REPTILE | PET GAZETTE | 33
was hard work, having to use protein rich
natural foods in solution and to administer
these direct to mouth. We started to provide
natural base full-spectrum minerals with
higher doses of Magnesium in solution direct
to mouth at regular intervals until we were
sure that its system had been almost flooded
with these natural compounds. We used a
probiotic to try and repopulate the gut and
plenty of bee pollen rich additions. We then
started to increase the variety of diet whilst
still being fed in solution direct to mouth until
we started to see more and more energy
develop within the animal. This could be
viewed as a slow but sustained reanimation.
Eventually we saw the animal try to eat of
its own accord, from that moment we were
able to continue to provide water directly to
the mouth but to also offer live foods of as
many species as we could alongside the
pre-prepared natural insectivore diets. Quite
early on the fitting reduced until it eventually
stopped, this is a sign that mineral levels
were starting to become replenished to the
point where their release into the blood
was no longer an issue. The animal also
started to regain upper body strength and
to move around the enclosure. We adjusted
the enclosure in order for it to be able to
try and climb and move around easily. As
demonstrated on previous issues, physical
and mental enrichment are key and core
parts of overall nutrition.
Over the weeks we started to see a
more balanced animal that was increasing
in weight and maintaining its fat stores.
Colouration started to improve as did the
animals physical activity. The next thing to
show improvement was the animals appetite,
this was a pivotal moment as it meant that
we had to manually intervene less and could
allow it the stimulation of natural hunting,
within the area that it usually rested.
This has been a process of over six
months that has taken time every day. We
have been able to watch and document an
animal that had a level of disease that would
have been terminal for most, start to recover
and be able to enjoy a level of quality of life.
I am quite astounded to say that even the
twisting of the spine and poorly aligned jaw
are now even showing quite remarkable
signs of repair.
One thing is for sure, this animal will never
be ‘right’, it will always need and indeed
deserves a high level of care, we will provide
that. It will need monitoring by a vet and
eventually hard choices may have to be
made if the level of disease from the past
has affected long-term organ function, time
will tell. We will give it our very best shot at
every stage.
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So, in this case we have experienced a
level of quite rare success in this level of this
disease, a once almost certainly doomed
animal now lives the ‘life of Riley’ in a huge
enclosure with the very best tech and diets
that money can buy, that is great, and I am
more than delighted to have him. However,
he only arrived at this point due to the poor
level of care or poor understanding of care
that it had received over a protracted length
of time within the home that it had found
itself. None of this needed to have happened
if the original owners had been able to
understand these core processes and been
able to buy and use the items that are made
available in order to allow reptiles to flourish,
which they can.
As previously mentioned, cases seem to be
reducing and higher numbers with slight
disease are now seeing quick remedy when
advice is sought. This is fantastic news.
As the concept of overall-nutrition starts
to become more widely understood and
explained we will start to see another rapid
increase in animal welfare levels and a
further reduction in avoidable diseases.
As a service, we are making available
in the autumn of 2018 and upon request
to professionals only, a document that lays
out a plan of remedial action for serious
malnutrition in reptiles. This offers some
explanatory guidance and provides a
feeding programme that can be followed
per food group. Store owners, vets and zoo
professionals can request a copy from me.
JOHN COURTENEY-SMITH
John Courteney-Smith’s new fact-packed
book was published in Spring 2018 and
is available in all good book shops,
online and through the reptile wholesale
network at a trade price. This is a series
of four new titles based on the ‘Elements’.
To listen to John’s free podcasts
visit www.chameleonbreeder.com/
podcast/ep-55-mbd-uvb-with-john-
courteney-smith/
September 2018