Bearded dragon 1 rear leg/foot edema (swelling

[Drache613]

Hello,

Wow, $2300 was the cost estimate for an MRI?
Is he on the Ketofen right now? How long will he be on that for? I hope that it helps him out!
Gout normally causes swelling on or around the joint yes, but it also causes swelling on the hands,
& feet as well.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[Glamamama]

Hello,

Wow, $2300 was the cost estimate for an MRI?
Is he on the Ketofen right now? How long will he be on that for? I hope that it helps him out!
Gout normally causes swelling on or around the joint yes, but it also causes swelling on the hands,
& feet as well.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

He seems to be feeling more comfortable with Ketofen for pain and swelling. Ceftiofur antibiotic hoping that it is cellulitis or other localized infection. Mobilizing better for sure. I think putting more weight on leg bc balance is better. It’s definitely not worse and now it’s Monday. The first injection for ketofen and Ceftiofur was Friday am. I gave him ketofen injection yesterday I think the swelling is improving hard to tell so early though you know rverything reptile so slow to improve. attached estimate yes dreadful $$$$ also included fine needle aspirate FNA and hospitalization

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Good grief, they charge a lot, that is ridiculous!
I am glad to hear that he seems to be doing well & isn't getting worse. I hope the swelling continues to go down. If he is trying to use the leg more then it sounds like he is feeling better.
Keep us posted on his progress.

Tracie

 

[Glamamama]

Hello,

Wow, $2300 was the cost estimate for an MRI?
Is he on the Ketofen right now? How long will he be on that for? I hope that it helps him out!
Gout normally causes swelling on or around the joint yes, but it also causes swelling on the hands,
& feet as well.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

He seems to be feeling more comfortable with Ketofen for pain and swelling. Ceftiofur antibiotic hoping that it is cellulitis or other localized infection. I think putting more weight on leg bc balance is better. It’s definitely not worse and now it’s Monday. The first injection for ketofen and Ceftiofur was Friday am. I gave him ketofen injection yesterday I think the swelling is improving hard to tell so early though you know rverything reptile so slow to improve. attached estimate yes dreadful $$$$ also included fine needle aspirate FNA and hospitalization

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is great to hear he is doing pretty well on the Ketofen, hopefully he wont have any side effects from
it. If the Antibiotic works like it's supposed to, then the infection should clear our soon. Reptiles do take
awhile to show improvement so you definitely have to be patient.
Is there any way you can get them to do a payment plan, those costs are insane!
Please keep us posted on his progress.

Tracie

 

[Glamamama]

Hello,

That is great to hear he is doing pretty well on the Ketofen, hopefully he wont have any side effects from
it. If the Antibiotic works like it's supposed to, then the infection should clear our soon. Reptiles do take
awhile to show improvement so you definitely have to be patient.
Is there any way you can get them to do a payment plan, those costs are insane!
Please keep us posted on his progress.

Tracie

Probably I am going to hold off on CT and hope we see results soon. Based on his husbandry and diet and lab results and appearance/location neither I nor the exotic vets think this is gout. Just hoping we see a resolve it’s always so hard to be patient with anything like this but I know how slow their metabolism is. I am force feeding greens/veg daily and making sure he hydrates adequately.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Hopefully the antibiotics will do their job & no signs of gout will be seen. It is hard just waiting to see if improvement happens.
I don't blame you for waiting on doing the CT scan, it is definitely costly!
Let us know how things are going.

Tracie

 

[Glamamama]

Hello,

Hopefully the antibiotics will do their job & no signs of gout will be seen. It is hard just waiting to see if improvement happens.
I don't blame you for waiting on doing the CT scan, it is definitely costly!
Let us know how things are going.

Tracie

Thank you for your support. This boy is much loved..

 

[Xjrosie]

Probably I am going to hold off on CT and hope we see results soon. Based on his husbandry and diet and lab results and appearance/location neither I nor the exotic vets think this is gout. Just hoping we see a resolve it’s always so hard to be patient with anything like this but I know how slow their metabolism is. I am force feeding greens/veg daily and making sure he hydrates adequately.

Any updates?

 

[Glamamama]

Any updates?

No, change really. I continue with injectable Ceftiofur antibiotic once a week and NSAID for pain and inflammation every 48 hours. I was really hoping to see some improvement by now. It’s very frustrating and distressing. he is eating within encouragement and I make sure I hydrate him each day. He poops normally he does get around the tank and but definitely not like he used to in July when this was not evident or present.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I hope he doesn't have to stay on the antibiotic & the NSAID for too long. It is very frustrating when
you don't see any improvement. Has his appetite gotten any better at all? Has his swelling gone
down any?
Give him some more time, & hopefully he will start to feel better soon. Are you giving probiotics for
him right now?

Tracie

 

[Glamamama]

Hello,

I hope he doesn't have to stay on the antibiotic & the NSAID for too long. It is very frustrating when
you don't see any improvement. Has his appetite gotten any better at all? Has his swelling gone
down any?
Give him some more time, & hopefully he will start to feel better soon. Are you giving probiotics for
him right now?

Tracie

Yes probiotics but no change in leg/foot swelling. Asked vet for estimate for just FNA w/o CT scan to try to get answer. Perhaps lab report would show if crystallization or other presentation. It’s just this guy has ideal setup & husbandry.

His appetite sucks I’m slightly force feed hydrated greens daily he will chew when I put them in and admin oral syringe about 1-2ml h2o daily.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is very frustrating indeed, to have no improvement in the swelling on the foot. I don't know if the
vet would consider trying the AZT on him, but there have been septic arthritis cases on here in which
the dragon was put on AZT & it was very effective.
I'm sure his appetite isn't the greatest but keep trying. It helps him out by giving the greens & any slurries
that you can mix up for him.
Did the aspirate fluids from the foot to determine if there are any uric acid crystallization present?

Tracie

 

[Glamamama]

Hello,

That is very frustrating indeed, to have no improvement in the swelling on the foot. I don't know if the
vet would consider trying the AZT on him, but there have been septic arthritis cases on here in which
the dragon was put on AZT & it was very effective.
I'm sure his appetite isn't the greatest but keep trying. It helps him out by giving the greens & any slurries
that you can mix up for him.
Did the aspirate fluids from the foot to determine if there are any uric acid crystallization present?

Tracie

She did FNA aspirate from two different areas on leg. Still waiting on results she really thinks this is not gout based on the location of the large fixed lump on the thigh, but we will see. He’s actually eating when I offer greens and veg. It’s just hard for him to get around, I can see it’s uncomfortable he does as needed. He will move in and out of the basking area but just more limited I can see he feels like definitely not his energetic self just hoping to getting answers that we can act on.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That's great they did aspirate fluids from the area. How is it looking now?
Please let us know how the results look. If you can, post the results here on the forum so we can take
a look at them.
That's good to hear he is eating some greens right now. I hope he starts feeling better soon.
Keep us posted on him.

Tracie