FAQ: The Health of Tegus

My Tegu sleeps all the time, is he sick?
Some Tegus “brumate” sort of like hibernation, for up to 3 even 4 months at a time.

Is it normal for my Tegu to keep his mouth open?
If he does it all the time your temps may be too hot or it could be an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). If he is gaping all the time, has a mucus around the mouth or nose or has difficulty breathing, get to a vet for a prescription of Baytril ASAP.

My Tegus tail came off, what do I do? Will it grow back?
It will grow back but it won't look like it did before. This is why you don't pick your Tegu up by the tail. If your Tegu is with other Tegus, separate him. You can use an antibiotic cream to reduce chances of infection. If there is a lot of blood or persistent bleeding, get to a vet ASAP. If the break is close to the body go to a vet. If it does not start healing in a few days go to a vet.

Do Tegus like water?
Most Tegus do like water and enjoy a misting or bath.

What could be causing my Tegu to throw up?
Tegus digest their food with the help of heat from a basking light. Poor digestion is normally associated with temperatures below 105-115F. It is also possible that the food items he is trying to eat are too large. To much food can cause vomiting too. Do not handle your Tegu after a meal. The stress can cause the animal to thrash around and throw up Anytime a Tegu throws up, it is a serious matter. They have bacteria in their stomach to help digest food. The loss of this “gut flora” makes it harder to digest food and so it needs to be replaced. A probiotic should always be given when a Tegu has digestive problems. Pedialyte is good to help rehydrate him and replace fluids. (More info on Probiotics and Pedialyte)

How do I trim my Tegus nails?
They can be trimmed with a nail clipper (not scissors) just like people use. Only cut off the tips. Have a blood clotting agent available in case you get a bleeder. Products like we use for razor cuts work for Tegus too and are available at most pet stores.

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