Post impaction help-will he walk again???

[GottemOnDubs]

His back legs are tucked underneath him and all he does is twitch his toes and he drags them when he walks. I know all about impaction and when the previous owner was describing his symptoms to me, I knew right away. As soon as I got him, I started in with the warm soaks and the massaging. I spent hours working with him that first night. He was so bloated that his sides were actually beginning to split. He still was eating fine so I gave him some spinach and shredded carrot peels that I put some vegetable oil on. I even oiled up his sides to help keep them elastic. It was pretty bad. After a few days, he wasnt getting any better and i was finding him on his back in his cage. He wasn't even struggling to right himself. It was very sad. So, just out of curiosity, I got a Fleet enema and melted it down and mixed it with some warm water. I pulled the metal needle out of a syringe so that it had a fine plastic tip and filled it with the enema solution. before I could count to 5, a large white solid chunk the size of a large grape came out of him. It was just a solid mass of bird seed, which the owner was told to feed him. I gave him one more dose and he pooped out enough to fill one of those little Dixie bathroom cups. I was so happy because the owner said he hadn't pooped in weeks, probably months. The bloating went away instantly. Let him have another warm soak after that and put him away for the night. The next day, I gave him another dose of enema and out came about 6 inches of poo.
I know the impaction is over (hopefully) but he is still unable to move his back legs. He runs laps around his cage and is super active but still just drags them around. Does it take time for him to "relearn" how to use his legs or is there permanent damage? I do little stretches with him and bend his legs back and forth as though he is moving them, almost like a rehabilition exercise. He can swing his tail and move his legs but in an awkward way, not in a manner where he can walk. I have him out with my on my desk as we speak and he is running around all over the place. He is a fighter.
So did I do ok? Am I just worried now or will he get back to normal? The previous owner was severely misinformed about all kinds of things and was extremely happy that I took these guys in. Any suggestions for me? I really appreciate your help. thanks guys, Tony

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

Hi Tony,
Im gonna start with a long list of questions.
Are you useing a UVB blulb? If so what kind.
What are your temps and what are you useing to get them.
STOP feeding spinach. Use greens like collard,mustard and turnip. Http://www.beautifuldragons.com has a great nutrition list.
Are you giving vitamins and calcium?
What substrate are you useing?
Lets start with these and we can move on from there.

 

[GottemOnDubs]

Thanks for the reply. Here is what I know...I have only had him since Tuesday.
-The previous owner had him on sand
-he said the guy at the pet store told him to feed him bird seed from time to time
-the light he gave me with him is a 100W ExoTerra Sun Glo and a red bulb with no name or markings on it
-he was fed baby spinach and carrots mostly with some fruit from time to time if I remember correctly

Now, as I mentioned, after the enemas, he made some amazing poops. I am positive the impaction is a thing of the past but as I went in there now to see what the light was, he was on his back again. He just lays there like he is comfortable like that...I dont get it. I feel resistance and movement when I exercise his legs so I know there is still movement left in them and his tail moves perfectly. I am just concerned that he will be paralyzed forever. Now that I have him, I know exaclty how to take care of him but has there been irreparable damage done to him because of his previous owners misinformation?

 

[zebraflavencs]

I really think that he will recover. So you have him under a Mercury Vapor Bulb ?
Nix the red bulb, and just use a bright house hold light, I use a 40w flood light myself.
What you are describing is indeed a sign of MBD. You will want to up his calcium, use this :
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html
as a guide to feeding him healthy foods ( yes I know Tom, you are lazy lol)

I would indeed look into getting a qualified vet to check him out, and start offering some liquid calcium:
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Meds.html#CalciumGluconate
to assist with the MBD.

Do check out the basic care sheet here on the forum, it has a wonderful amount of information, that has been compiled by so many people, it is tried and true.

Other than that, just keep up the loving good work !
Hope this helps out !
Janie.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

I posted a link. How was that lazy this time????.....lol
I was thinking MDB myself.

 

[GottemOnDubs]

He is doing much better now. Thank you all for your help. He tries to move around and is very active but his legs are still not up to par. I "fixed" his diet and have been giving him his calcium and supplements. He looks underweight now compared to when he was bloated and about to bust open but I have not found him on his back now since his second day of treatment. He eats great. I am so happy that I was able to make a change for him. I really appreciate all of your help. Spyro and I thank you!

 

[zebraflavencs]

We are happy to help out ! Keep us posted on Spiros' condition !
Janie.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

Glad things are going in the right direction.