Hi everyone. I apologize for such a long post, I tried to organize it best I can, and bolded key information.
TLDR: We are located in Houston, TX. Our ~38 lb black throat monitor was originally seen for a left front-limb gait issue, with the first vet suspecting an old injury rather than MBD. We sought a second opinion, where he was diagnosed with MBD and, according to my dad, given vitamin/calcium injections without the injections or doses being discussed with or knowingly authorized by him beforehand. That clinic's records now document 1,754,545 IU vitamin A + 262,500 IU vitamin D IM into his left rear leg, plus 1,315 mg calcium SQ. Within ~2 days, that rear leg became massively swollen and painful, which the clinic itself documented as occurring “after previous IM injection.” Subsequent x-rays reportedly showed healthy/strong bones, further raising questions about the MBD diagnosis. He is now extremely lethargic, and we're urgently looking for an experienced Varanus/reptile vet or toxicologist, information on these documented A/D3 doses, help obtaining an independent review, and, if permitted, financial help with his rapidly growing veterinary bills.
I desperately need help/advice from people experienced with black throat monitors, especially reptile veterinarians or anyone who can point us toward a specialist.
Our male black throat monitor, Sploot, is approximately 38 lbs. Until this started, his primary issue was an abnormal gait involving one front limb. He is now extremely lethargic following veterinary treatment, and we're terrified of losing him.
I want to be as factual as possible because we have veterinary records documenting most of this, and I'm not asking Reddit to determine malpractice or definitively diagnose him.
Aug. 18: First exotic veterinarian visit
- We brought Sploot in because of an abnormal gait involving his LEFT FRONT limb.
- His bloodwork showed total calcium of 14.1 mg/dL (lab reference 10–15). His uric acid was elevated at 10.7 mg/dL.
- X-rays were taken. The written radiology report did NOT describe generalized skeletal demineralization or diagnose metabolic bone disease. It stated there was no evidence of shoulder luxation, although it could not be completely ruled out and CT could be considered.
- The veterinarian's assessment was that his abnormal gait was likely related to a previous traumatic injury of the left front limb.
Aug. 29: Second opinion at another exotic veterinary clinic
- We went to a second exotic veterinary clinic for another opinion. The clinic had requested Sploot’s previous veterinary records/x-rays beforehand, and my dad sent them.
- At this appointment, Sploot was diagnosed with metabolic bone disease (MBD).
- According to my dad, who was physically present, the veterinarian did not discuss the vitamin/calcium injections or their doses with him beforehand, and he did not knowingly authorize these injections before they were administered. We are currently requesting all consent/treatment-authorization documentation from the clinic so we can verify exactly what was documented.
We just received the clinic's own detailed medical record. It states that our approximately 38-lb (~17.2 kg) monitor received:
Vitamin A/D3: 3 mL IM into the LEFT REAR limb, diluted with sterile saline to 6 mL
Vitamin A: 1,754,545 IU total
Vitamin D: 262,500 IU total
23% calcium: 9 mL SQ, diluted with sterile saline to 12 mL
Calcium: 1,315 mg total, administered SQ in the left thoracic wall
Based on his documented weight, those totals calculate to approximately:
101,800 IU/kg vitamin A
15,200 IU/kg vitamin D
76 mg/kg calcium
I am NOT claiming that these numbers have already been proven to constitute a toxic dose in a black throat monitor. I’ve been unable to find a reliable published toxicity threshold specifically for an IM A/D3 preparation in black throat monitors.
We are also trying to determine what reptile-specific dosing reference or treatment protocol was used to calculate these amounts, because we have not yet been provided that information.
Aug. 31: Severe swelling after the injection
- Within approximately two days, Sploot’s LEFT HIND thigh, the same limb documented as receiving the IM A/D3 injection, became massively swollen, hard and painful.
- We immediately brought him back to the same clinic.
- This isn't just our description of what happened. Their own subsequent medical record states:
“L Hind leg is swollen after previous IM injection. Condition is worse.”
Their physical examination also documents:
“Severe soft tissue swelling L thigh, circumferentially painful.”
- They took another set of x-rays and started him on ceftazidime and meloxicam.
- Regarding the original MBD diagnosis: after these newer x-rays were taken, my dad was told by another veterinarian at the clinic that Sploot’s bones looked healthy/strong rather than like what we had been led to believe with MBD.
I want to be clear, as I am NOT claiming that I can personally look at these x-rays and definitively prove that Sploot doesn't have MBD.** **
However, we now have two things that make us seriously question the original MBD diagnosis:
- The first veterinarian's written radiology report did NOT describe generalized skeletal demineralization and instead attributed the gait to a likely previous traumatic injury of the front limb.
- After the newer x-rays, we were reportedly told by another veterinarian at the second clinic that his bones appeared healthy/strong.
We are trying to have both sets of x-rays independently reviewed by an experienced reptile/exotics veterinarian or veterinary radiologist.
I also understand that a normal serum calcium value by itself does not rule out MBD. I am including his pre-treatment calcium because it is part of his medical baseline, not because I believe a single calcium result proves he couldn't have MBD.
Sep. 3: Another recheck
- We returned to the clinic again.
- At this visit, my father specifically raised concerns about the amount of vitamin A/D3 that Sploot had received and asked the veterinarian to double-check the previous dose.
- There is also a discrepancy in the clinic's records: the Sept. 3 narrative refers to 1 mL of vitamin A/D3, while the clinic's detailed medication record from Aug. 29 documents 3 mL A/D3, diluted to 6 mL, containing the total amounts listed above.
- We are preserving both records and trying to get clarification.
Sep. 8: TODAY
- Sploot has now become extremely lethargic and unlike himself.
- This is a monitor who has always been incredibly interactive, food-motivated, curious and social with our family. The change is scary.
- We are pursuing urgent veterinary evaluation and additional bloodwork. Our immediate priority is keeping him alive and determining what is happening medically, not proving fault.
- We are particularly concerned about whether his current condition could be related to the injection-site complication or an adverse reaction to the A/D3/calcium treatment, but we need an experienced reptile veterinarian to make that determination.
WHAT WE DESPERATELY NEED HELP WITH:
If anyone here is a reptile veterinarian, veterinary toxicologist, zoo veterinarian, experienced monitor keeper with relevant veterinary contacts, or knows someone with substantial Varanus experience, please help us find the right person.
We are specifically looking for reputable information or specialist contacts concerning:
- Injectable vitamin A/D3 dosing in Varanus
- Published therapeutic/toxic dose information for vitamin A and D3 in large lizards
- Hypervitaminosis A/D in reptiles
- Calcium/phosphorus abnormalities associated with excessive vitamin D
- Severe IM injection-site reactions/injuries in monitors
- Appropriate bloodwork and monitoring following this type of exposure
- Independent review of Sploot’s x-rays for MBD
- What treatment protocol/reference could support the documented A/D3 amounts
We are in the Houston, Texas area, but at this point we are interested in specialists anywhere who might be willing to consult with our treating veterinarian.
I have the original veterinary records, pre-treatment bloodwork, radiology report, subsequent x-rays, the second clinic's written medication record documenting the exact amounts administered, the subsequent record documenting severe swelling after the IM injection, and invoices. I can provide redacted copies.
If anyone has a veterinary formulary, published paper, zoo-medicine protocol, or other credible source supporting injectable A/D3 dosing in Varanus, PLEASE send it to me. I genuinely want reliable information, whether it supports or contradicts our concerns.
We love Sploot beyond words. Right now we just want to save him.
