Lamp fell on Kevin!

[KevinsMama]

Advice on shaky & weak front legs anyone? I can't even get him to move now. He won't lift his chest either. I took pics to show everyone. He does hold his head up unless he's cold now but he won't push up on his legs. I had my husband sit and watch for like 30mins a little bit ago so he could see the shakiness. He finally seen it & said there's definitely something wrong with him. He said to call the vet.

I'm CONVINCED he's developing MBD cause his leg is sucking all the calcium from the front of his body. If that's the case, I don't think I have much of a choice but to wait on the T5 to come & await advice on the liquid calcium dosage. I'm way to wary to give him any without some advice on it.

Here's the pics:

He is like this all day. Has been for past 3 days. Will NOT move unless he poops or I move him.

He's got kind of a squinty eye going on in the 2nd one. He does close his eyes a lot more than he used to. I think it's cause his UVB is on the side with aluminum foil since he can't get closer to it & it's hurting his eyes. Again, just waiting on that T5 to come. Should be here around Friday. He does close them no matter if he's in his tank or not. Usually just one at a time.

If ANYONE can please help me out. I'm really worried he is declining.

 

[AHBD]

What type of uvb do you have right now, I've forgotten and there's so much to read through to get to that part. Is he stil eating well ? If your weather is decent, take him out in the sun. It's the best uvb he can get. He just needs calcium + uvb. But remember , he's also weak + shaky because there will still be a bit of pain with his condition. BTW, if it's over 60 and sunny, that is all the higher temp. you need to take him out in a small-medium plastic storage tote. The Tote will warm up like the hood of a car. Or you can set him on your lap in the sun, even a cardboard box. But if it's over 75, the plastic will heat up too much so you would have to set him directly in the grass or on your lap.

 

[KevinsMama]

What type of uvb do you have right now, I've forgotten and there's so much to read through to get to that part. Is he stil eating well ? If your weather is decent, take him out in the sun. It's the best uvb he can get. He just needs calcium + uvb. But remember , he's also weak + shaky because there will still be a bit of pain with his condition. BTW, if it's over 60 and sunny, that is all the higher temp. you need to take him out in a small-medium plastic storage tote. The Tote will warm up like the hood of a car. Or you can set him on your lap in the sun, even a cardboard box. But if it's over 75, the plastic will heat up too much so you would have to set him directly in the grass or on your lap.

Thank you for the reply. Right now he has the Reptisun 10.0 t8. I got it thinking it was best but nope lol. So now I've ordered the t5 & hood so it can sit on top. Only thing is, the only ones available & affordable this week aren't on prime so it's regular shipping. Just got the email the bulb itself has shipped & will be here anywhere from the 12th-18th! Hood hasn't even shipped yet.

I've been taking him outside & holding him in my lap but the sun gets too bright for me. I used to put him in a little tub & sit him in my car hood but I started thinking about all the birds here & got too scared. Been looking for some kind of mesh box type deal to put him out in.

Do you think the regular calcium dusting on his crickets will be enough or should I also give him liquid calcium? He's been eating pretty decent. He doesn't eat as many as he used to but he doesn't skip a meal anymore. I've got an order of BSFL coming in this Tuesday also. Idk why, he shows no interest in the ones from Petco. Most of those look dead and aren't very lively so he don't care. If it don't squirm & struggle he isn't interested! He will stare at whatever for a long time to wait on it to struggle LOL!

And how is the UVB on cloudy days? Like been raining on & off complete dark clouds? That's how it is here today so I'm not real sure if it's even worth taking him out.

 

[AHBD]

I actually think his behavior is just that he has no where o go + not a thing to do. If you've gotten him in the sun and his uvb is 8" away then he should have plenty of uvb. He's just bored and without working his muscles he's going to be weak. Try this....put a small rolled up hand towel in for him to crawl on if he wants, see if that interest him.

 

[KevinsMama]

Will do.

Not even food interests him tho ?

 

[KevinsMama]

Took me forever to figure out how to do this... not even sure if it will work...

Here's 2 videos that show Kevin walking now. This is as much as he will walk & no amount of poking, prodding or bribing will get more out of him. He did not start doing this until about 3-4 days ago. I wanted to show rather than tell because it's not just shakiness/weakness.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=494q-0BfdSI

I did poke at him and mess with him enough to get a black tail so I stopped even though I don't feel these do justice to what it really looks like.

