respiratory infection and swollen hand

[ctwoo]

Hello everyone. It is my first time posting here.
I got my dragon last year in October. When he was a around 1 month old. At that time, he grown up quickly slow and I found his has open-mouth breathing. Vet said he has a respiratory infection. Used Baytril. And he was full recovered. HE WAS JUST 20g at that time.
Last week, I found he starts open mouth again and had a slightly more hard breathing. So I bring him to the Vet again.
Vet said, not just open mouth breathing problem, he has on hand swollen

So we did the blood test, x-ray.
Blood test, everything seems normal.
Here is the x-ray photos.
He got RI again.... The Vet gave me Baytril again.... However, my dragon had the Baytil for 8 days already. The breathing situation did not getting better. My Vet said we might need to change medicine. Is that normal?

For hand, my Vet said the bone is getting smaller on one side, it might because of the bacterial arthritis. Not sure if Baytril can help, but need to try first.

He has the medication for 8 days, he starts losing appetite. Hand and breathing situations did not improve, however he poop daily and eats bugs as usual.
But today, I suddenly find his legs also start swollen. Will bacterial arthritis pass to the other legs??? Please advise. Thanks!!!!!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry your dragon is having trouble. How much does he weigh now?
If you have any pictures of him along with your tank setup please post them. Do you happen to
have a copy of the blood test you could post as well?
What type & brand of UVB light are you using for him?
Septic arthritis can develop for unknown reasons, from a possible infection or gout that affects the
bones or joints. Or the swelling could be from the Baytril which is contributing to gout development
or gout like conditions because it is a bit hard on the kidneys.
Does he breathe through his mouth often? What are the temperatures in your tank?


Tracie

 

[ctwoo]

Here is the set up.
120x45x45
cold side : 29°C (very hot in Hong Kong)
basking temperature : 38-40°C
Uvb from Arcadia T5 12% (40cm above the basking point)
He was quite a weak baby so I did not use substrate for him.
He is 390g now.


He did have gout for quite a long period of time after he got his first RI when he was just 2 months old. He was fully recovered in June 2023. We did the blood test at that time too.

Attached with the blood test results he did on July 13 (compared with June 13)

Some update, I saw him can't walk properly. I bring him to the Vet.
Pus is found in the swollen hand and legs. They will do the test to see what bacteria is that.

The vet changed to fortum injection. Now have to wait for the test results....

 

[KarrieRee]

Here is the set up.
120x45x45
cold side : 29°C (very hot in Hong Kong)
basking temperature : 38-40°C
Uvb from Arcadia T5 12% (40cm above the basking point)
He was quite a weak baby so I did not use substrate for him.
He is 390g now.


He did have gout for quite a long period of time after he got his first RI when he was just 2 months old. He was fully recovered in June 2023. We did the blood test at that time too.

Attached with the blood test results he did on July 13 (compared with June 13)

Some update, I saw him can't walk properly. I bring him to the Vet.
Pus is found in the swollen hand and legs. They will do the test to see what bacteria is that.

The vet changed to fortum injection. Now have to wait for the test results....

Tracie will need to help here w/ the test results --- but your UVB where is it in the tank? Top of screen or inside the tank - we need to get this properly placed for the screen on the tank

 

[ctwoo]

Tracie will need to help here w/ the test results --- but your UVB where is it in the tank? Top of screen or inside the tank - we need to get this properly placed for the screen on the tank

Inside the tank, around 15-16" away from the basking spot
Is it too close?

 

[KarrieRee]

Inside the tank, around 15-16" away from the basking spot
Is it too close?

I would lower it to around 13-14 inches - 16 is too far away

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

His tank setup looks really good, overall. As Karrie suggested, you can safely move the UVB tube
bulb a bit closer.
His blood tests look normal. The uric acid is a little higher than I like to see it but not bad. Is there
any swelling on his hands & or feet still?
The Fortaz is a broad spectrum antibiotic so it should help to clear up any infection if any is present.
Hong Kong is hot, wow!
Keep us posted on him. Be sure to keep him well hydrated while on the medication, too.

