Zilla RIP 3/2/14 : Started a new thread for Sid!

Hi all. Never in a million years did I think I'd get so excited about a lizard pooping in his bath before. Lol

I want to potty train him, so I'm super excited. He's only ever pooped i the tub once. I was hoping today was the day since its Saturday, since he hasn't pooped in about a week and since he ate about 14 supers for breakfast. Yay!!!!!

What a nice birthday present. For him. Lol. He's a year old roughly right around now.

 

[beardie parents]

I don't know what to say about that. I understand why you are worried about him. It does seem something is wrong. I do remember when Goldie died, before she died she didn't have a black beard. I think she had kidney problems, but no vet opinion to say one way or another.

I hope he gets better soon. I so hate to hear about sick beardies.

 

[zandi202]

Poor Zilla. Take care you guys.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Guess it's time to go back to the vet & get some opinion from him. We've been giving you things to help him, but unless you really know what's wrong, it's difficult to say. Another blood panel maybe? An xray? I got an xray of Rubio when he was sick to make sure everything inside was ok. We're still trying to figure out what's wrong with him, too, but he's not lethargic or has his eyes closed like Zilla. I think another vet opinion might help. Do you remember what those shots were for? If he doesn't have an infection, then having shots for nothing isn't good either. The vet did say he thought he was anemic, right? Well what got him to that conclusion?

After a week of everything we're telling you to give him, he should be showing some sign of activity by now. So that's what I'd suggest, if not the vet you went to, another one for a different opinion and take the blood results in with you?

Yes, a lot of beardies will have a black beard when they're sick, but really , mainly if they're close to death. His eyes don't seem to be sunken, but I can understand that you don't want to leave him to his own devices because of the lethargy & losing weight. Neither of these are brumation.

I'm just so puzzled, wish I knew what to tell you to do!

 

[BrendaKay]

Yeah, I'll see how he is in the morning and maybe take him over to Banfield along with the test results. I asked the vet that did the blood work to also do an xray, but he saw no need. I'll see if Banfield can do one. He pooped this morning shortly after his bath, so I went home to clean that up. He didn't want to bask again so I let him do what he wanted.

When he opens his eyes, he looks perfectly fine. Just like a 'oh, hello' look. Not a glare, not disgusted, not sunken eyes - just a 'look'. Like normal.

Very frustrating! Little turd - he better start getting better.......

 

[sweetiepie9]

I'm really glad he's got no sunken eyes or black beard, that's not a good sign. So maybe he is in partial brumation, which would explain the lethargy, but his blood results are sort of strange, too, so a 2nd opinion wouldn't do any harm.

 

[BrendaKay]

I was giving him a drink of pedialyte from a syringe today while Richard held him, and we both saw a weird growth on his tongue! It's a big lump on the side, and yellow. I waited a little while and looked again and it's definitely something there.

It's got to be fairly recent since two different doctors, and myself, have checked his mouth in the last three weeks. I wonder if since I've been force feeding him, he bit it? And now possibly infected. I wonder if that's the metallic smell I've been smelling.....

I have him snuggled on me now, and four times now I've heard him exhale. I've never heard that before. Not a rattle, no clicking, just a sound of an exhale. Like when someone is sleeping and not snoring, but breathing. Like that. He just did it again. I looked at him, and when he makes that noise I see his whole belly move, like a sigh. Normal breathes he just uses his upper rib cage area. Maybe this is completely normal and when I usually have him on me the tv is on so I don't hear it.

Of COURSE both vets are not in today so need to wait until Monday to call back. We stopped those antibiotic shots after two days and don't want to just start them up again with out talking to them first.

I weighed Zilla and he only lost 2 grams in a week and three days. I think that's pretty good since he's been steadily drastically dropping. I'm going to continue the feelings of veggie slurries with supplements.

Going to copy this in ER too.

 

[sweetiepie9]

I saw it in ER, hopefully it's not more than an abcess, which is easy to treat. Wow, glad you found that!!!

 

[BrendaKay]

I hope it's easy! Hope it's not shots though, since those are hard on them as well.

I'm not sure which vet I want to take him to. I'm thinking to Banfield. I really liked her.

More later. Going to feed him.

 

[BrendaKay]

Fed him about 2.5 cc's of slurry and washed it down with about 2cc of grape pedialyte. Not to much of a fight.

I forgot to say he bit me this morning when feeding. Total accident. When he shook his head to get away from the syringe, his mouth landed on that soft part between my thumb and forefinger. Ouch. But no blood, no mark and didn't hurt long. I'm sure he felt bad about it because it really was just a freak accident.

Sweet boy, I hope he feels better soon.

 

[sweetiepie9]

So do I, let me know what the vet says.

 

[BrendaKay]

Thanks Deb.

 

[BrendaKay]

Got a video of his tongue!! He's been sleeping all day so when I gave him a drink, I asked Richard to video. He did the slo mo on his phone. Excuse the syringe in the way, and my hand, but I'm right handed and unfortunately that was the same side as the sore.

I'll try to get a better one next time, but hopefully this will give you guys an idea.
http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/howdovely/Zilla/628763C9-A223-4FA7-A79F-E62AC2F91666_zps6x59ixd7.mp4

<a href="http://s1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/howdovely/Zilla/?action=view&current=628763C9-A223-4FA7-A79F-E62AC2F91666_zps6x59ixd7.mp4" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m503/howdovely/Zilla/628763C9-A223-4FA7-A79F-E62AC2F91666_zps6x59ixd7.mp4" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

 

[sweetiepie9]

Saw the video on your other thread, sure is a lump of some sort. Hope you can get into the vet soon, what a spot to have a lump, poor guy!

 

[BrendaKay]

Good grief! I can't (well, he can't) catch a break! I called the vet who last saw him, but he's off today. So I called Banfield and asked if I could just email that video before bringing him in. Thought maybe she could tell me if the antibiotic shots we already have would work, but perhaps a different dose. They said she was very backed up with 3 surgeries waiting, and 6 drop offs - so probably wouldn't see her email until much much later.

So, I fed him, washed it down with pedialyte - and will wait for a return email. Will call other doctor in the morning as well since he's probably more apt to let me know what to do over the phone vs. dragging him into the office in the snow.

I'm glad everyone says his color looks good, and that his eyes do not look sunken. Makes me feel a little better. Will just try to maintain his weight and be patient to hear from a vet.

 

[sweetiepie9]

It's amazing how busy vets are in the winter, so sorry you're having to wait. But I have a feeling that no matter which vet you send that video to, they're going to want to see him in person to determine what exactly it is. Hard to tell, beyond that it's a lump, what it is on the video. I'd feel safer going in anyway, they're going to want to get closer to it. Good luck, keep me posted.