Help with dark, runny poop!

[TimMih]

Hi there,

So, my Halmahera has been having very runny, dark poop for the last two-three days and I am wondering if it could possibly food related or if is more serious. His appetite has been normal and he looks physically healthy. He has slowed down a bit and been moody but it is also freezing here (Cleveland) and he has his moments of wanting no part of me one day and then wanting to climb all over me and explore the next. His regular diet consists of being fed every other day (he his approx. 8 months old) high quality canned dog food, watercress (currently) or some other green such as collard, mustard, etc. And then he gets his fruit on his off days to use as training food, usually apples, pears, tomatoes, and occasionally bananas though not for a few weeks. Could the poop be from not good food (it should be though) or would it be more likely from internal parasites. He did, however, eat some mushrooms that grew out of his sphagnum moss due to the high humidity before I could get them out but that was several days ago, maybe a week. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I want to get this taken care of asap to keep him healthy and happy and will call the vet Monday if that's the general opinion (he is super expensive since he's the only one in a 50 mile radius but that's better than my little guy getting seriously sick.)

Here are two pics I took of his poop today. The large chunks are apple skins, he's not much of a chewer lol.

poop2.jpg

poop1.jpg

[Janella]

Hey, sorry to hear that your little one has runny poop. Have you ever had a fecal done to check for parasites? I also don't like that he ate the mushrooms from the moss or not. I am not positive, but they could possibly be toxic. Again, I don't know for sure. Definitely call the vet first thing in the morning and ask them their opinion. Good luck and keep me posted.

How's the handling going? Doing any better?

[TimMih]

Yeah, I'm definitely calling the vet tomorrow morning. Today when he pooped it was a milky white liquid and that was it. There was a small urate in it but that was all. I removed all the moss and changed the mulch and cleaned the tank. Hopefully it wasn't toxic since the moss was all natural. Up until that point I had actually gotten him pretty tamed, to the point of him wanting him to climb up my hand and then explore with me, no biting at all. Today he was not grumpy and a little more energetic but he still seems off. Wasn't there a mite spray for enclosures you could spray with them in it that would kill off all mites that may be hiding in the mulch or whatnot?

[Janella]

Hmm, I am not sure what is going on, but I would save a fecal sample for the vet and have them check that out as well. I am glad your going to call and take him in. It is better to be safe then sorry. It was a good idea to clean the entire enclosure as well.

I also am really glad to hear that your little one is coming around. That is wonderful news!

What is up with the mite spray question? Are you seeing them? The mite spray that I know just about any reptile keeper swears by is PreventaMite. This one though I believe you have to take everything out of the enclosure and then spray it down.

Keep me posted okay?

[TimMih]

I was just curious about the mites because I had heard that they can cause internal parasites. Is this true? I haven't seen any but I was thinking if it was true as using it as a preventative measure just in case. Do you know if there are other foods besides egg and banana that can cause runny poop? He had a mushy one today but it was tons better than yesterday. I'll still take him in for an exam but maybe he was given something that made him worse?

[Janella]

Good morning. Mites can't cause intestinal parasites. I wouldn't worry about them unless you have a problem.

I am sure other foods could cause loose stools, but personally I have only seen it with eggs and banana. If you never had a fecal done, I would start there and then also mention about the moss mushrooms.

Keep me posted

[TimMih]

Great, thanks for easing my mind on the mites! He's going in to the vets in a few hours to get his decal done. Fingers crossed!

[Janella]

Anytime! Good luck and let me know what they say.