BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

I sometimes feel if im being a good dad with my BTS, i have been researching everything about them and gicing them all what they need but it seems that it just sometimes fails.. after a long battle with Boris, my IJ with his hunger strike and being soooo picky with picky, ive accepted the fact that he is just picky and eats alot less compared before. He is skinny than before but i think he is ok...

A few months ago i got a new BTs, a silver Tanimbar. I was really happy and glad about this beautiful baby.. His pictures are posted in my Photo Gallery and posted here in the forum before. Ive given him a so variety of diet, just like Boris is getting and makng sure that they get their sunlight,unfiltered. I have been away for the last 3 weeks so i have my friend take care of it.I know that when i gave him the BTS they are all in a good shape, but i saw my Tanny today and *sigh* he has a terrible dip on his back, a clear sign of MBD, its been raining here alot and sunshine isnt much of an episode and i also know that my friend has been really great skink sittinng for my BTS, but im just so sad that this has to happen, i really feel that im a terrible dad....

I will post pics soon and im know thinking of ways to correct the dip.
My Tanny Boris is about 4-5months old and alot bigger than the last time i posted him. I got surprised bec i know they grow really slow but of course my IJ grew faster..
i just hope he is going to be ok..*sigh*

any advice guys?

Hey Drew,

You might actually want to go read this:

http://www.bluetongueskinks.net/forum/v ... highlight=

I just dealt with a similar problem that my northern, Otis, had. Even though I provided a varied diet along with calcium supplements and lots of light, he still got a kink right below the base of his tail. But a lot of the experts on here told me that young skinks can move around their cages and bend or damage their bone structure in the process. My vet made the same conclusion because my BTS did not have MBD (actually, his bones were very strong, she said--and your BTS' are probably strong, too!). The way I kept Otis from climbing around the cage walls and hurting himself was to take him outside a lot more to let him build up muscle strength and cover the walls with scenery and herpetarium paper.

Maybe this is the same problem you've been having? MDB is actually pretty rare, and unless you've been REALLY neglecting the animal, it's unlikely to happen so quickly (this is my vet visit speaking). Post some pictures and see what everyone says. Also, is there any good vet you can go to? It's definitely worth the while.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Tony

Three weeks without sunlight will not cause MBD to develop a noticeable dip in the back.

Its probably what Tony said.

When my skink was diagnosed with MBD (which he actually had BEFORE I adopted him) a second opinion told me that at his young age, it is more likely like he broke his spine. He said the most common way to create this injury is by climbing up the walls (particularly in corners) and putting all their weight on the base of their spine causing it to pop. The good news is that your problem is fixable unlike my baby who will have dipped spine for life.
Good luck to you!

thanks for you comments. well when he was younger i always check on them, their bones and musles and all thats why im surprised that he developed this.
wiil post pic soon
thanks guys

I agree. I'm no expert but it sounds like he kinked it by climbing the walls of his enclosure. You're good for taking note of it. I'd be concerned too.

i wonder if the MBD started long way before... sigh.

I dont think its MBD, sounds more like kyphosis, the climbing the sides thing, you as a concerned owner would have seen it before and you always post about giving him varied foods and light.It will be easier to comment on a photo.

Drew, don't beat yourself up for being a "bad Dad", you obviously love nad care for your skinks, and you are providing very well for them. I'm in agreement with the other folks on here, its probably the"climbing" thing that caused the damage. It may not even be permanent.
I think skinks have to be really neglected for a long time, like months before they show the MBD. I thought Chuff Chuff had it, but after x-rays, my vet said his bones were solid and healthy, but his some of his bones had been broken! the conclusion was, a dog or other animal had gotten a hold of Chuff and shook him around before he somehow escaped.
My point is, he's fine now, even though he has the dent in his back and the kinked up tail.
my vet said, "If you don't tell them they're handicapped, they will never know it!"

I agree with everyone, at his young age, MBD is essentially impossible because he hasn't even been alive long enough to develop something like that.

It could be the climbing up the walls, or could have been a fall...did your friend maybe drop the animal at all while you were gone while handling? Maybe it was something very minor, like a 2 foot drop that he thought nothing about and forgot to mention? That's what happened to kristymac on this forum; a short drop, and a BIG lump appeared soon after. The vet concluded it was a spine fracture I believe, but she seems to be doing well now, eating and pooping regularly.

Good luck, Drew, your baby Tanimbar pictures are truly some of the cutest I've ever seen.

thanks everyone. i really apreciate the support and encouragement.My friend told me the Bowie bit him but nothing like he dropped it or something, Bowie east like a champ though.
i really hope he will recover form it. will takep ics as soon as i see him again.
Zach, thanks for the photo comments, you can use the pics if you have use for them.

-still worried..

he lives in a rubbermaid tub, same one were i placed Boris when he was a baby, so im not really sure about the climbing. im taking him to see the vet maybe this wed and have xrays.thanks

anyone knows if DMSO is harmful to BTS?
http://www.vitaguide.org/dmso.html
http://www.dmso.com/

Sounds a bit iffy to me mate, I wouldnt administer anything like that if it hasn't been proven for use on your herp, you wouldnt go spray Ralgex on him coz it works on your muscles, would you?

I DONT KNOW ABOUT RALGEX BRO but i guess its like Bengay ( muscle reliever) here. thanks though

Drew I don't know how the items you listed would work for a bluey but how about feeding him some foods known to have anti-inflammatory properties (ie cherries, blueberries, strawberries). At lest you know those are safe for him.

Its most common application is as an industrial solvent.

The safety and efficacy of taking DMSO medicinally is still debated by doctors.

That sounds horrendous. I wouldn't use that stuff on myself, much less on a tiny animal! Just wait to see what the vet says.

I guess I'm confused. What would you use it for?
Its a solvent, so I agree with Hijinks, I wouldn't get anywhere near it myself, let alone subject any (of my) animals to it.

I wouldn't use anything like that.

ok thanks guys. my friend whose a vet let me check it in if its harmful to bts. i wont use though thanks