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Does this sound like an injury?!

Lee1123

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I have had my juvenile (roughly 1 year) female Argentine tegu for about a month now. As of this morning, she is having a lot of difficulty moving her front right leg. Two days ago, she seemed fine. She can walk on it but seems to be avoiding moving, and when she does move the leg, it's shaky. I can't tell if this is from pain, but that's my guess.

Does this sound like a sprain or something? She doesn't have any decor she could hurt herself with, but does spend lots of time buried under her substrate (cocofiber mixed with cypress mulch), so I wonder if she may have hurt it digging?
She's very alert, ate some tilapia and fruit just now, and gets enough calcium and UVB. Also, her other legs are all full strength and there is no visible swelling in the problem leg.

Any reassurance that this sounds like an injury and not some sort of awful neurological problem would help my paranoia greatly (or, if it does sound like something worse, I'd like to take action ASAP)
 

Lee1123

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So she seems to be doing better today. Still obviously favoring that leg, but not as much. I've seen my share of reptile injuries before, but I guess it looks a lot more pronounced at her size than with my smaller critters.
I guess it's better to overreact and watch them closely with something like this than to miss something.
 

Tizzay89

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Would say take to a vet. It's either spinach or raw chicken eggs that rob tegus of some type of nute that does lead to neurologic issues. A bad shed can be an issue as well check n make sure it did a full shed and it isnt dried around the leg or digits. Cant say much more with no info. And a vet either way is your best option.
 

Lee1123

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She hasn't had spinach or raw eggs at all, but I wouldn't think just over a month (that's how long I've had her) should be enough to cause any sort of diet-related neurological problem? She just had a complete shed about two to three weeks ago, so that isn't it.

Either way, the nearest vet that does exotics is two hours away so I'll just have to observe until I can schedule an appointment for one of my days off. Hopefully that will be enough time for this to show some noticeable improvement, since a six hour trip would be stressful for her (also, the more I watch the more this is looking like a pulled muscle or something along those lines). I have a local vet that will see exotics in a pinch, but they're really only useful if I already know what the problem is.
 

Walter1

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A little hard to say. Maybe an injury, maybe metabolic bone disease (rickets) from low calcium begun by previous keeper.
 

Lee1123

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I'll keep an eye out for signs of MBD. I got her from a pretty reputable rescue so I don't think that's super likely, but you never know.

Assuming it's an injury (I'm strongly thinking that's the issue at this point) does a week sound like a decent amount of time to watch for improvement before going to the vet? There's no swelling/signs of infection, and all the joints work, so it doesn't seem like an immediately dangerous situation.

If things get worse at all, I'll take her in ASAP, but I don't want to jump the gun and spend a few hundred bucks to drag her on a stressful trip to the specialist just to have them roll their eyes and say it's a really minor injury, you know?
 

Walter1

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Not getting worse or seeming debilitating? Keep a watch then. Might need some rest only.
 

AlphaAlpha

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Sounds to me like just an injury being only one leg and looking healthy everywhere else I'd personally just observe for now but be prepared just in case a vet visit is needed
 

Lee1123

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Thanks for the advice. I think watch and wait is going to be the best course of action for now. Besides avoiding that leg she doesn't seem to feel bad at all and is still eating like a garbage disposal.
 

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