Eye problem

[ColdBloodedLove]

My lizards are not having the best of luck...
Especially Sandy.
I wish I knew how to put pictures on here, so I guess I just have to describe it.
I just moved back to school, which required my "children" to come on a 3.5 hr car ride with me.
When I arrived and took Sandy out of his travel container (on of those clear plastic cricket keepers with the colored mesh lids on top, and a Tshirt inside of it so he wouldn't slide around) his eyes were SUPER swollen; lower eyelids were saggy/very droopy, and the "eyebrow" arches on his head were so puffy, he didn't have creases in his upper eyelids anymore.
Of course, this happens Labor Day evening, so there were no open vets to be found. The next day though, Sandy went to the vet and was prescribed some Tobramycin antibiotic eye drops (given twice a day for 1 week). The vet didn't think his eyes were infected, he believed they were only irritated- maybe from being in contact with the tshirt while the car was in motion and it rubbed on his face, and that was it.

Well, it's two weeks after finishing the eye drops. Sandy's eyes and mouth area are shedding. Other than that, there is no change. He can still see, and he not been scratching at himself at all (minus the shedding skin). A few times when I look at him, all of a sudden his eyes aren't swollen and are more sunken and wrinkly looking. But then the next day, they're back to looking poofy. And his lower eyelids are always saggy looking.

Has anyone ever heard of this kind of thing? I googled it and came up with Vitamin A deficiency, Kidney failure or an infected eye. None of these things make sense- especially since he was seen by a vet who didn't think any of that.

Should I leave him be and allow more time for his eyes to go back to normal, or call for an appointment next week?
I just don't know what to do.

-Jenny

 

[vampy]

It does seem strange that it happened after travelling, I'd guess it was maybe an allergy to whatever detergent you used on the t-shirt, but as it's been 2 weeks now, it probably isn't, and it might just be a coincidence that it happened then.

The most common cause of unhappy eyes is incorrect UV lighting (causes photo kerato conjunctivitis). He needs a tube lamp, the reptisun 10.0 or the arcadia 12%. The coil UV bulbs are especially bad. If you don't have one of these lamps, then turn off whatever you are using immediately and order one.

If he is on sand or another loose substrate, I'd remove that too, as if it is some form of infection, any loose particles could have picked up the bacteria and be transferring it back to him...and loose substrate is a bad idea anyway.

If you have the right UV, then I'd probably take him to a vet. You could also try bathing his eyes with sterile saline solution to make sure there's no irritants in them, but I'm not sure if it will do any good (though it won't do any harm either).

Pics would certainly help. There's a tutorial on how to post them here.

 

[ColdBloodedLove]

Both lizards have the reptisun 10.0 tube fluorescent bulbs for UV, and both are kept on non-adhesive self liner.

..makes me sad because I'm doing what I am supposed to, and these poor lizards have issues I feel like a bad lizard mom

oh- and the one vet out here said his eyes were "just probably irritated and lizards heal really slow, so just keep waiting".. but 3 weeks just doesn't feel right... he doesn't look right... i feel bad for the little guy
I will start working on those pictures...

thank you!!!

 

[vampy]

Aww poor guy. But please don't feel bad, it's not your fault, you've clearly done your research and got the right stuff. Silly animals!

Was the vet you saw a herp vet, or just a generalist? You might get a more definitive answer if you can take him to someone who specialises in such things. I imagine they'd want to take blood to check for kidney function and also test for heart issues, those are the only other things I know offhand that can cause bulging eyes (though I don't know very much, so don't assume that's the only thing it could be!).

 

[ColdBloodedLove]

Okay- took me forever to refind my photobucket account lol
but here goes!

This is pictures of normal sandy

And now here he is lately so sad...

He looks like one of those goldfish with the googly eyes


The vet he saw was not a reptile specialist, but he was an "exotic" vet.
so.. not sure what to do. I live in the middle of nowhere. Every animal care place around here is cats dogs horses or cows

 

[joea]

Whoa freaky!
http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/eyebulging/

 

[ColdBloodedLove]

Wow- good find joea! Thank you!
He is shedding now, and is very grumpy about it.. but I suppose it must itch..
Maybe that's what's going on with him..
but that article said usually its for hours... not days. Especially not weeks
I guess I better start searching for a herp specialist... and start donating bodily fluids.. or organs.. to pay for it!

 

[vampy]

Aww the poor little guy I hope you manage to find a vet who can help him soon.

 

[ColdBloodedLove]

I got him the first open appointment on Monday... I hope he is okay ...
The last time I took him there they just gave him eye drops and said give it time. But the eye drop treatment ended weeks ago and his eye are not back to normal
We will see what the vet has to say on Monday I suppose..

 

[joea]

Wow- good find joea! Thank you!
He is shedding now, and is very grumpy about it.. but I suppose it must itch..
Maybe that's what's going on with him..
but that article said usually its for hours... not days. Especially not weeks
I guess I better start searching for a herp specialist... and start donating bodily fluids.. or organs.. to pay for it!

You're welcome! I'd give Sandy a warm bath with aloe vera in it, but 1st a pooper bath so you don't waste the aloe vera. :mrgreen: Put some in a sprayer bottle for later. Kirby's last shed was grumpy free. Good luck!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The swelling could be associated with renal or hepatic failure, heart issues or the vitamin A deficiency.
The only way to determine that for sure would be to get a blood test to see what could be going on.

The detergent on your shirt, is it dye or perfume free? I have not ever experienced that type of problem with a dragon having a reaction to the detergent but anything is possible.
How is his appetite doing?

Tracie

 

[ColdBloodedLove]

The detergent I use is just plain tide... so not dye or perfume free. But I feel like if it was a reaction to that, his eyes should be done being swollen by now. I have flushed them with water, and he was given a course of antibiotics as well.

I am taking him back in Monday... probably will have to draw blood then. I hate the thought of it. Sandy is a friendly lizard, but he is not really a cuddle bug. He likes to be out and about and hang out with you, but he sure doesn't like being held against his will. I'm scared it will traumatize him and make him hate me, and hate being handled ever again. But... it has to be done really. I think something is wrong and I've got to get to the bottom of it. I reeeaallly hope it's just a vitamin thing that can be fixed...

His appetite is poor.. but existent. Strangely, his brother's is just about the same. Neither of my lizards are interested in eating right now. But- neither of them are being inactive/trying to brumate. They're not losing weight either. So I am just dumbfounded.

:/