A Respiratory Infection, or RI, is basically reptile pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection in the lungs.



Symptoms

Audible exhalation (wheezing/clicking)

Breathing with head raised

Bubbly/stringy mucus in mouth

Lethargy

Loss of appetite

Open-mouth breathing

Runny nose

Scabbed lips

Swollen/bloated body

Weepy eyes

Weight loss

Cause

Cool temperatures

Humidity too high/low

No thermal gradient

Prolonged stress

Treatment

Respiratory infections require veterinarian intervention and antibiotics to resolve.



First, make an appointment with a certified reptile vet. Then re-evaluate your day and night temperatures as well as humidity to make sure husbandry is correct. Be transparent with your veterinarian about the numbers and your exact husbandry practices, as this will help them diagnose and cure your pet.



You can also increase nighttime temperatures to 80-85°F (27-29°C) with a ceramic heat emitter or even a space heater placed in the same room. Warmer temperatures help antibiotics be more effective



Antibiotics work by killing the bad bacteria in your tegu’s lungs, but as a side effect of using oral medication they also tend to kill the good bacteria in their gut as well. This can result in decreased appetite and weight loss. Decrease the risk of complications from antibiotics with a probiotic like NutriBAC df or ProBio+ mixed with an appropriate quantity of quality dog food.