URGENT; adopted mistreated

[Asheya]

Hi guys,

A friend of mine who works in rescue saved a beautiful red Tegu and with me being the only person she knows who cares of them, she asked me to take him and I happily obliged.

However, he's in rough shape. He's a sweet pup, but he has months of shed built up on his back. He was kept in a tiny tank his length, with no substate and fed dog food.

What can I do to help his shedding? I have a Zoo med shedding spray, have coconut oil that I intend to apply after I give him a soak today, and cod liver oil that I'd like to feed him with his meal (if he eats). How much oil should he injest? Also in the tank I set up for him, it's loaded with Cypress mulch and the humidity is in the 70-80 zone.

He also seems to have a mild eye infection, with the eye being reddish around the iris and always a little closed. My vet suggests I use Neosporin as it works on cats, but I'm not sure I want to take that chance.

I really want to heal him up, so any more ideas on top of what I'd like to do would really help... Sorry if I'm in the wrong section. He's so sweet and I'm beyond upset someone would do this to a Tegu...

 

[AlphaAlpha]

Hi ...... just keep bathing, oiling and his humidity right and I'm sure you'll start to see an improvement.... There's no overnight cure unfortinately..... I have no idea on the eye problem but I'm sure more experienced owners will soon chip in with their thoughts.

 

[Walter1]

Make sure he has access to a basking site of 110-115 f, ambient in mid-80', and hide with moistened sphagnum in mid-upper 70s.

A vet should look at the eye. Don't waste time and money on a vet that doesn't work with exotics.

About 1/2 tspn oil. Can cut out of pill as well.

 

[Asheya]

Make sure he has access to a basking site of 110-115 f, ambient in mid-80', and hide with moistened sphagnum in mid-upper 70s.

A vet should look at the eye. Don't waste time and money on a vet that doesn't work with exotics.

About 1/2 tspn oil. Can cut out of pill as well.

All clear on cage set up. He got a little grumpy with me trying to rub coconut oil on his skin... Should I leave him alone for a few days or is treatment the priority? He was fine with me until I rubbed him with the towel and now he's hesitant and huffing around my hand...

Also no exotic vets in the area... Sent a picture to a specialist vet (unfortunately not herp related) and she suggest Polysporin drops as she suggest it to the owners to treat water dragon eye infections and the like. Worked quite well apparently...

 

[Walter1]

Treatment first. Personally, Id go with the Poly drops.

With this treatment, expect changes in the next few days. Even when well, fish oil alwaus good, even for birds and mammals.

 

[Asheya]

Treatment first. Personally, Id go with the Poly drops.

With this treatment, expect changes in the next few days. Even when well, fish oil alwaus good, even for birds and mammals.

Thanks! Poly drops improved one eye entirely. Skin is coming off in chunks already. He has lesions in between some scales that look raw so I've put Poly in them as well. Hopefully I can get him back up to speed soon.

Only issue is his total lack of appetite. He ate the tiniest bit of salmon today but won't take anything else. He's a chunky boy though so I hope he'll just get hungry and take food.

I guess I shouldn't force feed oil?

 

[Walter1]

Not yet. Provide moist sphag hide and 110-115f basking spot. Ambient in 80s and hide cooler. Even healthy tegus are reluctant to eat for a week or so when moved to a new home.

 

[Guman]

Could make a humid hide with moss. If the stuck shead is bothering him he might seek out the humidity. Oxbow makes a good food if it comes to a force feed.