& AHBD, he does show interest in the towel. Not sure if I have it set up right but he did go straight to ATTEMPTING to climb it. He's now nestled up on it.

 

[AHBD]

Poor little dude. Liquid calcium might be of some benefit. If you could get a short plastic tote to put him in with the rolled up towel then sit the uvb across that might get him more uvb exposure. Can you post a pic of how you have the 10 gallon tank set up with the lights ?

 

[KevinsMama]

He's actually in his 40g now. I don't have the 10g set up anymore but it might actually be a good idea to put him back in there til that t5 comes so that he can sit on the towel & have the UVB overheard.

How much liquid calcium would I give him? I was putting a drop from the dropper on the tip of his snout every other day but stopped because I'm scared that's too much or not enough or too often or not often enough lol. He weighs 35g. The only directions it has is either offering a water bowl, which he won't drink from, or putting on food. His crickets are already dusted and he won't go to his salad anymore. Not worth the struggle of moving I suppose.

 

[AHBD]

A drop would be fine, just like you were doing. Be sure to drip extra water on his snout every day or 2 as well.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Poor Kevin, it looks like he is having some trouble. It will be a bit of a road to recovery for
him but the T5 will greatly help him.
I agree with AHBD that he is probably quite bored since he isn't able to do much right now.
Which liquid calcium brand do you have, Zilla? A drop or two will be fine, since he is very
small right now.

I hope he gets to feeling better & that your light & fixture get there soon!

Tracie

 

[KevinsMama]

Thanks so much AHBD & Tracie! I knew it would be a long & difficult recovery but I didn't expect all this! Common sense always tells me it's ok & just sucks right now for him but it will get better. But the mama in me freaks out over every little thing lol! I honestly never expected the front of his body to be affected like this. It's horrible to look at him sometimes. He's always bright colors with a complete white beard so I really just need to relax.

I have the Flukers Liquid Calcium but if there's a better brand somewhere, I'll get it. Just grabbed what was readily available. I'll give him a drop every other day. He really either hates it or loves it. He can't stand the drop being on there & tries to wriggle it off but he drinks it so much faster & better than water.

His splint had slid a little so last night we had a bath. Yay! He still has a lot of shed coming off but he also has a black spot on his lower leg (the hurt one) & on his tail. Both are where the splint is. I'm assuming this is retained shed but I don't know what I can do about it since it's always covered. The tail I rubbed with a toothbrush but I don't touch the leg at all.

I did snap a couple pics just in case.

This has not been fun lol!

 

[AHBD]

He sure is a little trooper. Did he eat anything yesterday ?

That black spot may be the start of a slight fungal infection. The next time the splint comes off dab a bit of Monistat or Lotrimin antifungal cream on it and ask the vet to have a look next time you're in.

 

[KevinsMama]

Ughhhh, that's what I was afraid of. At least I did take some pics and can see if it spreads next time I get a look. The husband has gotten much better at the splints so it'll probably be the end of the week before it has to be redone. And I won't be making a vet appointment until Friday. It's likely fungal because I'm so scared to hurt him that after a bath I just hold him in the towel for a minute instead of drying that area then he goes right into a splint. I'll definitely pick up some cream. Is one of the 2 best? I'd rather get the best one. And I suppose no more baths ?

By the way, he is obsessed with the towel you recommended! He just kinda lays on it but he will go to it if I take him off for whatever reason. So i think you are right & he's so bored right now.

 

[KevinsMama]

Sorry, quick question that hopefully can be answered super quick. I got the Lotrimin. Can I apply while basking or should I wait til bedtime? And do I leave it on or does it need to wash off? He has wiggled his splint off so I have the chance now before my husband gets home from work and does the splint. Can I put it on then put the splint right over it?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!!!

 

[AHBD]

I answered your p.m.

And oh my, I never knew you were bathing her, definitely should never be bathed in her condition, that's why I mentioned just offering drops on her snout in case she's thirsty.

If bathed it takes a long time for scales to dry + makes it easy for the area to stay damp + develop fungus. Can you post a few more pics of the spot ? And yes, put the cream on now as well as right before you put the splint back on. It may clear up pretty quickly since you caught it right away.