Issues with Flyboy [He's now getting better]

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is he doing today, any improvements?
Is his beard normal colored or still turning black from time to time?
That is good he seemed to enjoy the yogurt then. That amount should be fine, at 1/4th teaspoon or so. There are no "set" amounts for probiotics, but that amount is a good amount for him.
His jaw does look like it lines up so he shouldn't have any metabolic bone issues right now. I am glad he is breathing fine though.
Keep us posted on him. I hope that he is doing better soon!

Tracie

 

[TwelveVacancies]

His beard isn't turning black as much as yesterday. He seems a bit lethargic. He's back under the driftwood hiding and looks very sleepy, with his mouth slightly open most of the time.

He hasn't eaten a good meal in weeks. A few giant mealworms and a couple of picks at the salad but that's it, even if its dusted with the calcium. Fortunately it doesn't seem like he is losing any weight.

He hasn't pooped since Tuesday. I'm hoping he'll do it tomorrow so I can take the sample in for a test and see if the Baycox brought the Coccidia levels down, and ask about an xray.

I'm really stressed out over all of this because along with a sick beardie, I also have to put my dog to sleep this week after the vet discovered tumors yesterday morning.

 

[TwelveVacancies]

I just noticed the inside of his nostril puffing up while he was basking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn_DqQF44aA

Is that normal? I've never seen him do that before.

Since giving him the Baycox his appetite seems to have completely diminished. He won't eat anything at all. Keeps blackbearding at nothing. He's been more active today but the past few days he's mostly been hiding and looking really tired. He still hasn't pooped (probably because he hasn't eaten anything to poop), so I still don't know if the Baycox was affective.

I think I might try some Reptaid as so many people swear by it. See if that gives him a bit of a boost...

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

His nostrils look plugged up, shedding maybe?
Is he still black bearding? They can start black bearding when their hormone levels increase. How old is he again?
You can try the Reptaid, a lot of people have used it with success so it wouldn't hurt. How much longer does he have on the Baycox?
I am sorry to hear about your dog.

Tracie

 

[TwelveVacancies]

He would be coming around 8 or 9 months now.

He's finished the Baycox. Just need him to poop so I can see if it worked.

Should I continue with the yogurt for much longer? He really loves the stuff, as soon as he sees me coming with the spoon he begins licking :lol: I've been mixing calcium powder into it, since he isn't eating anything else.

I haven't seen his nostril puffing like that again. It looks pretty clear in there, but if he is shedding and it's a bit blocked that could possibly explain why he's been keeping his mouth open?

 

[KarenInCA]

I really have nothing to say, except that it looks like a completely different animal when he's in the car and pissed off. He looks beautiful now.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yeah, if his nostrils are going to shed, that would explain why he might be having some trouble with breathing.
I am glad he is finished with the Baycox now! Hopefully he will be all clear on his next fecal.
I am happy he loves the yogurt also, that is surprising. You can continue to give that to him for another week or so to get his tummy back on track. At least he is getting some calcium also, along with the yogurt.
Is he not interested in any insects much yet?

Tracie

 

[TwelveVacancies]

Got another fecal done today and only a slight improvement. The vet was disappointed that the Baycox didn't work well enough and wants to try something stronger. Been a very stressful and upsetting day with my dog and was really hoping for some good news.

Urate was also hard and discolored.

http://i61.tinypic.com/2irlw2h.jpg

He hasn't had too much calcium this week and I made sure to keep him hydrated, I don't know what to do next..

He's still not interested in his food, not even the worms.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ok, well the urate could be discolored also from the Baycox, medications do have a tendency to do that.
You could have him try the Ponazuril for coccidia. It is a specific anti-coccidial agent & it only needs to be given on a one or two time basis.
I was hoping that the yogurt would be helping out with his appetite though.
You can also try finding some bee pollen or had you already looked for that & couldn't find it?

Keep us posted.
Tracie

 

[TwelveVacancies]

The vet called this morning and said she had consulted with a specialist interstate and ordered in something else they had recommended. It started with a T______? Sulfate. I was hoping she'd ask me first before going ahead with that because I did want to suggest Ponazuril.

I didn't know about the bee pollen, how does that work? Should be able to find that in the local health store.

Also can the Reptaid be given with the meds, or should I hold off until after?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am sorry, I meant to get back with you yesterday!
The med is probably Trimethorim Sulfa, did you already start giving that medication? It is commonly used. The Ponazuril would have been better but maybe the medication that you have now will help out.
The bee pollen can help a lot with the appetite & you should be able to find it at your local health food store.

I would hold off on using the Reptaid until he is done with the meds as that would be too much on his system.
Keep him well hydrated while he is on the new meds, as sulfa based drugs are dehydrating.
Is he still enjoying his yogurt?

Tracie

 

[TwelveVacancies]

The vet said the meds should arrive tomorrow. Fingers crossed they work!

I've started using a syringe to give him drinks now, I'm finding that far more effective than just dripping water on his nose. Hoping a good drink every morning will soften up his urate and should keep him well hydrated on the meds. If it doesn't get any better I will try the liquid calcium and see if the powder is an issue.

Do you recommend cleaning his viv (only using newspaper and boxes in there at the moment) every day and putting down fresh paper, or does it only need to be when he poops?

Update: got the Bactrim. Gave him his first dose of 0.15 ml and he was happy to slurp it up out of the syringe rather than me having to force his mouth open. However, I still got a nice big black beard.

 

[TwelveVacancies]

He's finished the Bactrim, and now we're just playing the waiting game. He's not eating anything (aside from the yogurt) so it'll probably be a while before I can get another fecal test done.

His weight has gone down to around 260g again. Hoping his appetite will perk up soon. The health store has ordered me in some bee pollen which will come on Wednesday. Is it ok to mix that in with the yogurt?

He keeps blackbearding, which could be for a number of reasons (he hates his sterile environment at the moment) but his colours in general are good, no stress marks, and he's not lethargic.

He still keeps his mouth open at times, but I haven't noticed it as much this past week.

Just wish he'd eat something.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I hope that the meds worked out for him.
It is easy to use newspaper as they are quick to be able to just throw out. Paper towels are good also. You don't need to use clean newspaper daily unless he makes a mess on it. I am sure he is wanting his tank decor back!
That will be fine to mix the bee pollen with the yogurt for him. At least you didn't have any trouble getting him to take his meds other than a black beard!
Using a syringe to get fluids into him is helpful, so hopefully he will continue to drink that way for you.

He looks great, with nice colors. I hope he is feeling much better now.

Tracie

 

[TwelveVacancies]

Been a while since my last update...

I haven't been able to get the last fecal test done yet. I've been at work every time Flyboy has done his business and by the end of the day it's dried up and no good.

He is still eating pretty much nothing. Sometimes he'll go after a worm or a roach but very rarely. The other day he surprised me by racing after a woodie like he'd never seen food before, but only wanted the 1. Tried him with crickets again, but no interest.

I got a call from the vet who wanted to pass me off to someone else who was not a reptile specialist, but rather a surgeon who had experience with reptiles. I don't feel comfortable seeing someone who is not a specialist so I haven't been back there. Instead I took him back to the reptile store I bought him from. They still seem to think he's okay and not to worry (confusing when there's so many conflicting opinions), but they gave him solar drops (?) which I believe is like liquid calcium. They said to bring him back again this week and they will give him some more, and also try him with a pinky.

In the meantime I've started him on the Reptaid. Today was his last dose of the first 10 days, and will start again after 2 days off as the instructions say to. I haven't noticed any changes in him, though.

I'm putting together his new viv tonight, so I'll post some photos up later.