Please any help appreciated

[Sue E.]

Yes, the vet was completely at a loss as to what the widening of bone is and said she did not see any breaks.

I truly appreciate your insight, I am definitely going to bring that up it sounds promising as to a diagnosis, everything in my mind is pointing to an injury as all bloodwork has come back completely normal as well and the suddenness with which it came on. Although we have no idea how or where this injury occurred he went to bed last Friday and woke up Saturday swollen and this diagnostic journey began with so far no answers or help despite numerous tests and of course quite an extensive amount of money.

 

[Sue E.]

I think if it is a sprain since the vet didnt see any breaks the best way to help it heal is to limit his activity as much as possible...remove ALL climbing objects like your vet said, try not to let him see his reflection if that makes him run around. Do the cats stress him out and make him run around? If so, maybe keep the cats in a seperate room for now? Pain meds that your vet prescribed would definitely help. The decreased appetite could definitely be from pain or even the meds. Just keep him hydrated and provide him his usual healthy greens...if he eats crickets or fast insects, maybe switch to worms (calciworms, phoenix worms, bsfl), something slow moving that he doesnt have to chase. Avoid the calcium binders like spinach, etc and lightly calcium dust all your bugs/worms except the calciworms/phoenix worms. Use a t5 10.0 reptisun or aracadia 12% tube uvb for his uvb light...they are the best and will help him metabolize his calcium for better bone strength and faster healing. Hope that helps. Sounds like your vet is spot on with treatment if there are no breaks in the leg. Make sure he has a ramp or something like that to easily access his basking spot if its elevated without him having to jump up. Hope that helps and best of luck! If you can, dont return the hammock to his enclosure when he heals..he may have fallen from it or twisted his leg if a toe got caught in it. And dont worry, a sprain can happen just from twisting your ankle the wrong way without a significant fall.

 

[Sue E.]

This is what the injury looks like in humans...see how the space between the lower leg bones is widened?

 

[Sue E.]

Normal tib-fib in humans

 

[Sue E.]

I think if it is a sprain since the vet didnt see any breaks the best way to help it heal is to limit his activity as much as possible...remove ALL climbing objects like your vet said, try not to let him see his reflection if that makes him run around. Do the cats stress him out and make him run around? If so, maybe keep the cats in a seperate room for now? Pain meds that your vet prescribed would definitely help. The decreased appetite could definitely be from pain or even the meds. Just keep him hydrated and provide him his usual healthy greens...if he eats crickets or fast insects, maybe switch to worms (calciworms, phoenix worms, bsfl), something slow moving that he doesnt have to chase. Avoid the calcium binders like spinach, etc and lightly calcium dust all your bugs/worms except the calciworms/phoenix worms. Use a t5 10.0 reptisun or aracadia 12% tube uvb for his uvb light...they are the best and will help him metabolize his calcium for better bone strength and faster healing. Hope that helps. Sounds like your vet is spot on with treatment if there are no breaks in the leg. Make sure he has a ramp or something like that to easily access his basking spot if its elevated without him having to jump up. Hope that helps and best of luck! If you can, dont return the hammock to his enclosure when he heals..he may have fallen from it or twisted his leg if a toe got caught in it. And dont worry, a sprain can happen just from twisting your ankle the wrong way without a significant fall.

Normal tib-fib x ray in humans:

Normal tib-fib in humans

 

[KarrieRee]

How is it to be unobstructed while keeping him safe? I have cats in the home, although friendly with him I would need a lid on to ensure his safety and theirs, I am not certain how it would be safely secured either. Is there any visual representation on that?

You can hang under the screen w/ 3M Velcro fasteners or heat resistant long plastic ties or picture wire hanger- Commercial Electric 8 in. Extreme Heat and Cold Resistant UL21 Listed Cable Zip Ties 20 Pack UV (Black) GT-200STH - The Home Depot
I would recommend tho again the T 5 if it is a break the UVB is going really help here w/ the healing - T 8' s need a distance of 6-8 inches w/ the T 5 its 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece

 

[Sue E.]

Mine: with the help of the amazing folks in this forum:
I angled mine so the heat from the heat and uvb overlap on the warm side. I used 24" heat resistant zip ties and just used a screwdriver to punch bigger holes in the mesh screen to fit the zip ties through, and a screwdriver to make a hole for the uvb plug and then wire cutters to make the hole big enough for the plug to go through. My uvb hood is zoomed reptisun 24" fixture...it angles across an 18" wide screen but you have to play with the angles a little. You may have to hang it just lower than the top metal pieces of your tank and any support bars you have in the way. I took the top screen off to play with it after his lights went out for the night.

 

[SIMBA22]

Mine: with the help of the amazing folks in this forum:
I angled mine so the heat from the heat and uvb overlap on the warm side. I used 24" heat resistant zip ties and just used a screwdriver to punch bigger holes in the mesh screen to fit the zip ties through, and a screwdriver to make a hole for the uvb plug and then wire cutters to make the hole big enough for the plug to go through. My uvb hood is zoomed reptisun 24" fixture...it angles across an 18" wide screen but you have to play with the angles a little. You may have to hang it just lower than the top metal pieces of your tank and any support bars you have in the way. I took the top screen off to play with it after his lights went out for the night.

Thank you so very much for this and the advice.

 

[SIMBA22]

You can hang under the screen w/ 3M Velcro fasteners or heat resistant long plastic ties or picture wire hanger- Commercial Electric 8 in. Extreme Heat and Cold Resistant UL21 Listed Cable Zip Ties 20 Pack UV (Black) GT-200STH - The Home Depot
I would recommend tho again the T 5 if it is a break the UVB is going really help here w/ the healing - T 8' s need a distance of 6-8 inches w/ the T 5 its 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor piece
View attachment 96683

Thank you so much. Is this the right light?

 

[Sue E.]

Thank you so very much for this and the advice.

Aww youre welcome! Im still learning too!

 

[Sue E.]

Thank you so much. Is this the right light?

Yes! But buy a seperate bulb...t5 10.0 high output. Take out the 5.0 and put in the 10.0. They just pop in and out.

 

[Sue E.]

Yes! But buy a seperate bulb...t5 10.0 high output. Take out the 5.0 and put in the 10.0. They just pop in and out.

The 10.0 is the lower picture on the front of the box. Where it says: for use with the following bulbs.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you so much. Is this the right light?

Yes and get the reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb 22"

 

[SIMBA22]

Yes and get the reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb 22"

I purchased the proper 10 UVB light and put in the above pictured hood but if hung inside the screen the distance from him on basking spot to light is 9" is this safe?

 

[KarrieRee]

I purchased the proper 10 UVB light and put in the above pictured hood but if hung inside the screen the distance from him on basking spot to light is 9" is this safe?

What is the distance from the UVB to the floor? 9" is ok he will be fine and move away if its too strong- do you have a lower basking decor piece - you can always have him sit on the floor of the tank