How Is Egg-Binding Diagnosed?
Determining whether an animal is egg-bound versus normally gravid, can be very difficult. In most cases, radiographs (x-rays) will be taken to determine the size, shape, number, and location of any retained egg(s). Ulstrasound can also be used. The history is important including the date of mating, dates of shedding, and how long ago the signs appeared. A physical examination, together with laboratory testing, may help rule out other possible causes of the signs including consitpation, urinary stones, and tumors. How Is Egg-Binding Treated? In general, if the signs are mild, treatment is conservative, with correction of any husbandry problems. For snakes and turtles who have already laid some eggs, unless an obvious abnormality is found, treatment is usually withheld for 48 hours. If given the right nesting material, and the proper and quiet environmental conditions, many females will start to produce eggs. If the female produces no eggs within 48 hours, additional treatment is usually
