Stewie Is Doing Worse

[Elaina]

Here's what we are dealing with if you didn't know-

UPDATE:

Well on Friday we went to the vet. It seems that we can't get a clear diagnosis from a skin scrape. The doc does think it looks like yellow fungus, or could also be crusty skin from a bacterial infection. His fecal was clear (YAH!!!) and he did not have mites. He thinks that the redness on his head may be from when I put the aloe on his head. It loosened up his skin and its the skin underneath that was loosened and stressed that has bled a bit. So we are doing a chlorohexadrine soak 2 x a day and treating him with baytril. I hope the baytril doesn't make the fungus worse...but its a tricky situation. So we are are also doing critical care feedings as he lost about 6 grams since June, I also added soy yogurt to it.
Poor Stewie is miserable. The vet can only assume he is not eating because he is stressed from being sick and possibly uncomfortable. Yesterday I only got one bath in because we got a late start (I had to go shopping which included some things I needed for him) and he was so exhausted the rest of the day I felt awful about putting him through it again. But I know I have to do it anyway, so I will, but he just snoozed the rest of the day. His eyes have sunken in and darkened, he looks terrible. But he still didn't mind some cuddle time

I have noticed over the past couple of days that the baths are really wearing him out, but I have to do it. I also couldn't get him to wake up last night for the second soak, I thought dipping him in water while he was asleep would dewfnitely stress him out, so he missed that one. He snoozed a lot over the weekend, but I was thinking he is worn out from all the stress of soaking for so long (he hates baths) and the meds and syringe feeds, etc.

Today he is dark, will not bask, doesn't move around at all, and will not open his eyes. He opens them slightly when I get his attention, but only for a couple of seconds. What could be going on here? I feel like I am losing him. Maybe I'm dramatic but he's my sweetheart, I want to get him better!

 

[K9KidsLove]

Sorry your Stewie isn't doing better. Don't give up on him tho.

Get some babyfood chicken and some squash or green beans and syringe some to him. I mix ReptiAid (from PetSmart)into the babyfood.

Does he still have the runny poops? The acidophylis or benebac will help this. Did you find some? Check the bird section of PetSmart. Keep up the baths. He is dehydrating when he is having runny poops. Also antibiotics drain them.

Make sure to keep the temps closer to 110 while he recovers.

Keep us posted.
Good luck

 

[leann]

Hi Elaina,
I don't have any suggestions. I just wanted you to know that I will keep you & Stewie in my thoughts & prayers. (& a speedy recovery!!!)

Leann

 

[Elaina]

He is limp - even when I pick him up. He won't open his eyes, even here on my chest. I'm crying...sorry....should i call the vet? I don't think the ER vets here see reptiles..not sure. What should I do Right Now?

 

[leann]

aww....I am so sorry.........keep him warm and comfortable. Maybe when you put him to bed tonight, try putting him on a rice sock wrapped in a blankie...dish towel will work, loose enough for him to get out of if he wants to cool off.

Good luck & I'll be thinking of you both. I know exactly how you feel & what your going through. I really hope he pulls thru for you!

Keep us posted
Leann

 

[Elaina]

i called the ER vet, and they think he should come in. Its 98 bucks to walk in the door. I don't have it. Thanks Leann, I know you can sympathize. I thought of the rice sock too, and I will do that. I am not bathing him tonight like he is. Even if he has Yellow Fungus disease its minor. But I don't know what the h*** is going on.

K9Kids- I am doing just about everything you are suggesting. I was doing the babyfood before the critical care, and I can bump up his temps, but if he keeps moving away from the basking area..how will I keep him warm? Oh yeah.. I guess his poops are better- but they are always in the bath, hard to tell. At least he Is pooping now.

 

[diamc]

Oh gee, I hope Stewie is better tomorrow. Make sure to give him Benebac or Acidophilis as suggested. It's so hard & so draining when even the vet doesn't know exactly what's wrong. We're thinking about both of you and hope he feels better real soon.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Please remind me again, what started this whole scenario?? Has it been confirmed that he did have yellow fungus through the skin tests? Did he culture the skin in a petri dish for 7-10 days? If not, then it has not really been confirmed. I am afraid that if he does have yellow fungus then continuing antibiotics will make it worse.
Was bloodwork done to determine a bacterial infection?
If he has yellow fungus did you treat with witch hazel or tea tree oil along with lamisil or monostat? Those are the most effective treatments that you can do for yellow fungus.

Let us know how Stewie is doing.

Tracie

 

[Elaina]

The boards crashed and so did I. I had been up since 430 am and then had a normal day, took my kids to the pool came home and found Stewie like he was and swiftly started freaking out. I guess lack of sleep didn't help

By the end of the night after much jostling around between me and my son and the viv and being moved from hiding to basking..Stewie was up and alert for a bit. We finally got him to stay under his hammock and bask, so I felt like he would be ok overnight.

What started this was the appearance of Yellow Fungus and not eating. We could not get a conclusive skin scrape. So instead of jumping on a biopsy the vet wanted to treat externally for fungus and internally for a possible bacterial infection.

After thinking about it, Ever since we have been doing the Nolvasan soaks, he has been more lethargic. But of course we started the Baytril at the same time. I was thinking that would make it worse if he does have fungus also..but I can only work with the vet. I did do witch hazel at first and Lamisil. The vet wasn't sure Lamisil would not penetrate his scales etc.

So I'm calling the vet now, I'm sure they will want to see him. I'll let you know what they say.

 

[LJean]

I sure hope he will be alright.

 

[leann]

Hi,

Any word from the vet yet??

 

[diamc]

Please fill us in, we're hoping for the best.

 

[K9KidsLove]

How is Stewie doing this evening?
Baytril often will make lizards not want to eat. As stated the Benebac or Acidophylous(sp?) usually helps.
Good luck
Will keep you both in my prayers
Patsy

 

[Drache613]

Hello,
How did the vet's visit go?
Oh yeah, the baytril would cause a loss of appetite. As suggested use a probiotic that will help to restore the gut flora in his GI tract.
How much novalsan were you using when you were soaking him? I hope Stewie is feeling better soon.

Tracie

 

[Elaina]

Hi Guys! Sorry I didn't get on the boards yesterday- I was busy and then exhausted. Stewie is fine. We went to the vet, and immediately he showed signs signs of life and disgust at being messed with by the vet. The vet laughed and said see- just needed a car ride! It seems that whatever is making him feel so crappy is really just showing itself, along with the meds. Basically, he feels awful. I said, but he was limp, grey, wouldn't open his eyes..etc etc.. She totally understood ( as he is black bearding us and trying to get away) Boy do I feel stupid But I'm tellin ya I thought he was almost dead!!!!!
He actually gained 2 grams since Thursday. We did blood work, she said everything looked good, his counts and chemistry. They offered to do a skin biopsy, or keep him overnight and do IV fluids and watch him. The vet didn't think it was really necessary to do either- but would have. So I opted to bring him home.
I will order the benebac. I was/am using 1 tsp Nolvasan to every 6 oz of water. I got his heat up to 108, which is pretty warm for him. I guess the rest is a wait and see thing. Sorry for flippin out the other night guys! :roll: