Recognizing When Your Savanah Monitor Needs Help

Savannah monitors are fascinating creatures, but they can be challenging to keep as pets. They have complex needs and require special care to thrive. Unfortunately, they tend to die early, even in captivity, with the highest mortality rate occurring during the first few months of their lives. This is often due to factors such as poor husbandry, dehydration, and internal parasites. Recognising the signs of a dying Savannah monitor is crucial for their care. Some key indicators include a sudden change in behaviour, refusal to eat, rapid weight loss, constipation, diarrhoea, lethargy, and hiding behaviour. These signs could signal underlying health issues, and prompt veterinary attention is essential to give your pet the best chance of survival.

Refusal to eat

Young Savannah monitors, in particular, are susceptible to early death due to fasting. In the wild, they go through a natural cycle of fasting for the first three months, paired with a complete shutdown of their endocrine system. However, in captivity, it is challenging to mimic these seasonal cycles, and if this cycle is not followed consistently, their maximum lifespan can be significantly shortened.

If your Savannah monitor is refusing to eat, it is important to act quickly. Check the temperature and heating of its enclosure, as improper conditions can lead to health issues. Additionally, parasitic infections could be a factor, so it is recommended to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. They can help diagnose and treat any underlying health issues and provide guidance on proper care and husbandry.

It is worth noting that a loss of appetite can be a symptom of other issues as well. For example, constipation in Savannah monitors can be caused by dehydration, parasitism, poor husbandry, or prolonged exposure to incorrect temperatures. Similarly, lethargy, which often goes hand-in-hand with a refusal to eat, can be caused by obesity, dehydration, lack of food intake, overheating, underheating, or various illnesses. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor your lizard's overall behaviour and health, and seek veterinary assistance if you suspect any problems.

Rapid weight loss

Savannah monitors are active and curious lizards, so a sudden change in their behaviour often indicates an underlying health issue. One of the signs that your Savannah monitor is dying is rapid weight loss. This is especially concerning if your lizard is still eating but losing weight. This means that its fat reserves are always lacking or not being stored properly, which is a huge sign of a serious illness.

Savannah monitors are one of the monitor lizard species that tend to die early in captivity. Their highest mortality rate is during the first few months of their lives, mostly due to poor husbandry, dehydration, and internal parasites. Young Savannah monitors that fail to follow their natural seasonal cycles and stay active until the end of the dry season are effectively dehydrating and starving themselves to death.

If your Savannah monitor is losing weight rapidly, it is recommended that you take it to the vet as soon as possible.

Constipation

Veterinarians often attempt warm soaks, laxatives, and enemas to avoid surgery, but if these methods are unsuccessful, the monitor may refuse to eat, which only adds to their stress. Surgery is not always a guarantee, and many savannah monitors fail to make a full recovery, developing further internal issues like sepsis, which can also lead to death.

It is important to monitor the health of your savannah monitor and seek veterinary assistance if you notice any changes in behaviour, such as lethargy, hiding, or a refusal to eat. These can be signs of underlying health issues, and early intervention can help prevent serious complications or death.

To prevent constipation, ensure your savannah monitor's enclosure meets their needs, including proper temperature and humidity levels, and provide a suitable diet. A large water dish or cat litter box should be available for them to submerge their entire body. Spot clean faeces from the enclosure daily, especially if found in their water, and thoroughly clean the entire cage every two weeks.

Diarrhea

In most cases, diarrhea in Savannah monitors can be treated with medication and adjustments to the conditions of their enclosure. However, severe diarrhea that is tar-like in appearance and may contain blood is a sign of a more serious issue. This type of diarrhea does not occur suddenly, so it is important to be vigilant and seek veterinary assistance as soon as you notice any changes in your lizard's stool.

Fecal parasite exams can be performed by your veterinarian to identify any internal parasites that may be causing the diarrhea. It is also important to ensure that you are providing your Savannah monitor with the correct diet and maintaining appropriate humidity and temperature levels in its enclosure.

By being proactive and seeking veterinary assistance at the first sign of diarrhea, you can help prevent it from becoming severe and improve your Savannah monitor's chances of recovery.

Additionally, it is worth noting that Savannah monitors are active lizards, and a sudden change in their behaviour can often indicate an underlying health issue. If you notice any other changes in your lizard's behaviour or physical condition, it is important to consult a veterinarian to ensure the best chances of recovery.

Hiding behaviour

It is normal for Savannah monitors to hide when the temperature drops or during the night as they are diurnal. Young Savannah monitors also need 10-12 hours of sleep. However, adult Savannah monitors are very active and only sleep at night or take occasional short naps inside their hide. It is highly unusual for them to spend the day in their hide.

If your adult Savannah monitor is hiding during the day, it could be a sign of dehydration, respiratory problems, overheating, or illnesses such as:

• Sepsis due to mite infestation
• Infection due to internal parasites
• Metabolic Bone Disease

If your Savannah monitor is hiding, try coaxing them out with food. As they are very food-motivated, they will rarely give up an opportunity to eat just to stay in their hide. If they are still hiding, this could be a sign of a serious underlying health issue.

Frequently asked questions