[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi All ~

I have an egg-bound mature Oedura castelnaui who looks like she should have laid a month or so ago. Her body is very triangular shaped at this point. With nearly 36 hatchlings over time---all healthy---this has never happened to me before, including with this female.

Why and what to do?

[Jateui]

The vet can give an oxytocin injection. I don't remember where exactly you are, but I go to a vet in Beaverton (which is likely super far from you) called the southwest animal hospital. Dr. Burgess is super nice, but slight warning, he does talk super fast. My appointment lasted at least 55 minutes, about 1 minute of which I actually spoke. Which were basically things like yes or no replies, he talked the rest of the time.
He said the injection costs roughly $15, but they have to do mandatory checkups first, which cost about $67 there. (But +$37 per extra animal you bring in, so you can get quite a few in for a decent amount)

I was getting worried about the girl I got and brought her in, since you could clearly see 4 eggs in her. He said they don't look large enough for her not to be able to pass them, and thought it'd be better to not give her an injection since the eggs might not be shelled yet, and might just be re-absorbed. Plus, it's basically once the eggs are ready to pass, the contractions will forcefully start even if the female is not comfortable enough to lay or doesn't even have a lay box (although I'm still doing my best to do both for her)
She just recently lost interest in eating, so if she doesn't start up again soon I might bring her back in to get the injection. Two of the eggs are gone, but it looks like there's one in there still. It's possible she's making them and re-absorbing them, but would prefer to be safe than sorry.

Castor oil is also used to start pregnancies in both people and animals. You'll want to ask your vet how much to give before trying it though. And from what I've heard from nurses, it's very painful for humans. It's literally like super ex-lax. It causes spasms, helping release everything from the intestines, and it's so strong that it causes muscle contractions that will put a person, or animals, into labor. They have been used on reptiles as well, usually it gets them laying within a few days. It doesn't take much to get them to start laying with this, and it's much cheaper than going to the vet ($3 thing of castor oil, and it's an all natural thing)
But still might be better to at least get a vet's input on how much to use per gram of animal or something so you don't overdose them (better not to risk it at least)
Even if you aren't near the SW animal hospital, I'd suggest trying to call in and ask them. They were very helpful when I spoke with them and won't spare information just because you aren't going in and paying them for it. They're just limited to what you tell them and will tell you what they know from it, but otherwise it's still easier for them to diagnose and help if you bring the animal in.

[rhachic]

I agree with Jateui. I had a chahoua do that last year, she had 3 eggs all at once and couldn't pass them. Normally they only have 2 at a time, so i believe this 3rd egg was messing her up. After two months with clearly having 3 eggs developed inside her I called the vet because she suddenly stopped eating and couldn't move well at all. They said they would try palpitating them out first, but that it can be dangerous since you can easily hurt the mother by pressing the firm eggs into her organs and bones. There is another procedure besides the oxytocin injection they frequently do, I can't remember the name but they insert a needle through the mother's abdomen and into the eggs. They then suck out the contents of the egg to "deflate" them inside her, this enables the mother to pass the eggs much easier. Luckily the day of my vet appointment she passed 2 of them on her own, they were very over calcified and smooshed from being pressed inside her for so long. Thankfully she survived and I didn't have to have surgery done, she's now retired from breeding

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Cass & rhachic ~

Thanks for your replies. I am considering all these carefully.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Update:

Have bumped up the humidity--spraying several times a day now...24/7 access to Rep Cal calcium with D3...couple drops of calcium glubionate orally every night...10 minute warm water soaks nightly...24/7 cage temp in mid-80s.

Vet appointment on October 13.