• Canine • Feline • Other Mammals • Avian • Reptile

REPTILE CASE STUDIES

Use of HEALx Sunshine Factor and Soother Spray in a Gecko with Skin Lesions*

A leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was presented with skin lesions and anorexia. HEALx Sunshine Factor was administered (0.05 ml PO q24h x 2 weeks). The gecko was sprayed with HEALx Soother Spray once daily for 4 consecutive days, and a clean water bath was given with a water bottle spray on the fifth day to remove any build-up of the Soother solution. The treatment schedule was repeated a second time. The environmental humidity was increased, and the gecko’s feces were tested for parasites. Because the animal had flagellated protozoa parasites, treatment against giardia protozoa was administered when the animal presented for a recheck. At that time the lesions on the skin were completely healed, and the animal had overall improved.

**Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM
Exoticos Vet Clinic, Palma de Mallorca, Spain


Use of HEALx Rain and Sunshine Factor in an Iguana with Dysecdysis*

A green iguana (Iguana iguana) was presented with dysecdysis (abnormal shed). The skin had not regenerated properly because the animal was housed in a terrarium with poor heating and low humidity and was offered an improper diet. The iguana was hospitalized for 10 days with a daily shower of HEALx Rain. HEALx Sunshine Factor (0.2 ml per 100 g body weight) was added to its daily diet of broccoli and hibiscus flowers. The iguana showed improvement after only 3 days of treatment and appeared to like the taste of the Sunshine Factor. The eye that was compromised because of the skin condition returned to normal.

**Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM
Exoticos Vet Clinic, Palma de Mallorca, Spain


Use of HEALx Soother Plus and Booster in a Sulcata Tortoise with a Severe Bite Wound*

A juvenile sulcata tortoise was presented after sustaining a severe defect in its carapace following trauma caused by a dog. Its normal diet consisted of a herbivore mixture of hay, greens and selected red/orange vegetables. It was housed primarily outdoors in South Texas.
The tortoise weighed 0.679 kg on presentation. It was immediately placed in an incubator for stabilization and started on warmed fluids (Reptile Ringer’s Solution, 20 ml divided in several areas subcutaneously and intracoelomically). After stabilization, wound care was initiated with dilute chlorhexidine scrub and chlorhexidine solution. The tortoise was started on injectable antibiotics: ceftazadime and meloxicam.
HEALx Booster was added to the diet (0.12 ml PO q24h), and HEALx Soother Plus was applied topically 2 times daily to the affected tissues for pain management and healing. Topical treatment of the wound continued at home twice daily with the dilute chlorhexidine solution and Soother Plus. Within 11 days, a good quality layer of granulation tissue was present. The tortoise is continuing to do well at this time.

*Ariana Finkelstein, DVM


Use of HEALx Soother Plus and Booster in Severe Bite Wounds in a Tortoise*

A Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo hermanni) over 40 years of age was presented with severe rat bites on its foreleg. Fluids and antibiotics were administered immediately. Following 2 surgeries, the animal was hospitalized and treatment continued with injectable antibiotics and bandage changes every other day. The lesions were treated topically with HEALx Soother Plus during bandage changes. HEALx Booster was added to the top of the tortoise’s salads (0.5 ml q12h with the assumption that some will not be eaten). After only 1 month, the skin had epithelialized and bandages were no longer necessary. This animal is still able to walk. Once the animal had recovered, the owner started to give HEALx Sunshine Factor (0.4 ml q24h mixed with its salad twice a week) as a natural vitamin supplement.

**Sergio Sarmiento Valiente, DVM
Exoticos Vet Clinic, Palma de Mallorca, Spain