Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Tract Infection in Reptiles

You may have heard about fungal infections and some parasitic infections that reptiles can get, but if you own a reptile you need to know about gastrointestinal tract infections. This infection can be fatal to your pet. This article will discuss what this type of infection is and its symptoms.

Gastrointestinal tract infections and cryptosporidiosis are caused by an infection. The infection usually occurs when a reptile comes in contact with other infected reptiles, infected feces, or infected food.

A gastrointestinal infection causes the stomach and intestine linings to thicken, however, that isn't noticeable to a pet owner. This thickening reduces the ability of these organs to properly function therefore causing other symptoms.

The most common symptoms of gastrointestinal tract infections or cryptosporidiosis are lethargy, weight loss, loss or appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. If your reptile has these symptoms you should have already contacted a veterinarian. They can diagnose this infection by doing an examination and finding a mass in the reptile's gastrointestinal tract. A veterinarian can also run tests on your reptile's feces or regurgitated food to diagnose the infection.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a parasite and it's a very serious infection. In lizards it affects mostly the intestines and in snakes it tends to be in the gastrointestinal tract. This infection is very serious because it really can't be treated.

Your veterinarian will possibly give you recommendations on how to help reduce your pet's symptoms and help them live as long as possible, however your pet may recover or it may die and there isn't much you can do. If a reptile is healthy besides this infection, their body may fight it off. However, if the reptile's symptoms are really bad, the infection is likely to be fatal.

If you have multiple reptiles living together, separate the infected pet to prevent the infection from spreading.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.