Tracie

 

[ctwoo]

Hello,

His tank setup looks really good, overall. As Karrie suggested, you can safely move the UVB tube
bulb a bit closer.
His blood tests look normal. The uric acid is a little higher than I like to see it but not bad. Is there
any swelling on his hands & or feet still?
The Fortaz is a broad spectrum antibiotic so it should help to clear up any infection if any is present.
Hong Kong is hot, wow!
Keep us posted on him. Be sure to keep him well hydrated while on the medication, too.

Tracie

Thanks for your advise. Swelling on his hands and feet still...Not active, maybe the swollen legs hurt him.
Slightly better after the first injection on Thursday. Second injection tmr.
He won't drink water from his water bowl. I have give to give him water by syringe.
However he is 390g, I am not sure how much water I should feed him.
He usually stay at the basking spot for most of the day time.
But now, he only bask for around 2 hours then he will move to the cold side. Is it normal?

 

[ctwoo]

Not quite sure if he gets used to open mouth like this now.... But his lung movement is improving
poor hand... show little / no improvement

 

[KarrieRee]

Not quite sure if he gets used to open mouth like this now.... But his lung movement is improving
poor hand... show little / no improvement

You basking bulb should be a solid bright white bulb - the one I am seeing looks like a yellowish color -- did you get the UVB lowered? Did they test for gout?

 

[ctwoo]

You basking bulb should be a solid bright white bulb - the one I am seeing looks like a yellowish color -- did you get the UVB lowered? Did they test for gout?

They don't think it is gout as the blood results are okay.
Still waiting for the aspiration results to see what type of bacteria is present.

I am using the Arcadia Basking Solar Spotlight 50W, 75W sometime depending on the weather. Most of the basking bulbs I can find in Hong Kong are quite yellowish. I have tried the Zoo med Repti Basking Spot before too. Any suggestion for me, please？

Oh talking about Zoomed, my dragon becomes very picky after I used a new calcium powder on his diet - Sticky Tongue Farm Minr-all. He is not willing to eat the food if I dust it with the Zoomed Calcium Powder /_\

I have to do an injection for him by myself tmr. I hope I can make without hurting him to much

 

[KarrieRee]

They don't think it is gout as the blood results are okay.
Still waiting for the aspiration results to see what type of bacteria is present.

I am using the Arcadia Basking Solar Spotlight 50W, 75W sometime depending on the weather. Most of the basking bulbs I can find in Hong Kong are quite yellowish. I have tried the Zoo med Repti Basking Spot before too. Any suggestion for me, please？

Oh talking about Zoomed, my dragon becomes very picky after I used a new calcium powder on his diet - Sticky Tongue Farm Minr-all. He is not willing to eat the food if I dust it with the Zoomed Calcium Powder /_\

I have to do an injection for him by myself tmr. I hope I can make without hurting him to much

Can you get the Arcadia Halogens? The Repti basking bulbs are ok - can you order anything on line from amazon or ebay ? I am not sure about the farm minr-all your using that is something Tracie would need to answer

 

[ctwoo]

Yes, I got a Arcadia Halogens 50W and 75W. 50W is not hot enough and the 75W is too hot. I am thinking of getting a dimmer switch. However would not find a reliable in HK. I will try to find one in Amazon.

 

[ctwoo]

Hello everyone!
My dragon has improved a lot today. He is more willing to move. More active today.
I did the injection for him this morning. smooth
However, he is not willing to drink water.
I am thinking to mix REPASHY Grub Pie RReptile with more water and try to feed him.
Is it okay?

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello everyone!
My dragon has improved a lot today. He is more willing to move. More active today.
I did the injection for him this morning. smooth
However, he is not willing to drink water.
I am thinking to mix REPASHY Grub Pie RReptile with more water and try to feed him.
Is it okay?

Yes - are you spraying his head so it runs down his face?