Does your beardie poop in his/her sleep? (blood results p.9)

[GeckoGarden]

Got a reply from Tracie, she will be looking at this thread this evening (what ever time that is. Its 9:34 pm here. So hopefully Soon )

 

[PudgysMom]

Ok we are here at the vet. They have her in a tank and I, of course, am trying not to lose it. We went through her history and the Fortaz info. The $90 is for the exam. Of course if they do more the charge the bejeezus out of me. I will still record her and post her breathing as soon as I can. Excuse typos. Typing from touchscreen. Thank you again so much.

 

[PudgysMom]

So frustrating. This vet knows nothing about herps. Paged her regular vet twice and no reply. This woman seriously knew nothing, but insists her breathing is fine. I just know Pudgy has never breathed like this and she was clueless on her gums/jaw. She did say she felt no pus under the gums and doubts it is MBD. Still feels like a waste of time and money. Definitely going to the new vet tomorrow.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

So sorry that Pudgy is having all of these problems!
She must not be feeling well. Did you already post pictures & I missed them somehow? Sorry!
Would you happen to know the concentration of the Fortaz? What is the dose she is getting, every 3 days?
As suggested, diluted betadine or novalsan is very effective for cleaning the mouth area. You can use a swab & dip it into the diluted solution & run it along the mouth & gum areas to try & clean it out. Could it be retained shed, or not?
I honestly feel that the bad lighting is probably what triggered this, as it suppresses the immune system which snowballs into other problems.
Her fecal was clear on the last checkup?
The breathing could be the initial start of a respiratory infection, or it could be frustration such as what they exhibit with the forced exhalation when they get mad or have temper tantrems. However, you don't want it to go unchecked just to make sure since you mentioned that she never breathes like this. When she breathes, does it appear more labored than usual?
Do keep her tank around 80 at night, or place her on a heating pad on low, to keep her warm & help her immune system.
As far as her going potty in the middle of the night, etc, that is not normal no, but, can be normal when on harsh medications such as the Fortaz. Are you giving probiotics & extra oral fluids right now?

Tracie

 

[mellu]

The pictures are here Tracie:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=151245&p=1209624#p1209624

 

[MissT]

If you can't find a new vet just go in there and tell her what you think is wrong- be confident about it and insist that she checks it out/tests as necessary. I have a good vet but I still make a point of questioning everything he does and pointing out things I have noticed and things I have read about... I think he's starting to enjoy the challenge!!! Hehe!
Good luck- I hope your girl is feeling better soon.

 

[PudgysMom]

Ok still here. As we were getting ready to leave her regular vet called in. Says he feels she is not responding to the Fortaz and wants to switch her. Will get name of new med he is suggesting. Starts w/A. The Fortaz is 1.5Cc's (ETA: I mean mL's, NOT CC's). Not sure of concentration, will look when we get home. Will also make sure to keep her nighttime temp at 80.

Tried four stores for probiotics. Ordered it from beautiful dragons, just waiting for it to get here. Also giving her extra water.

Her breathing is a little heavier than normal, but she is definitely not panting. Her breaths do sound like she is frustrated.

Yes. Clear fecal as of 5th of July.

Vet says her teeth do look ok. Taking her back in tomorrow, and going to new vet for 2nd opinion. Poor Pudgy!

 

[PudgysMom]

Oops double post. Sorry bout that.

 

[mellu]

Poor Pudgy for being sick but yay pudgy for having such a caring momma, not everyone would go to the lengths you are. I'm glad you're getting a second opinion .

 

[PudgysMom]

Thank you.

Past 1am and we just got back.

So they gave her Amikacin. .0035mL via injection.

Her breathing seems much better. No more of those psssss noises or sighs, what have you. But if she does it again, I will record it ASAP.

The Fortaz was 1.5 mL NOT cc's. Geeze louise! I was way off on that.

Regarding the diluted betadine or novalsan. Do you mean the regular stuff I just pick up at the drugstore? And do I do one part to one part?

