Calcified Eggs

[MissFirefly]

Back story: I adopted Katara about 5 months ago from a woman who rescued her but then didn't have the means to continue her rehabilitation and care so I took her into my home. Katara is approximately four years old and came to me skinny, dehydrated, suffering from MBD, and tested positive for pin worms and coccidia. She is now at an appropriate weight, free of parasites after a few rounds of medication, and the signs of MBD are diminishing as she's on a strict schedule of liquid calcium.

About two months ago she developed a RI and we have been battling with that since. She is currently on her third round of antibiotics paired with slightly higher temps in hopes of getting rid of it permanently.

On top of all of this, the vet discovered during x-rays that poor Katara has calcified/bounded eggs inside of her. Due to all of her health issues the vet suggested we don't operate as it doesn't seem to be causing her pain but was hoping that other members here have experienced something similar with their dragons and how they handled it. I would rather not put her through surgery but if the risks associated with leaving them there are greater of course I will opt to do what's best for my girl who has already been through enough in her short life.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there ! Wow, your poor girl is having some issues, huh ? It's nice that your vet has advised you to seek opinions about her situation. Can he share the X-rays with other colleagues that may help him with this problem ? There are reptile experts that are experienced with these things, maybe he could search around. For now, can you ask for the X-rays so you can post the pics here ? How is he determining what stage of development they are in, if they are just follicles, fully developd, etc ? Are they still in the abdomen , or down in the oviduct ? Is she possibly getting ready to lay, showing signs of restlessness, digging, etc ? Once in the oviduct, he could administer Oxytocin if she doesn't lay within a certain amount of time or looks extremely weak. But only if they are actually IN the oviduct. That has to be determined for sure, where the eggs are. How is she doing right now ?

 

[MissFirefly]

Hi there ! Wow, your poor girl is having some issues, huh ? It's nice that your vet has advised you to seek opinions about her situation. Can he share the X-rays with other colleagues that may help him with this problem ? There are reptile experts that are experienced with these things, maybe he could search around. For now, can you ask for the X-rays so you can post the pics here ? How is he determining what stage of development they are in, if they are just follicles, fully developd, etc ? Are they still in the abdomen , or down in the oviduct ? Is she possibly getting ready to lay, showing signs of restlessness, digging, etc ? Once in the oviduct, he could administer Oxytocin if she doesn't lay within a certain amount of time or looks extremely weak. But only if they are actually IN the oviduct. That has to be determined for sure, where the eggs are. How is she doing right now ?

The vet gave me the x-ray on a CD but my computer couldn't open the images so I've never seen them firsthand. I'll have to call her this week and see if there is any other way to send them over in a different format.

She will consult and research if needed, she did so when my other dragon needed surgery, but her concern is that we shouldn't do surgery given Katara's health unless absolutely necessary so I decided to do some digging on my own to see if anyone else has dealt with this before and if surgery was required.

The initial x-ray was when I got her about five months ago so they have been in there at least that long and she's shown no signs of trying to lay. As far as I can tell, the eggs are not currently affecting her.

 

[AHBD]

So do the x-rays from 5 months ago look the same as recent ones, and they are both showing developed eggs ? That is a strange one. If you figure out how to post them on here, it would be interesting to see. Hopefully she can consult with vets who may help with some ideas and thoughts on the situation.

 

[MissFirefly]

Yes, she was x-rayed five months ago which showed the eggs and when she was recently x-rayed in regards to the RI she had the same number present in the same spot.

Didn't get to call yesterday but hopefully will have the chance over the next day or so. My vet was a bit dumbfounded by it and since her condition isn't great doesn't want to push for surgery unless they are obviously causing her pain but she eats, defecates, and gets around without any problems thus far.

 

[AHBD]

Did they seem large on the x-ray , and filling the abdomen ? On an x-ray they might appear as large as grapes . I'm wondering if they may be follicles that don't develop into eggs and then become reabsorbed ?