URGENT. PLEASE help... I think Slim's really sick.

[Dreamwritten]

Hey guys,

You may have seen my posts around the boards lately (the most recent and important one being viewtopic.php?f=61&t=186943). Slim was on Albon for 5 weeks for Coccidia and it didn't work. He still has a 4 count. I'm waiting on some Toltrazuril in the mail, but today brought another issue:

Ever since I got him, I noticed the tip of his tail was a tiny bit dark. Nothing alarming, but odd. He also had some retained shed on his fingers which I successfully removed, so I tried the same tactics on his tail for a while in case it was a retained shed, but nothing changed. I brought him to the vet and the vet said he seemed fine, and that it might just be his coloring.

Today, I woke up to Slim not eating for the second day in a row. Yesterday he had very liquidy poo and refused any food, and today he took a diarrhea-like poo that smelled AWFUL. I also noticed that his tail was unusually dark. Now I'm worried he may have tail rot. I'm losing my mind!

Here are some pics of the tail... Please keep in mind that the following pictures are a bit darker than in person. I tried to get a bunch to get the most accurate pic, but they all seem to be a slightly bit darker than how his tail looks up front.

If his tail looks a bit "slimy" it's cause I have Bacitracin on it right now.

I'm starting to think he's just not a healthy animal. He's had problems from day one and I've only had him 3 months. All I want is for my poor little baby to have a normal life but I'm constantly running to the vet, the boards, etc. for help... I don't know what to do. I will take him to the vet again if need be but I really don't know if he'll know what to do. He seemed pretty knowledgeable in these animals but I don't think he's an expert.

ALSO: People were saying on other posts that their beardies have darker tails when they're cold. I'm wondering if that's the case. It looks like it lightens up when he's basking, but I thought that was just a trick of the light.

 

[daner923]

That is NOT tail rot. The very tip looks like he may have been nipped or pinched when he was younger, which would explain the darker color. However, the rest of the tail is dark because he is either cold, stressed, not feeling well, or just felt like it. I know that's not too helpful, but just like stress marks and black bearding, they can turn their tails dark as well. So that's good news. My beardie Max turns his tail dark every time he's out running around, along with a light black beard. I think he's claiming his territory. Tail rot is a bit different - it is an infection with necrosis, so you would see dead tissue, and some inflammation I believe. I'm sorry he's having such a tough time kicking the coccidia, but he looks pretty healthy otherwise! Maybe just a bit skinny, but that is understandable given the meds he has been on.

 

[Lindz0518]

I know when Spyro gets cold after a bath or agravated at the meds I have been giving him, his tail gets dark like that. I know that doesn't help much.

 

[Dreamwritten]

That is NOT tail rot. The very tip looks like he may have been nipped or pinched when he was younger, which would explain the darker color. However, the rest of the tail is dark because he is either cold, stressed, not feeling well, or just felt like it. I know that's not too helpful, but just like stress marks and black bearding, they can turn their tails dark as well. So that's good news. My beardie Max turns his tail dark every time he's out running around, along with a light black beard. I think he's claiming his territory. Tail rot is a bit different - it is an infection with necrosis, so you would see dead tissue, and some inflammation I believe. I'm sorry he's having such a tough time kicking the coccidia, but he looks pretty healthy otherwise! Maybe just a bit skinny, but that is understandable given the meds he has been on.

Thank you SO much. You've made me feel so much better. I'm going to do everything I can to get him to eat (even if it's via a syringe) and care for him as best I can.

 

[daner923]

Please keep us posted on him! And keep an eye on the tail - even though it looks perfectly healthy to me, if you see any inflammation or sign of infection, it needs to be treated very quickly.

 

[Dreamwritten]

I will, thank you. I thought it didn't look infected at all. I'm guessing it's the equivalent of a black beard as was suggested above.

I'm thinking of making him a slurrry of bugs, baby food and calcium. What do you guys think? Is force feeding okay while their tummies are so messed up from the coccidia?

 

[daner923]

A slurry is a fine idea. Have you offered any probiotic along with the drugs? The drugs can wreak havoc on their digestive tracts. They need their good bacteria replenished. You can use soy yogurt. That might help build his appetite back up.

 

[AHBD]

I agree, no tail rot. He's a beauty, and just for the future it's never good, even when prescribed by a vet, to have an animal on 5 weeks of such a strong drug. Always give a break from the meds. after 2 weeks, it really wipes out their system, no wonder poor guy has loose poos. The Ponazuril will be much better, hopefully he'll be eating soon.

 

[Dreamwritten]

A slurry is a fine idea. Have you offered any probiotic along with the drugs? The drugs can wreak havoc on their digestive tracts. They need their good bacteria replenished. You can use soy yogurt. That might help build his appetite back up.

I've been using Acidophiliz+. Sometimes I fill the syringe with water and the acidophiliz to get him some water too (and to water down the taste, he hates it). I've really been trying. I gave him some baby food this morning via syringe but then he had diarrhea, so I don't want to give him TOO much hydration. Or should I?

 

[Dreamwritten]

I agree, no tail rot. He's a beauty, and just for the future it's never good, even when prescribed by a vet, to have an animal on 5 weeks of such a strong drug. Always give a break from the meds. after 2 weeks, it really wipes out their system, no wonder poor guy has loose poos. The Ponazuril will be much better, hopefully he'll be eating soon.

Well, to be fair, it was a bit of an odd dosage... he only got 1.5 ml once per week for those 5 weeks, not several days per week like other doses I've seen.

 

[sweetpea1981]

my baby's tail is kinda the same it is darker near the end, because it was nipped at the store when he was a baby.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is just a darkened tail tip from stress but not tail rot. His beard isn't dark, right?
Did the meds get there today? Has he wanted to eat anything either?
Continue with the acidophiliz, as that should help him out with hydration also.
Are you bathing him, too?

Tracie

 

[Dreamwritten]

i'm bathing him daily and giving him acidophiliz. the meds are due in the mail today but the USPS sucks so im not holding my breath. i just made him a "juice" of vitamins, calcium, squash baby food, acidophiliz, water & phoenix worm guts lol... it was gross. i only got him to take maybe a dropper full, if that. hes being very stubborn and running away from me.

he hasnt eaten on his own but im going to leave out some food just in case.

 

[Dreamwritten]

&nd no, his beard isnt black. In fact his tail is lighter today despite him refusing any proper food for the third day in a row.

does anyone have any force feeding tips? sometimes he wont lick it off his nose, and if i try to sort of pull his side lip down he freaks and runs away.

 

[Lindz0518]

I have to wrap Spyro in a towel and then pull the side of his lip down and squirt the baby food, meds, acidophilus, etc in. He refuses to lick it off of his lips at all. He just lets it run down.