Rescue with severe MBD, biting tongue

[npgeorgeuw]

Got a rescue with initially locked hind limbs, locked tail and minimal use of his front legs.--Clearly a "he" since he couldn't retract them originally, even though he's only ten grams. We've had solid progress over the last 4 days with some ability to move the hind legs and tail coming back and non-paddle-like movement of the front limbs along with temperature regulation, relocation and regular defecation. His tail reflex to right himself is also steadily coming back.

Unfortunately we are struggling with him biting his own tongue while eating which is slowing down eating along with our fear of aspiration.--when syringe feeding he blackbeards after this amid copious head shaking. Before a bit tongue he is fine drinking (mixture of carnivore care, calcium w or w/out D3 and squash purée.) it's obvious that the neurological impairment is affecting his biting and it might be getting better but getting enough into him is getting hard. There doesn't appear to be broken or rubber jaws and his bite strength is solid (wife got bit accidentally today during the shaking) His tongue does seem large for his mouth, no clear overbite or underbite issues though...

Any thoughts on how to get food into him easier?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Poor thing, it sounds like you have your hands full then trying to get him fed!
Have you tried hand feeding him insects at all, or is that possible? If he doesn't have any jaw deformities, he might try to chew some food.
If the syringe feeding is upsetting him that terribly then I would definitely try hand feeding to see if you have any luck with that.
I am glad to hear he is starting to improve. He is only 10 grams though?
Are you using a UVB light also & which kind are you using?

Tracie

 

[npgeorgeuw]

We've tried a few hornworms and silkworms but he will just watch them but has yet to strike. Hand feeding doesn't do anything with him until he gets a taste, shown no interest in bugs by hand either, roaches, silks or hornworms all micro sized. Has taken some super worm guts but that was even a struggle with the tongue biting, solid food just seems to end in tongue biting, even more pastey solutions often end up with tongue biting.

I think that given his severe lack of mobility (changing position means flopping around) that mobile prey of any form are probably off the table and even grabbing more static worms is problematic.

Currently he has a reptisun T8 10.0s with full cage coverage in a 20 gallon "long" cage, Fresh bulb, with a half inch gap partial screen. I was not able to get a good history on him just that he was a customer return for the hind leg lameness which had just recently gone to front limb weakness.

Yes, he's lite at 10 grams. Not horribly so though for his size though as he's small physically.--no idea on age though. Rear legs are a little wasted but hips aren't terrible gaunt.--he's gained a gram since four days ago but I'm more concerned about the longer run feasibility of him growing at a good rate.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am sorry about him not being able to really chew very well. Since he has such a hard time with biting his tongue right now, I would continue to syringe feed baby food as well as using the carnivore care to help with weight gain.
You could see about getting a longer, rubber tip for help with syringe feeding to get a little more food into him without hurting his jaw.
Do you have any pictures of him?

Tracie

 

[npgeorgeuw]

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

He is so cute! How is he doing today?
Were you able to get some food into him I hope?
Keep us posted on him!

Tracie

 

[npgeorgeuw]

He's doing about the same. Am getting around 1.4 mls of various foods into him. He doesn't mind eating whatever I mix up but it's just a limitation in volume.... Since last Thursday he's up three grams at least. I've been exercising him and making him use the less mobile limbs as well as righting himself and wriggling and he seems to be spending more time propped up however when he moves it's still a four feet paddle motion followed by an exhausted rest on his chest. Figured out that if I corrale his tongue while feeding with a 1 ml syringe he doesn't bite it more than a minor nip so that's progress. He can move amazingly fast with the paddling and scurried up and down my chest before he toppled over but he did manage to grab on with his nails the first time. I've just never seen a dragon move his front limbs like this, imagine a backwards wave turned into a paddling in a locked circular motion... Poor guy, but he seems quite content 99% of the time...

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

It sounds like he is getting a little better with being fed, that takes a bit of practice between the two of you. I hope he is getting stronger, too. Just keep working with him daily, to help him get stronger. You can also do water therapy too for help with strength.
At least he is a happy boy right now which is all that matters. I hope he continues to improve. Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie