Pre ovulatory folicular stasis

[RM10]

I took our bearded dragon Coco who is neatly 3 years old to the vets as he had not been eating for about two weeks.

The Vet said although he has always thought coco is a “he” he should have an x Ray and blood test to make sure there is no IMO action, eggs, liver issues etc.

Coco had an X-ray and second vet also did an ultra sound. Results - coco is in fact a girl who has Pre ovulatory folicular stasis. Photo attached.

To my shock I was told I have two options 1) surgery to remove eggs and uterus but this could be fatal 2) leave and see if they regress but if one ruptured then coco will have to be put to sleep

Coco has been given a nutrient powder to be mixed with water and to be fed twice a day via a syringe.

We await the blood results.

Could anyone help please with your thoughts, experiences, advice.

I am very stressed. Poor coco.


Many thanks

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, sorry to hear about Coco's situation. Can you post a few pics of her ? Is she lethargic, losing weight, black bearding ? Those are signs of extreme stress. Hopefully she will get through this by reabsorbing them without incident. I know it's a very tough spot to be in, either choice has it's risks. Ask the vet how many times they have performed this type of surgery. Can you also post her full body or abdominal xray to give a better look of ewhere the follicles are located + spread out ?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry little Coco is having so much trouble. Surgery most of the time for spaying & removing follicles
is successful. As AHBD stated, be sure the vet has actually done the surgery because if it is pretty routine
for her then technically it should be safe. It is risky right now, if she could have a follicle rupture.
Do they feel there is any chance she could actually lay the eggs, or not?
Let us know how she is doing, we are all pulling for her!

Tracie

 

[Cuttlefishh]

Praying for coco sweet girl

My vet is encouraging me to take my beardie for spaying prophylactically, she said she's had high success rates for even unwell dragons for the last 10 years. It's riskier though if there is a problem identified, so it's quite a predicament. I know what you're going through, it's so hard to decide. I think if you have an experienced vet it's worth considering. It's a dangerous condition for our girls.

 

[RM10]

Hi there, sorry to hear about Coco's situation. Can you post a few pics of her ? Is she lethargic, losing weight, black bearding ? Those are signs of extreme stress. Hopefully she will get through this by reabsorbing them without incident. I know it's a very tough spot to be in, either choice has it's risks. Ask the vet how many times they have performed this type of surgery. Can you also post her full body or abdominal xray to give a better look of ewhere the follicles are located + spread out ?

Hi, thank you for your reply. I will post photos of coco over the weekend. The ultra sound photo I have is the only one he gave me. I will ask for the X-ray photo.

Thankfully Coco isn’t lethargic or black bearding. She isn’t moving much either, but appears bright eyed.

This second vet who did the ultra sound and broke this dreadful news to me said surgery means an incision across the whole stomach area. He said he has once operated on a turtle! He is really a vet for cats and dogs. I plan to ask him to refer us to the exotic pet vet nearby (who are only taking referrals from other vets).

Coco is thankfully drinking the little mixture from the syringe, and had one Dubai roach and one worm over two days.

Thank you for thinking of coco, I will keep you updated.

 

[RM10]

Hello,

Sorry little Coco is having so much trouble. Surgery most of the time for spaying & removing follicles
is successful. As AHBD stated, be sure the vet has actually done the surgery because if it is pretty routine
for her then technically it should be safe. It is risky right now, if she could have a follicle rupture.
Do they feel there is any chance she could actually lay the eggs, or not?
Let us know how she is doing, we are all pulling for her!

Tracie

hello Tracie,

thank you for your reply. The vet has operated on a turtle so I am not allowing him to operate on coco.

I need to see an exotic pet specialist to know whether she can lay the Eggs. That’s the question I keep asking myself. Does that ultra sound show eggs which are bound/stuck or can they still be delivered in the normal way?

Because our first vet (who has some experience of bearded dragons) has always thought coco was a boy, I have never prepared coco for laying eggs.

thank you for thinking of coco, it means a lot.

I will keep you updated.

 

[RM10]

Praying for coco sweet girl

My vet is encouraging me to take my beardie for spaying prophylactically, she said she's had high success rates for even unwell dragons for the last 10 years. It's riskier though if there is a problem identified, so it's quite a predicament. I know what you're going through, it's so hard to decide. I think if you have an experienced vet it's worth considering. It's a dangerous condition for our girls.

Hi,

thank you for your reply.

Good luck with your bearded dragon too. I’m sending get well wishes.

I agree with you, AHBD and Tracie that I need a vet with proper experience.

when discussing the option I can see how things go over the next two weeks - he said to see if the eggs ‘re absorb’ he didn’t say ‘lay.’ I was so shocked with the news that I didn’t ask if coco has a chance of laying them. I will ask that today when hopefully I will get the blood tests.

