most the next week..we'll have him in a nice big enclosure. He has about 10 inches of substrate as well, and the top is covered to keep in the humidity. His diet has been earthworms, snails, some organic shrimps here and there, and a weekly rat. I could go out and look for other things as well to give him more of a variety. We currently have him in a bin just to ensure the humidity and heat is well kept, as he's lethargic as well, easier to keep an eye on him and make sure he's doing alright. And he's been walking around in it which is a big improvement since yesterday!

I've been giving him calcium as well and he's been taking it nicely. I'll keep making sure heat and humidity is well kept and I'll leave him alone and not give him anymore baths, I was sure it would help if he was dehydrated but I know now only humidity and water will keep him fine. Also will be sure humidity is up to 80. I'll get his enclosure well set up, and at proper temps and have him back in as soon as he's more responsive.

Edit: Also his shaking has stopped which must be a really good sign. His fingers don't even twitch or shake at all now. I'm sure the problem was dehydration and low humidity because as soon as I had boosted the humidity up is when he started getting better so I'll keep that up!