Running out of options, need some serious advice

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh those are so cute! He has such a sweet face for sure. :love5:
At least he isn't in his cave as much & is out & basking more. I am glad he doesn't seem to be gaping as often either.
His weight looks good also & he is eating which is progress. I would say overall he has gotten better.

It is frustrating though I know, having such a rare problem like this.

Tracie

 

[diamc]

He looks great. Wonderful to see he is active again. His facial expressions are adorable. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

 

[Menolly]

Hey,
Thanks everyone!

What a sweet boy. I love the picture of him sleeping on the couch. Just angelic.

He loves curling up in the only blanket on the couch after I get home from work.

He looks great. Wonderful to see he is active again. His facial expressions are adorable. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Haha most of the time....he has a fantastic stink eye just for me.

It can be but I was doing some reading and came across an article on Adeno virus. I was reading the article and it said something about having a link to Septicaemia. Symptoms include loss of muscle control, convulsions, trouble breathing, and lethargic behavior. I'm doing more research, but that definitely seems to fit. I guess the trouble now is it seems to be a blood disease, but I did have a blood panel done in March of this year and it came back okay. Have you ever heard of this? I mean at this point I guess he's clean because the cytology report came back negative but some answers would be nice. Blood disease had me concerned though.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

Adeno can cause some strange issues, I agree.
His blood test did come back ok, I remember. A blood disease is a possibility, but should have been able to be detected on the test though.
I know it's hard not having concrete answers. This is indeed a rare case, I agree. The breathing issues caused by webbing is odd & I am unsure why it would have caused so much scarring myself.

How is he doing today?

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hey Tracie,
Yeah I sort of figutee. I guess I'm just looking for concrete answers to just try to be prepared. I just wish I knew why it was even that bad to begin with.
He was okay today, a little sleepy but no gaping. He spent a lot of time in his hide today, but that's been a first all week so I just kind of let I'm do his thing. I made sure he got a decent amount of basking time, but at this point if he's not gaping I'm just going to let it go unless it's a consistent thing. I'll be more concerned then for today we got to be lazy together.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

I know it's hard trying to prepare when you don't have all of the answers. You are doing a great job!
It sounds like overall he is doing pretty well though. I think that is a good idea to let him rest when he needs, so if he wants to be lazy from time to time that is alright!
Hopefully he will just stop gaping so much & his body will heal up. I think he is definitely improved though.
Keep us posted on him.

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to give an update on how he is doing. Lately he has been rather lethargic, however his beard has always been white, but he mostly just likes to sleep the morning away but will bask the 4 hours I'm at work at night. Should I be concerned? I know this is a rare case, but everything so far has checked out and the cytology report did come back negative for anything. I'm going to keep an eye on him and if this continues call the vet and see what he thinks. He is still eating on his own, his appetite is actually pretty good. I think that's why I'm concerned about how much he likes to sleep lately. He's never shown any desire to bromate other than going to bed an hour early during the winter. Good thing is he only gapes maybe once a day, if that sometimes. Sometimes its a little more, but other than that *knock on wood* he seems to be doing okay with that. Any recommendations or opinions would be welcome.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

It sounds like he is doing pretty good, just trying to brumate on you! That is totally normal for this time of year.
At least he isn't really gaping much now!
He only basks for half a day or so right now but is still eating?
Not having a black beard is a great sign he isn't feeling ill right now. As long as he isn't losing weight & black bearding I would for now, just let him rest a bit more.
It is wonderful the cytology report is clean so he doesn't have an infection going on anywhere or doesn't seem to anyway.
I am happy he is doing well & seems to be so spirited after all he has been through!

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hey Tracie,
Yeah he's being a piggy piggy lately. I'll start monitoring his weight more regularly. If anything he's gaining weight. He wasn't happy with me today when I woke him up when he got home. I took him out and he snuggled into my arm, we both ended up taking a nap. He black bearded me when I got up. :roll: I don't have a drama king on my hands at all. It's just hard, I'm trying not to read to much into things, but I'm just so afraid of noting seeing something again that I'm almost looking to see something go wrong. Sigh, I'll have to post a sleeping montage soon. I swear every other picture I take lately is one of him sleeping in some goofy way when I get home.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,


Oh, he definitely isn't a drama king! LOL He is such a cutie & so sweet.
He has gained some weight too? Well, that is some good news. Overall, it sounds like he is doing pretty well & is his feisty self though somewhat lazy.
He actually blackbearded you when you got up? Now that is spoiled I would say. LOL
I really hope he is improving & is going to continue to do so. He is a special boy!

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hey Tracie,
He most certainly did, and does it all the time. It's like as soon as I get home my entire life must be about him and only him of course. :roll: He definitely is something else all together...
Thanks again for all of your help. This website has definitely helped more than words can express.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

I am just glad that he is somewhat back to normal right now!
After all of this, he is absolutely & completely spoiled for sure. I am sure though he is very happy too. He seems to be anyway.
They are so worth it to spoil. You have done phenomenal with him, too. They do demand a lot of time just like a child.

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to give everyone an update. I talked to the vet, and like we talked about on here since he was eating to just watch him for right now. He seems to be doing good, other than not really walking around. Neither of us are currently enjoying the temperature fluctuations that we are having, it completely messes with his temperatures in his cage( my apartment windows have very poor insulation).
I did however redo his cage so that he has a basking platform now with a nice slate tile. He currently has a piece of wood to get down and a walkway of clothes just incase because there was a gap between the platform and glass. He's not fantastic on his legs anymore since whatever disease he had. He has a very hard time turning around, but can get around okay. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a straight drop, it doesn't look fantastic but it gets the job done for right now until I can build him a little ramp for the other side.
He has been basking occasionally on the top of his hide from time to time!! Other days he will sleep half the day away, but I think when the temperatures even out to just cold, I will see him bask a little more on top. Not gunna lie, we both feel like this with the changing temperatures and would rather just stay in bed for half the morning. I don't know who is worse on those days. :lol:

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

Well, that is understandable, the weather fluctuations really do affect them. It affects people also though! LOL He is being lazy & wanting to sleep more.
He isn't able to walk as well as he could previously? I wonder if it caused some nerve damage possibly?
At least he is basking some on top of his cave at times.
The tank renovations sound fine! Whatever is functional is all that matters because that will help him get around better. I am glad that he has at least stabilized right now.
Thanks for the updates on your boy. :love5:

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hey Tracie,
He's been walking funny since May. The doctor thought that it could be due to calcium deficiency but that doesn't make sense since he has always gotten calcium and his blood tests came back fine for levels of calcium. I'm just hoping that when the weather get warmer and he starts to move around more maybe exercise will help with the nerve damage. I mean I couldn't imagine what else it could possibly be.
He has been doing well lately. With the humidity in my apartment being around 20% at all times, he seems to be enjoying it. He hasn't been gaping at all lately *knock on wood*. The only time he does open his mouth was when he was slightly overheated after basking for a few hours. He has actually started opening his mouth to get out of his cage from time to time if the blowing up of the beard doesn't work (it's always white when he does that). :roll: I swear he has figured out every trick in the book to worm his way into me picking him up.
He's also been eating really well and eating his green almost everyday as well without much coaxing if any at all. He typically sleeps a few hours in his hide in the morning and is out for the rest of the afternoon. We seem to have gotten on a good schedule. Now we're just waiting on the warmer weather to go outside, good thing it just started to snow around here!!