Sheldon struggling to breathe?

[beardielove10]

I took Sheldon to the vet yesterday because he has been puffing his beard in and out and making a hissing and clicking noise constantly. I know what's normal for him after 5 years of owning him, and this is not normal. The vet said he was definitely struggling and gasping. So they kept him in oxygen all afternoon and he seemed to be doing better when I brought him home yesterday evening. His right eye has been watering a lot, and his body is all filled with air like a balloon. He is still alert but it's hard for me to hear him puffing air constantly and looking like he is struggling. I've been keeping him on a heating pad set on low at night with his head propped up. He likes his head propped high up to breathe better. The vet said the roof of his mouth is pretty yellow so she assumed liver problems. She ran xrays and didn't see anything concerning. No fluid or mucus in the lungs, and no enlarged heart or liver. She did blood work also but that won't be in for a few days.

Here is what the vet prescribed Sheldon for now hoping to see improvement:
Sheldon is 480 grams in weight.
Enrofloxacin 11.35mg once every 24 hours for 10 days
Metacam 1.5mg once every 48 hours for 4 days
Panacur 100mg every 24 hours for 5 days

Is there anything I can be doing to help him? He is my baby and I just find it odd the vet couldn't see anything on the xrays. I was convinced it was respiratory related by the way his breathing has been. His beard just gets soo puffed out and he violently blows and sucks air to the point where you can hear it across the room. He breathes heavy and opens his mouth to get air. He is uncomfortable.

Any suggestions or advice? I want to help him recover asap and I'm scared for him and his life. Thanks.

Ps- the other day I found that his heat lamp had melted some of the plastic rim on his tank and released a strong smell. When I found this I took him out of the room right away, but do you think the fumes from that caused this? His saliva is very thick and bubbly also.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh my, poor Sheldon. It sounds like a respiratory infection, or possibly pneumonia if his breathing is that labored.
I wouldn't think the plastic melting would have caused anything. Did you notice any types of fumes possibly? Did this happen around the same time of the melted fixture? It is a definite possibility though, especially if this came on around the same time as his breathing issues.
The medications should help out for him I hope. You could also consider getting some activated charcoal to give to him, in case of a toxic reaction to the plastic.
I am surprised nothing was seen on the x-rays though. When the blood test results come in, I would love to see them also if you can get a copy.
I hope he is feeling better soon.

Tracie

 

[beardielove10]

THANK YOU for responding! I've been a worried mess over here. I'm so afraid I'm going to lose him. What are the odds he will make it through this??

All of this did happen right after the plastic fumes. It was strange. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it, but I'm wondering if he got like a chemical burn inside his nostrils or lungs from it? The xrays probably wouldn't show that. The vet said the xrays didn't show inflammation right now, but he could still have an RI and it just isn't showing up yet. Is that possible?

I will definitely get a copy of the blood work for you. The oxygen seemed to really help him at the vet. Is there a way I can get oxygen for him?

Also, how long before I should see some improvement on the meds? Today will be day 3 on meds. So far, no improvement.

How do I get activated charcoal and how do I administer that? I've never heard of doing that before.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....poor Sheldon. I truly hope he recovers.! I think it's too much of a coincidence that his terrible R.I. issues started right after the plastic melted. Some burning plastic can cause acute respiratory problems so it is possible. I don't know what the solution would be but you might ask the vet if he can put Sheldon on oxygen a few more times. I don't know what else could help, but I wish you the best !

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is Sheldon doing today, any improvements?
His chances are pretty good if you can get his lungs cleared out.
The activated charcoal can usually be found at most drug stores. They only get just a small amount, orally, a few mgs/kg.
You could see if the vet could give oxygen again or inquire about nebulizing him with saline solution daily to see if that helps out also. It is always possible a respiratory infection or inflammation is not showing up yet but exhibiting symptoms such as what he has now.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[beardielove10]

Sheldon declined this morning and was struggling even more to breathe, his beard turning black, and sitting up straight to open up the airways. I brought him into the vet as an emergency again, and they put him back into oxygen. They had a second vet look at the xrays and she thinks that his heart looks enlarged. She says it sounds muffled and faster than normal when she did a physical as well. She said I may have to drive 6 hours to the closest specialist to do a CT and more telling tests on his heart to know what the diagnosis would be. They are sending the xrays out to get yet a third opinion first
(to a Dr. Hernandez that apparently is well known in Georgia), to see if he thinks the heart looks enlarged.

The vet didn't make me feel that great, she said I could lose him because a heart problem could definitely lead to arrest. I'm a mess right now crying and having a panic attack. I can't lose him, he is my best friend and my world.

 

[AHBD]

Oh no, hang in there ! Do whatever you can , hope for the best and try to stay calm. He's in the best hands + they will look at all avenues of possible treatment. My thoughts are with you !

 

[beardielove10]

So, update:

The third vet decided that the heart "looked of normal shape and size" so that is good. I told the vet about how I thought maybe there was a chemical burn inside of his lungs and nose and she started treating him for that by giving him nebulizer treatments, fluids, and injectable antibiotics. He has responded well to those and isn't struggling quite as bad she says. He is still sitting in oxygen as well and will need to stay there overnight. She said he has improved since the nebulizer treatment so she will give him a few more treatments before he heads home tomorrow. She will also have me continue the nebulizer and oral antibiotics. We are truly hoping this will cure him. Otherwise, I will have to drive 6 hours to get a CT scan done on him.

I will still ask for a copy of the blood work, she did mention she noticed some things that were abnormal and suggested he had something to do with the blood vessels and fatty deposits likely due to over nutrition. He needs to lose some weight. She said the fat could cause a heart attack from the buildup. She really is scaring me over here! It's like the second I start to feel better, she mentions potential complications. I get she is covering her bases, but still!! :evil:

Please keep Sheldon in your thoughts and prayers and that he will recover from this and be a healthy, happy lizard again with a long life ahead of him! He's my everything <3

 

[beardielove10]

Page 1 of his bloodwork:



Page 2 Bloodwork:

 

[CooperDragon]

Poor guy. I hope he bounces back quickly. The white blood cell count is low which is good. That may mean that if he is fighting an infection, it isn't a major one.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am glad that the vet has nebulized him, because that is usually very helpful for lung issues. I hope that he starts to feel better.
His blood values don't look at all bad & at least it doesn't appear he has an infection. His uric acid levels are a little high which could just be dehydration perhaps. The AST (liver enzyme) looks normal also.
When do the rest of the test results come back?
Let us know how Sheldon is doing.

Tracie