Georgie's Story

[tonid]

Hi,

I just wanted to tell everyone Georgie's story as I feel I have cheated everyone a bit. Since becoming a bearie owner last December, I have used this forum avidly, reading every post to get information, learn and help care for my beardies. I have learned something from every single post on here and am so grateful. That is why I feel I cheated a bit because I have been emailing one on the wonderful moderators on here and getting her invaluable support and advice without sharing it with the rest of you. So, if Georgie's story can be of help to any of you, here it is...

I got Georgie at 14 weeks old and from the beginning she was a wonderful little character, so chilled and relaxed, friendly and tame, a beautiful smiley face and a supercharged eatting machine! Suddenly, at 8 months old, Georgie just stopped eatting, I also notice that she was breathing a bit heavily so I went in search of a reptile vet. Not as easy as you would expect here in London, but another vet recommended one so I took Georgie on the long trek there. The vet diagnosed a Respiratory infection and started her on a course of antibiotics (Baytril) and I started syringe feeding her baby food. After the course of Baytril she seemed to pick up for a week or so but then started to look depressed again so I took her back to the vet. He then gave her a course of Fortum and her breathing seemed to go back to normal, but she still wasn't eatting. Her also did a fecal test which came back clear. He told me to just give her time and she would eat again. To be honest, I wasn't to impressed with the vet and although he had a little knowledge of reptiles, he wasn't specialised enough.

Anyway, I tried every trick to get her eatting, Bee's Pollen, Brewer's Yeast, Reptaid, and I must say on a few occasions she did eat a few mouthfulls, but nothing significant and not on a daily basis. After three months of this I was at my wits end! Someone recommended Vetark Critical Care so I went into a local vet asking if they stocked it and to my surprise they said that they had a reptile expert vet just started working there.

First of all I asked could she do a fecal test for me as it had been 3 month's since Georgie's last one and I wondered if the other vet had missed something. She did the fecal and found no worms or parasites, but was concerned as she had found traces of blood in the urates. She called Georgie in for a blood test as she was worried that she could have kidney problems. The blood test results came back fine for the kidney function, but showed elevated levels of calcium and phosphorus. This indicated that she may have a problem with egg follicles, which would explain her anorexia. She was booked in for an operation to be spayed but unfortunately when the vet opened her up, she found that it was actually Georgie's liver.

He liver is very yellow and diseased. This was a real shock to me as I thought it was just older Dragons that suffered from fatty liver disease, but it is likely that it is genetic. A sample was taken from her liver and I am awaiting the analysis.

For now I am having to give Georgie Lactulose, which cleanses fat from the liver, Milk Thistle (as recommended by the Moderator), which i believe helps the liver repair itself and Fortum antibiotic. There is very little else I can do apart from love her and keep her comfortable and wait from the results.

I am trying to keep optimistic and pray that there is something that can be done to help Gorgeous Georgie, and know that you are all routing for her too.

I'm sorry for such a long post, but wanted to cover everything if it may be of help to anyone else. I also wanted to thank a very special moderator who is am absolute star that sparkles and shines in Beardie World...Thank you Drache

 

[zoom2009]

Thank you for sharing Georgie's story. I hope she pulls though okay. Just out of curiousity how much lactulose and milk thistle do you give her and where do you purchase the milk thistle?

 

[tonid]

Hi Zoom,

At the moment the vet has prescribed 0.2mls of lactulose once a day. This amount may change, it depends how she handles it as is could make her poop very runny. The milk thistle I bought in the local supermarket, it is easily available from pharmacies or health food shops. I got it in tablet form, so i just crush is up and put a small amount in with her critical care formula which i am syringe feeding her. I don't think you can overdose on it, but I am adding about 1/8th of the tablet once a day. She seems to be doing really well at the moment considering she just had surgery last wednesday, so I am trying to be optimistic at the moment. Her weight is doing fine and she hasn't lost any, infact, in the last three months she has gained 30grams!

Do you have a beardie with liver problems?

 

[zoom2009]

I don't have a beardie with liver problems. I have 3: Zoom is a 11 month a old male and not eating(he has no parasites and hydrated and viv set up is correct) Breena is 7 month female and I just purchased a 2 month old Silkback Beardie. I just try to be informed as possible :study: Wish Zoom would return to eating though Glad to heat Georgie is doing a bit better

Lisa

 

[tonid]

Hi Lisa, 3 beardies, wow, that's a lovely little family you have. Sorry Zoom is not eating at the moment. Are you giving him baby food to keep him going for now. I found chicken and squash baby food great for Georgie, I syringe fed her about 5mls twice a day. I mixed in a little water so it wasn't too thick and added her calcium and vits to it. Hope Zoom starts eating again soon for you, I know what a worrying time it is when they go on hunger stike.

 

[zoom2009]

Yes I have been giving turkey and peas(has more protein and less vit A then squash) And you are right it is frustrating when they do this to us but we will get though it....Its funny how Zoom will open up is mouth when he sees the syringe full of baby food coming but snubs the feeders and I have tried every feeder out the except for dubias cause we cannot get them in Florida.

 

[tonid]

Just wanted to update everyone. I have had great news today. Georgie's liver biopsy results are back and she doesn't have Heptatic Lipidosis I am so happy I just cannot tell you

She does have a fatty liver, but the good news is that it isn't diseased or necrotic. The vet is not sure why her liver is fatty but it can be a result of a few things, the one she thinks is most likely is that it is a metabolic problem and Georgie's body doesn't process the fat correctly. She thinks that with a special diet and good care that she can overcome this problem and that the liver can repair itself. So for now she is on Oxbow Critical Care, Lactulose and antibiotics. Hopefully if we can cleanse her liver of the fat she will get her appetite back and make a good recovery.

I know we are not in the clear yet, but I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone on here for their great help, support and advice over the last few months and give special thanks to the wonderful Tracie, without her I don't know how I would have got through it and stayed strong :love5:

Hi Zoom, how is you little one doing?

 

[zoom2009]

Glad to hear the good news! Zoom is they same, very active but still no appetite One day at a time....

 

[Drache613]

Hello Toni,

Oh no, you give me too much credit.
YOU are the one with the perseverance to see Georgie through. She is one lucky little girl to have you on her side, that is for sure!
I really think that she is very strong & will pull through all of this. They are truly amazing little beings, & with all of the love you give her she stands the best chances ever!
Definitely keep us all posted on her recovery.

Tracie