soft gums in tegu ?

nat · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject: soft gums in tegu ?

I am rescuing a tegu next week. I already posted this in my intro in the general discussion but thought this would be more appropriate forum for this question.

This tegu (argentinian black and white) that I am taking supposedly has "soft gums". The care taker of the animal now told me that he was advised (I am not sure by whom) to treat this problem with children's mouth wash of some sort.

does anyone know what this could be in reference to ? I would like to be as prepared as possible for this animals arrival next week. In all likely hood I will be arranging for a vet appointment but that being said, there are no exotic vets in my area.

any advise or insight as to what this condition could be in regards to would be appreciated
thanks

AlexSmith · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 11:48 pm Post subject:

Soft gums are an early sign of calcium deffiency. You will need to take it to the vet (which you should have already prepared on doing as it is a rescue). They will probably prescrivbe liquid calcium and possibly a multi-vitamin aswell.

You should probably get it a high intensity UV bulb because that will probably help his condition improve.

Good luck, and keep him very well hydrated! With the meds they will probably make him dehydrated faster then normal.

Alex

nat · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:07 am Post subject:

thanks

I figured it was probably mbd related as most of the iguanas I have dealt with in the past exhibited that classic symptom. W/ being new to tegus however, I wasn't sure if there were additional or unique conditions to them that may involve "soft gums"

AlexSmith · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:20 am Post subject:

I am pretty sure that goes for most/all lizards. Or so I have heard... Don't just trust me though, make sure someone more experienced then myself does says the same. But I would DEFFINATELY take it to the vet as soon as you get it.

Alex

nat · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:27 am Post subject:

taking a new rescue to the vet is pretty much a given in my home, with the exception being animals that I am condifent are healthy and were well cared for and are coming to me because they need to be rehomed.

I have some mercury vapour bulbs all ready to go when it arrives.

tupinambis · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:24 am Post subject:

It may be metabolic bone disease, or it may also be an upper alimentary tract disease. A very typical expression of UATD seen in lizards is stomatitis, otherwise known as mouth rot. The potential etiological origins of the stomatitis might be fungal, bacterial, parasitical or even viral. Mouth wash is not going to be of any use to any of these (MBD or stomatitis) except possibly in minor cases of bacterial stomatitis. In all cases, it would be recommended the animal gets inspected by a qualified veterinarian for proper diagnosis.