They did say she has a swollen choana on the left side. Maybe part of the reason she seems to spit out her food, and doesn't seem to be having an easy time chewing/swallowing? She has also lost more weight. Like 10+grams since July 5th. I need to learn to make slurries ASAP!

Thanks again for everything! I was falling apart! My contacts got cloudy from crying. You all are wonderful.

I will keep you posted on the follow-up and the 2nd opinion appointment.

 

[AHBD]

As long as the vet said her teeth are fine, and he didn't mention mouth rot, I wouldn't bother with the betadine / Nolvasan. She may just be holding her mouth + lip open slightly because of the ear infection and not feeling well. Hopefully her new meds. will help her out. Glad to hear that her breathing seemed to improve. Staying in her tank for most of the day is your best bet for her to rest, and at night you can regulate the temps. if she's in her tank. Like Tracie said, slightly elevated temps. at night [ about 80 F ] but try not to use the heat pads....they will put her in contact with temps. higher than 80 in most cases....use a CHE [ ceramic heat emitter ] instead. If you have her out of the tank much, the temps. will fluctuate according to your body heat [ holding her ] or the heat packs you are putting her on at night. I don't know if you bathe her regularly, but I would cut the baths out [ unless she drinks a lot in the water ] and give water with an eyedropper / syringe. If she's given any baths, they should be short and she should be dried off immediately and set back in her tank where the temp. is steady. Fighting an infection is harder on her system, so even things like holding upright for any periods of time may cause more difficulty breathing, as well as being in a tub of water.

 

[MissT]

Oh I hope she is feeling much better soon and that the new antibiotics work much better!

I need to learn to make slurries ASAP!

I use whatever greens they are eating, either mushed up bugs or chicken baby food and a pinch of calcium/vitmins. Put it all in the blender with some water or unsweetened fruit juice and you should get a nice mush - add more water if you need to. If that doesnt work, you could try some chicken baby food and some squash baby food mixed together. Iv also made slurries using greens and those beardie pellets.

I hope she is feeling much better soon!
T

 

[PudgysMom]

Thank you!

To be honest, I don't think the vet knew what mouth rot is. She just seemed very inexperienced with exotics. So while her teeth looked ok (I disagree, I see some redness) to the vet, that lip has got some stuff on it, but nothing underneath it-if that makes sense.

I have definitely stopped the warmer and will leave her in her tank with regulated temperature. Ceramic heat bulb it is!

I also didn't know holding her upright could hurt her, so thank you for telling me. It is so hard not to hold her!

I have an appt. with the new vet at 4:30pm today. I really liked them on the phone. I am hoping to get answers!

I will try a slurry today LOL. My first slurry!

I sound like a broken record, but thank you all again. I will come in and report what the new vet says today.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The Amakacin is a decent antibiotic as well. How long will she be on this medication now?
Oh, the ml is the same measurement as cc, just a newer way to measure it. The cc was an older version of the reading.
That is great she is not breathing hard anymore. I think it was just that she did not feel very well.
As for the mouth rot, perhaps it is just dried shed, that is having a hard time coming off. At any rate, I think you should soak her mouth with warm water & use a swab dipped in warm water to try & gently work off that old skin or dried tissue on the mouth so it doesn't start getting infected. As suggested, using a plastic dropper or syringe can be used to get more oral fluids into her.
How is she liking her slurry today?

Keep us posted in her. Continue with the probiotics while she is on the Amakacin for awhile.

Tracie

 

[AHBD]

I'm sure it's fine to still hold her at times, or have her laying on your chest for a half hour or so, I just meant not carrying her around alot as we like to do when a pet or even a small child is sick, we want them with us right close and sometimes even hold them more than ever. I know your'e going through a lot, and it's so evident how much you care about this dragon, you love to snuggle with her I know for sure. She's probably used to being with you part of every day, so limited holding is probably fine.