By Margaret A. Wissman, DVM, DABVP
My Chinese water dragon’s eyes get sealed shut, and they are all watery. There is a sty or something in it. What should I do?
Well, you didn’t give me much to go on, but I would say that a trip to your herp vet is definitely in order. If you can see some thing in the eye or behind the eyelid, then this is a matter for a professional. When it comes to eyes, it is best to not waste time as sight is so important to reptiles! There are many conditions that can cause the eyes to seal shut and water a lot (including infectious, nutritional, environmental, parasitic and traumatic), so I won’t even begin to speculate on this. Please, make an appointment with your herp vet and get this problem diagnosed as soon as possible!
Margaret A. Wissman, DVM, DABVP has been an avian/exotic/herp animal veterinarian since 1981. She is a regular contributor to REPTILES magazine.
Need a Herp Vet?
If you are looking for a herp-knowledgeable veterinarian in your area, a good place to start is by checking the list of members on the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarian (ARAV) web site at www.arav.com. Look for DVMs who appear to maintain actual veterinary offices that you could contact.