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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
 Posted - 31/03/2011 : 10:50:23
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Tig went for his weekly check-up yesterday and the vet said he's put on more weight. Great! He fed on a large rat weiner on Monday. Again, great! But, the vet said he's no better and if he hasn't improoved by next Wednesday then poor Tig is going to have to go through further tests to try and work out what's causeing his R.I. He's going to have to have a mouth swab and have his lung flushed : (
I don't know weather to be happy that he's eating every week, he's put on weight, he's coming up for another shed (he's going a bit dull and his eyes aren't as bright) and he's no worse, or to be dissapointed that he's no better and I have no idea why or how he got bad again in the first place. He was improoving, and now he's stopped.
The vet said he's to stop taking his Baytril 'cause it can effect the other test results, but I can still steam him.
What do I do now? I feel that I'm doing something wrong, something to make him this way. Could he have internal parrasites???
My mam recons I should 'dry him up' instead of steaming him, 'cause she says that's what people used to do and it always worked. But that means it's still sitting there, in his lung. That can't be a good thing, right?
What could I be doing wrong? I know it takes forever for them to get better all together, but he was improoving before this week. His breathing is still rattly, I can feel it when I hold him. He still wheezes and is still making that 'coughing' noise sometimes. I'm just so dissapointed and upset that I'm not making any difference for him.
Of course, if I hadn't been given a faun to keep him in this might not have happened in the first place > : (
Any help or ideas on what to do would be great. |
Just me and my zoo. |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 31/03/2011 : 12:53:34
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Oh, I'm sorry to hear he's not improving. But if he's eating well and gaining weight that is really good and it'll help him to fight off the infection. If I were you I'd keep on taking the advice of the vet, they seem to be doing their best to help him - it's a pity he has to face the lung flushing/swab but if that gives the vet more info and helps them to get to the bottom of this persistent RI, then so much the better.
Good luck Tig! |
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Tawfik47
Fully Grown Royal
Czech Republic
1584 Posts |
Posted - 31/03/2011 : 14:00:32
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| Hope he be much better soon. Good luck :) |
1.0.0 Common Boa - Revo CB13
I had a royal python (Blitz) for two years for those who are wondering what I'm doing here with my boa :D |
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reptilemadd
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 31/03/2011 : 17:51:14
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| Good luck Blue, you know what they say "things always look darkest just before dawn" well it's 6am so things are going to get brighter. Best wishes to you and Tig |
1.0.0 beardie "magic"
1.1.0 100% Het Clown "Cerberus" and "Artemis"
0.1.0 Poss Calico "Ariadne"
1.0.0 Lesser " Kronos"
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Edited by - reptilemadd on 31/03/2011 17:51:33 |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 31/03/2011 : 19:45:36
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| Sounds like although the RI isn't improving, everything else is so you can't think for a second your doing something wrong. The whole you need to lay foundations before building a house comes to mind. Eating, gaining weight, theres the foundations not long until you get that RI kicked into touch. |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2011 : 09:53:48
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Thank you peoples. Yes, I suppose there are lots of good points as well as the big bad one. I just feel useless 'cause I haven't been able to make him better.
Can I ask, are there any risks involved in lung flushing? It's scaring the hell out of me 'cause I'm pretty sure water in the lungs is what's known as drowning : /
Poor Tig, I don't fancy it myself : ( What could cause his R.I. to be so agressive/keep coing back like this?
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Just me and my zoo. |
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deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2011 : 10:43:25
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Hi, I'm not well up on the medical stuff but it would seem that lung flushing can give relief to a patient with RI - which sounds to be good for Tig, though traumatic for you both. I honestly don't think you need to worry about him drowning as the process will be carefully monitored, but you sound really worried and it might be a good idea to ring your vet and discuss the questions you have - I find vets are very helpful with this sort of thing. This is an awful time for you; facts might hep you to feel better.
After years of owning many animals, I will say that there is one very hopeful sign - and that is Tig's appetite and weight gain. An animal that eats well and is putting on weight is not an animal that is on the way out.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you both and all the very best.
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2011 : 11:53:16
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Thanks BATS : )
It is freaking me out a bit, I might ask my mam to ring for me if I write down what I want to know. Although I can ask stuff in the notes I've been giving the vet to show how Tig is doing next Wednesday (can't actually talk to him, so I write stuff down instead. It works)and then he can tell me in person. He is a very nice vet though, he's always caring of Tig and handles him in a way as not to scare him so I'm sure it'll all be fine. They all love Tig there, he has his own little fan club! So I know they would never hurt him un-nessaseraly.