Thank you for thinking of Coco, it means a lot.

I will update you when I hear anything further.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, there is a possibility she could lay the eggs. Most of the time they do lay the eggs, unless
there is an irregularly shaped egg blocking, or some type of nutritional deficiency or other disaster.
If the eggs haven't dropped yet, then they will be able to determine if they are developing properly.
She can't lay them if they haven't been shelled yet because it is too early. Once they are shelled &
dropped, her shape will change as they drop.
Maybe check her calcium status to be sure it is good so she isn't calcium deficient.
Let us know how she is doing. If you are able to get the blood test done, please post the results,
if possible.

Tracie

 

[RM10]

Hello,

I agree, there is a possibility she could lay the eggs. Most of the time they do lay the eggs, unless
there is an irregularly shaped egg blocking, or some type of nutritional deficiency or other disaster.
If the eggs haven't dropped yet, then they will be able to determine if they are developing properly.
She can't lay them if they haven't been shelled yet because it is too early. Once they are shelled &
dropped, her shape will change as they drop.
Maybe check her calcium status to be sure it is good so she isn't calcium deficient.
Let us know how she is doing. If you are able to get the blood test done, please post the results,
if possible.

Tracie

Hi Tracie,

thanks for your reply.

I have just spoken to the vet who agreed to refer coco as a matter of urgency to the exotic pet‘s Vet.

he said she has high calcium But he would expect that in the situation.

he is still awaiting for kindney results.

I asked him if coco can lay the eggs, he said they are not eggs, but yolks… goodness knows what that means? He again said either surgery or wait to see if they regress with risk of rupture.

I will chase you the new vets today.

I will update you

thank you for kindly helping. I don’t feel so alone now.

 

[RM10]

Hi Tracie,

thanks for your reply.

I have just spoken to the vet who agreed to refer coco as a matter of urgency to the exotic pet‘s Vet.

he said she has high calcium But he would expect that in the situation.

he is still awaiting for kindney results.

I asked him if coco can lay the eggs, he said they are not eggs, but yolks… goodness knows what that means? He again said either surgery or wait to see if they regress with risk of rupture.

I will chase you the new vets today.

I will update you

thank you for kindly helping. I don’t feel so alone now.

hi all,

I now have an appointment on Tuesday with the exotic pet vet who is well experienced with bearded dragons. So fingers crossed

 

[Drache613]

Hello!

That sounds great, I hope you can get more answers & some direction as to what could be going
on. How is she doing today?
We are all here to help so you can come on here anytime.
Eggs start out as follicles that develop to yolks. If they continue to develop, then they begin to shell
them to be laid, fertile or infertile. It's hard to know how long they have been present but they can
rupture causing peritonitis yes. Most of the time though, under normal situations, good nutrition, etc,
they don't have any trouble with laying.
In the case she is able to lay, do you have a laybox made up for her yet?
Keep us posted on her!

Tracie

 

[RM10]

Hello!

That sounds great, I hope you can get more answers & some direction as to what could be going
on. How is she doing today?
We are all here to help so you can come on here anytime.
Eggs start out as follicles that develop to yolks. If they continue to develop, then they begin to shell
them to be laid, fertile or infertile. It's hard to know how long they have been present but they can
rupture causing peritonitis yes. Most of the time though, under normal situations, good nutrition, etc,
they don't have any trouble with laying.
In the case she is able to lay, do you have a laybox made up for her yet?
Keep us posted on her!

Tracie

Hi Tracie,

Thanks for your kind email.

Because our vet always thought she was a boy, we never had such a corner for her.
We are now going to make a box for her after tomorrow’s visit to the vets.

We gave a her a little bath over the weekend, which she enjoyed.

I will attach two photos of coco so you can see her shape and size.

I will let you know what vet says.

Fingers crossed

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Coco is pretty round. She looks happy there.
Good luck getting a laybox all setup for her.
You can use a combination of washed & sifted playsand mixed with an organic potting soil that doesn't have any pesticides, etc in it. Keep it damp/moist to where she could dig a
burrow without it collapsing in on her but not
sopping wet though.
Let us know how she is doing!

Tracie

 

[RM10]

Hello,

Coco is pretty round. She looks happy there.
Good luck getting a laybox all setup for her.
You can use a combination of washed & sifted playsand mixed with an organic potting soil that doesn't have any pesticides, etc in it. Keep it damp/moist to where she could dig a
burrow without it collapsing in on her but not
sopping wet though.
Let us know how she is doing!

Tracie

Hi Tracie,

Thank you. You are so helpful and kind. I will look into your suggestions.

I will post after the vets visit

 

[RM10]

Hi Tracie,

Thank you. You are so helpful and kind. I will look into your suggestions.

I will post after the vets visit