Savannah problem??

[suz1000]

We lost our monitor for a week. It has been back for three weeks now. We have been feeding him chicken this week for 3-4 days. His two front legs seem puffy, unusually puffy. Should I be concerned and if so any recommendations as far as treatment?

[smy_749]

why are you feeding him chicken?

[suz1000]

Only this week we were in California for a week and I left him in a friends care His diet wasn't followed soil was dried out when I got home as well. He wasn't properly taken care of for that week. I'm just wondering if that one week was enough to adversely affect his health.
His normal diet is 3 mice and 150 crickets and 1 day of fish a week.

[suz1000]

We did leave detailed instructions for his care which were apparently ignored.

[smy_749]

One week is enough time to have health issues arise, yes. Not sure what the swollen arms could be though. Maybe he just got fat from all that chicken? Can you post any pictures?

[infernalis]

For a week, you just shut the lights off and go.

They endure a lot more than a week of bad conditions in the wild.

Your medical condition puzzles me, I have seen plenty of atrophy. (shrunken muscle tissue) but never swollen legs.

If your soil dried out in a week, the cage is set up all wrong as well, you should only have to lightly sprinkle your dirt maybe once or twice a month, if it dries out faster than that, the cage is either not tightly sealed, or the dirt is entirely too shallow.

[franks]

Pictures would help steer this conversation in the correct direction.

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by franks

Pictures would help steer this conversation in the correct direction.

Agreed. We need more information to help you .
How big/ old is the monitor?
Now large is the enclosure?
What is the surface basking temp (measured with a temp gun)?
What is the lowest ambient temp (measured with a digital thermometer)?
How deep is the substrate and what is it?
If you could post a photo that would be excellent.

If something is off above, it can make the monitor ill. If you could give us the above information, we can let you know if something doesn't sound right and steer you in the right direction .

[Starbuck]

Forlimb swelling could indicate gout (long term metabolic imbalance + poor husbandry), a heart issue resulting in edema (acute change in the monitors physiology), trauma, etc. As others have said, pictures of both the setup and the monitor will help us help you.

[suz1000]

Originally Posted by smy_749

One week is enough time to have health issues arise, yes. Not sure what the swollen arms could be though. Maybe he just got fat from all that chicken? Can you post any pictures?

installing update to iPhoto I'll post pics as soon as it finishes

[suz1000]

I have plenty more if you need a different angle. It does seem like the legs are getting better (back to normal) humidity is good I gave him a bath day before yesterday (1/2 hr soak) he'll get another one tomorrow. I usually give him a 1/2 hr soak 2 times a week. Please real free to speak directly about the issue I don't want to make mistake that gets my lil man sick. (He'll never stay with a friend again)

[suz1000]

IMG_0351.jpgNot sure why the pic didn't post I'll try again here

[suz1000]

This is what he normally looks like IMG_2407.jpg

[suz1000]

IMG_2413.jpgThat's kind of a bad pic but you can see how thin his front legs were there and how big they are now I think. I'll post one more just in case

[DeadlyDesires]

what kind of enclosure do you have him in? he does seem a little chubby