Please help!!!!! RIP dear one

[crickest]

Hey Jane -

How is the little graham cracker doing? I'm hoping to hear good things.

Karen and crew

 

[chrismnc]

I just read thru this thread and want to say that I hope your baby is doing better. You are doing everything you can for him.

Good luck to you both

 

[spikerocks]

Hi everybody! So Spike still wouldn't eat ANYTHING on his own today, not even the baby food! He still looks so much better than how he looked a month ago. I worry some but I'm not giving up on him and he is alert n bright eyed most of the time.

I called Spike's vet today n he wants to see him Friday but told me I should think about putting him down since he's not thriving. I said NO WAY!! He hasn't seen Spike since last he was so sick. He hasn't seen how much his colors have changed n how vibrant they r becoming. Granted, he hasn't gained much weight, if any at all, but I don't care about that. He's full of life n love n I will do what I can for him. The rest is up to God. Spike is certainly not suffering. I wouldn't let that happen.

Also, Spike just started eye bulging n it looks to me like the skin around his eyes n on the back of his head is dry and white n starting to crack! I think maybe he's going to shed for the first time ever! And that's a good sign, rite? He may not be growing in leaps n bounds but he's oving in the rite direction, thanks to everyone here! We never would have made it this far n the best part is that u all gave me hope. It is this hope that will carry me thru this next little speed bump.
My hubby held Spike for me tonite so I could get him to open his mouth and we got the dose of critical care into him. He perked up a bit n when I went to put him in his viv, he crawled all the way up my arm. So he is basking under a heat lamp on the coffee table rite next to me!
Thank you all so much for helping us thru this and giving me the tools I needed to help Spike. I will definitely let u know how he is doing. Please keep Spike in ur prayers n I will keep catering to him! Thank God I'm not working!
Hugs n kisses,
Jane n Spike

 

[chrismnc]

I am so glad to hear he's doing ok. You are his angel.

Keeping you guys in our prayers!

Chris

 

[mishelly58]

I'm with you I would not put him down either. Spike might not be eating if he is ready to shed. I know that Puffnstuff doesn't eat much when he is ready to shed. Please keep us posted and let us know what the vet says on Friday.

 

[munchkins9802]

HI Spike IS thriving! If his head is white and cracking that is a sign of upcoming shed. My daughters lizard would stop eating for up to 6 days before a shed.,and then shed and then eat better again.

I would tell your vet under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will your lizard be put down and you will hand feed him as long as you need to for the dragons sake. He seems much more happy and everything.

We are rooting for SPIKE! 8)

 

[surgerising]

HI Jane and Spike,
I wanted to return a post in kind. I too have been following Spikes thread and am so bsy with Aztec I didnt post. I am happy to hear he looks like hes going into shed. Thats awesome! Apike and Aztec are very much alike other than Spike can use his rear half. I'll keep saying prayers for your little guy too. Ohh yes and jus wait till your vet sees him tomarrow, hes gonna be shocked and eat his words.

Btw Walmart sells a kichen scale for 20 bucks that weighs as low as 1 gram, thats what I weigh my guys on, its super accurate and easy to use. It'll even weigh a piece of papertowel.

Keep up the good work,

 

[spikerocks]

So, we had a pretty good day. Mostly, I m confused n trying to figure a few things out. Spike showed no interest in live prey. He did drink a good amount of water and did eat from the stringe. He also moved his bowels. Oh, he did shed a little piece of skin from under his chin/beard area n I can see a small area starting to hang down!!! YAY!

Here's what I m confused about. Although Spike's colors r great n he looks healthy, I was surprised to see him looking rather ill this morning. He was keeping his head low, eyes closed. When I picked him up, he didn't respond. He was just soft n lethargic. He opened an eye just a crack n then immediately closed it again. Oh, his lights had already been on for over 2 hours. So I put him in his bath, still didn't react or move. Finally, he repositioned himself n after 15 minutes, he was like a different dragon. He was sitting up tall, eyes bright, alert. This same scenario played out two more times today. He seems to be reacting to something in his viv. After he comes out, he's practically bouncing off the walls.

Now, this is why I m confused. Is it from the uvb? Maybe he's too sensitive right now be/c we had that useless bulb before? Should I cut it off for a day or two n then gradually add it back longer each day? I know we've seen such an improvement in him, so maybe it isn't the lite? What else could it be? I've been trying to figure this out all day. It's clear that whatever is bugging him seems to be in the viv, which takes me rite back to the reptisun. Ugh, idk. I read over the uvb output info on http://www.uvguide.co.uk and the difference from the yucky bulb n the reptisun r nite n day.
I m definitely asking the vet in the morning but I want to see what u guys think.

 

[chrismnc]

I wish I knew what to tell you about the light or whatever else it is that's causing this reaction. It seems so odd. I hope the vet will be able to shed some light on this puzzle. Shedding is an amazing breakthrough! He is growing!

I will be waiting to hear from you after the vet! Fingers are crossed and prayers are said!

XOXOXOX Spike Little One!

Chris

 

[puffsmama]

Hey Jane--

Besides the reptisun for UVB...what are you using for his basking light?
Cindy

 

[crickest]

Jane - I want you to try something for me. Take out the indoor/outdoor carpet and put down paper towels. The lights shouldn't be making him sick. I'm now wondering if the carpet is releasing a smell or toxin under the UVB. I had some issues when we tried some of that stuff in Spark's cage, but I just thought he didn't like it and we didn't have it in very long. Now I'm wondering if the astroturf is reacting to the UVB.

The only thing you would have to worry about with the Repti-Sun is if he was closer than 5 - 6", but I thought you'd moved him away from the light a bit. Your basking temps are good, but you're right, there is something that is making him react. If it is the carpet, you should see a difference in his behavior. If the behavior continues after three or four days on paper towels, then we'll have to take a look at what else is in the viv.

If it is the indoor carpeting, you can purchase some repti-carpet from the petstore down the road. I would leave him on paper towels for a few weeks, until he gets some growth under his belt. I used paper towels and I know Kiera is still on towels.

 

[munchkins9802]

Saw Spike was shedding! Thats why he didnt want food
Let us know what your vet says. I did respond to your email. Hope all is well today

 

[spikerocks]

Well, Spike has taken a turn for the worse. He was extremely weak this am n didn't move or open his eyes for a long time. He is down to 4g. The idea rite now is that parasites led to a systemic infection. Even tho his fecal was negative, the sample was small n may not have been accurite. I asked if they could draw blood to check but he was afraid that as fragile as Spike is rite now that it would kill him. His prognosis is guarded and not optimistic.

IDK what's going to happen but I haven't given up on Spike. I'll do everything I can but it doesn't look to positive rite now. They gave him an injection of fluids in his abdomen. I m to start the baytril today, feed him a minimum of 1/2ml critical care daily, return for another fluid injection tomorrow morning n meet with the vet again Monday. They did take an x-ray to rule out any hardened sand (which he was on for a week when we first got him). The vet said he didn't think so but I wanted to know for sure so we could move on to other things.

Spike did perk up some after his fluid injection. I'll try to update tonight.

Jane

 

[puffsmama]

Hi Jane--Just want you to know that your precious little Spike is in my prayers!!!!! Just keep loving him!!!! Your love is giving him the strength to keep fighting!!
Hugs-
Cindy & Kiera

 

[munchkins9802]

Hi Jane sorry to hear he is struggling. even tho he lost grams it is because of his shed--I am sure.
Please PM Tracie (Drache613) as I am not sure baytril is the best med for him to be on right now--many are hard on him.
Email me if you need to and we will keep praying for him.