EGG Retention

[Steeve B]

nt

[SHvar]

Wrong nesting material, etc.
Sobek was at the 2 week point I had taken her to a her vet for proper diagnosis, Rob Faust agreed, and after being told her symptoms were different from any F. Retes had experienced he agreed get her to a vet for a sonagram, or xray. At the 3 week point was the vet appointment, and (on a Monday)after an xray to verify she was indeed bound with eggs surgery was done that Friday (almost 4 week point). She had over 40 eggs removed from her, and to prevent the risk of ever having this problem again her ovaries were removed because I didnt want to risk the life of a family member. She ate the following morning after surgery and a small meal every day for 2 weeks (with antibiotics), I had to cover her dirt with a tarp for 2 weeks until the incision seal properly, and not allow any soaking until 1 month when the stitches came out. At the 2 week point several stitches fell out from shedding already as she healed alot faster than ever expected, at one month she had 3-4 left in the old skin that shed off within days. She was 20lbs at surgery and 5ft 8 inches, after wards she was about 15lbs. After 2 weeks she shed, in 2 weeks she started again shedding. She is now a few months later 6ft and 24.5 lbs. The surgery was alot less expensive than I expected.
This was from me having the wrong dirt in her cage, Sobek wouldnt dig in it, after I put the right stuff in she dug alot but didnt lay, too late no experimenting in the middle of the process I guess, have it right ahead of time.

[Steeve B]

nt

[Retic chic]

Steve, tried emailing you - but our email server has been having difficulty.

Sheila has done a lot of veterenary and breeding work with mammals. I realize reptiles aren't mammals - but having said that she has extensive knowledge regarding the hormones involved with mammal partuition and labour, so I will pass the following information regarding mammals along.

With mammals, they ensure to use prostoglandin (trade names are lutayase and planate) In mammals, the prostoglandin starts the partuition process by opening the cervix.

Oxytocin is used to stimulate the contractions. You don't want to stimulate contractions before opening the birth canal (with the prostoglandin) or else, risk of rupturing the uterus is high.

Hopefully there is a good vet that can be found with more knowledge about this.

Can you tell if the eggs are still seperate, and not bound together. If they are bound together, I would think that using any hormones could endanger the female further.

If I can locate a vet that has knowledge regarding egg retention in lizards, hopefully monitors - I will talk to them, and maybe be able to put them into contact with your vet.

I hope she does o.k.
Ryan and Sheila

[Steeve B]

nt

[SHvar]

The incision was only about 3 inches long, and healed very quickly. I gave her half a baytril tablet every morning inside the mouth of a day old chicken peep, starting the day after surgery for 2 weeks straight. I also fed one other peep per day (but shes a big girl) and hissers also. There were at least 6 or so stitches that fell out with the shed skin before the month was up (half in 2 weeks). If they remove the eggs surgically I guess its actually a simple spaying because the eggs attach along the body and the reproductive system comes along with them. She wouldnt be able to reproduce afterwards but then its better than dieing if it comes to that. Good luck and I hope she lays them or if it comes down to surgery that she heals fast also. Just 2 weeks no dirt and one month no soaking. Keep her appetite up because her physical condition will allow her to bounce back fast either way.

[reverendsterlin]

is there any reason surgically removed egg couldn't be incubated?

[Steeve B]

Thanks for this info, I didn’t know she became unproductive after this operation, therefore we will rule it out, unless it becomes life threatening, we routinely palpate eggs out of pythons by reducing there mass using a syringe thru the body cavity into the egg and draining yolk, then by gently massaging we can extirpate them, with a croc monitor anesthesia who’d be needed, we will do every thing possible for this female to remain reproductive.
You must feel terrible that she cant reproduce anymore? I who’d have a problem knowing id keep a monitor 25-30 years in this spaded condition.
Thank you very much for your information, If you’d be interested to write all you remember with as much details, id use this in my book.
Rgds

[Jeff_Favelle]

is there any reason surgically removed egg couldn't be incubated?

No bacteria-prevention coat on them. Its the last thing to be put on as they are being laid.

Plus, when do monitors actually SHELL their eggs? Not like pythons. You'd be surprised.

[SHvar]

Reproduce, she was ordered as a pet and has become a member of the family. Her ability to reproduce is something that wasnt even a consideration to the thought of her having this problem. I dont know if they loose their ability to reproduce or not but ask the vet if he knows, they may not. I know I told her vet to remove her ovaries because I didnt want that risk on her life. Besides she acts aggressive to other monitors. I was concerned with Sobeks safety and health because she is too important to loose over her ability to reproduce or not.
I guess if I got a pair of monitors or a tio and raised, housed them together and they got along Id feel a bit different if one of them had the problem, but Sobek was raised for her first year without other monitors and dislikes them, I was told because she cant communicate with them.