I have read that lung flushing can actually get rid of most of the infection and help cure it ('cause it runs out of their mouth). I suppose since snakes can't actually caugh anything up like that it might help him feel/breath better : / |
Just me and my zoo. |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 09:54:46
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He's gone into blue now and last night he took a litle rat weiner! (I keep smaller ones for him for when he's shedding) Sometimes he does still feed when in blue, so last night was good news, 'cause now he's been off his Baytril his breathing is getting worse : (
It's touching in a way 'cause it means he trusts me enough to feed while he's blind. Made me feel good : 3 |
Just me and my zoo. |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 10:08:33
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So Tig went to his vet yesterday. His little fan club came to see him, as always : ) He had his throat swabbed, but no lung flush. The vet thought it was best to wait and see what the swab would tell him before putting Tig through more stress, especialy since he's in blue. And actually also admitted that he wouldn't be confident enough to do it himself anyway and if it was needed he'd ask the specialists that he works with to do it for him. They're in Morpeth though, so that's quite a long drive from Consett 0_0. So I'm hoping that the swab tells all and he doesn't need more tests.
Tig was very good, depite still being in blue. He was quite relaxed and let the vet do what was needed. So He was able to get the swab quite far down his throat, which I'm sure is good.
So now I'm just waiting to see if the tests show what's going on and why this bloody RI. won't leave him alone. I should know next week when Tig has his next check-up.
The vet did explain to me what was involved in a lung flush. He said that there is always water left in the lung(s) but it's only ever a tiny bit and never causes problems. They 'suck' the water back out again, so Tig wouldn't need to try and cough it up himself, which I know he wouldn't be able to do, being a snake. So it has helped me to understand, but admittidly I'm still nervous about it if Tig does need to have it done : / |
Just me and my zoo. |
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Kelfezond
The bearded one
United Kingdom
4803 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 10:13:45
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| Hoping he doesn't need the flush, goodluck tig |
\v/ Click me for Kelfezond Reptiles Facebook Page! \v/
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 10:14:52
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| Thank you : ) |
Just me and my zoo. |
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stevethornley
Hatchling
United Kingdom
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 10:43:56
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All the best Tig and BlueDragon!
Steve |
0.1.0 Royal Python - Kate
0.1.0 Beagle - Poppy
0.0.11 tiny tropical fish - not named |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 11:31:57
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| Thank you Steve : ) |
Just me and my zoo. |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 11:43:00
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Bless him, he sounds such a good lad, letting the vet take that swab. Hope the results are good and no lung flush is needed. At least the weather's warmer now if you do have to take him to Morpeth, and he probably won't be bothered by the journey - he'll just sleep.
All the very very best and good luck! |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 11:48:17
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Yeah, he does actually fall asleep, he likes riding in the car : ) Seems to chill him out. Maybe that's why he's always such a good lad with his vet.
Thank you for the good luck wishes.
I'll keep everyone up to date of course : ) |
Just me and my zoo. |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 14/04/2011 : 11:02:00
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I'm still dissapointed : (
Tig's results came back and they haven't been able to find anything. Not a thing. They'd cultured the swab sample for a week and had tested for everything. Some things I'd never heard of. His vet says he'll culture it for another four weeks, but says it rerely makes a difference. He's refered Tig to a reptile specialist vets in Morpeth, an hour or so away, for them to have a go instead. Basicaly he's given up and doesn't know what else to do.
Tig will most likely have to have a lung flush and god knows what else. It's so frustrating not knowing what to do for him.
He'll probably be going Next Wednesday, giving time for the Baytril in his system to disapear before more tests. I haven't heard anything about it yet though, so still waiting.
Tig can still have his steam baths, but no more Baytril for now... again. He was really bad last time he was off it, so I'm a bit worried. But he seems OK for now, and the only good news is that his vet said he'd put on 30 gramms since last week! Chuffed about that : ) |
Just me and my zoo. |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 14/04/2011 : 11:37:04
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Well, good news and bad news ... that's excellent about his weight, and good in a way that if the swabs are revealing nothing, there are no obvious nasties, but just this lingering RI, which is bad enough.
It's also good that the vet is honest enough to refer you on. In the 1970s I knew of a couple of vets who would treat animals unnecessarily - in fact one of them I experienced first hand. But most vets are great and won't take your money unless they can actually do something for the animal.
But now you and Tig now have the prospect of travelling to Morpeth, and are having to wait yet again. Waiting's hell!
Keeping my fingers crossed for you and Tig, and hoping he continues ok without the Baytril until they can see him at Morpeth.
All the very best. |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 14/04/2011 : 11:47:33
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Thank you.
Yeah, I suppose it's good that there's nothing too obvious. But it just means we still don't know how to help him. And it is good about his weight. He's on a bigger size rat weiner now, so that's probably helped it along nicly : )
The vet was dissapointed that he couldn't help Tig, I could tell. It's a shame 'cause he really did try. But I'll be having some good news for him soon though, 'cause I'm going to be asking if he would be my soon-to-be Dragon's vet and do his/her poop tests. So that should chear him up again : ) I'm hoping he can, 'cause he's a very good vet.
Still nothing from Morpeth vets, but will keep y'all up to date. |
Just me and my zoo. |
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Dissapointed : (
