So as you can see from the pictures shaggy isnt doing so hot, he has gotten slightly better after i have been giving him his anti biotics and bacitracin, i've been putting so much effort into making him better and i feel as if its going no where. Any input and advice is appreciated
Have you taken him to the vet yet? It is hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like something inside is causing it to bubble up. The first thing I thought of would be an infection that is causing the swelling from pus. My second guess would be that he has some sort of tumor on the side of his head that needs to be removed. Either way, the best thing you can do is to get him to a vet ASAP!
His head has always been like that, its his eyes that im worried about,his head hasnt really changed at all, and i called the vet a couple days ago i think he gets back today. But this morning when i woke up, he was standing on his log, with suprsingly his eyes open, and the second he heard me he bolted, ran into one of his hides, than ran in. And the tumor thing scares me, considering if it needs to be removed, I just cant pull that with money, and my parents wouldnt help me out with that. My dad simply tells me 'Just buy another 20 dollar lizard' and he dosent realize its not just like that. All his vet visits ive payed for, im only 15 so me personally i dont have a steady flow of money. I havent seen change in his head, so im not sure if thats how hes always been.
Heres some pics when he first started having problems with his mouth Do you notice any additional swelling since than? Serious question idk if i can tell.
has his head always been like that? Has it grown there or was he born with it? If it hasn't grown there then I doubt it is a tumor, but it still looks interesting. Well, his mouth looks quit a bit better that it did before. I think that has healed up nicely, but you should still keep an eye on it. I don't know if that is just the picture, but are his eyes really that dark?
They are kinda dark but his eyes are what im most worried about. I do absolutely believe they are infected. Ive looked up pictures and theres no more white pus comming out, but now there is a film over his eye and his eye looks a little red. I wish i could get a good picture of it. Im applying the bacitracin to his eye once a day and giving him antibiotics once a day, hes pooping, and his mouth is fine now, but like right now hes just laying in the middle of his tank, but i think its cause its a warm spot. Im very very worried.
I'd really encourage you to keep calling your vet until you catch a hold of him. I did a quick google on bacitracin and saw that it is most effective against gram-positive bacteria. The problem with this is that most bacterial infections in reptiles are from gram-negative bacteria. You may want to ask your vet if there is a more broad spectrum eye ointment you could switch to. There is actually one called Terramycin that you can order online that we've used at work many times with our herps and other animals. It's very broad spectrum (treats g(+) and g(-), aerobic and anaerobic) and may treat the issue a little more effectively. Again, I don't promote self medicating; confirm with your vet before using any kind of medication. The link for if he says the terramycin is okay: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9674 Or he may be willing to sell it to you directly without having to pay for an office fee...It can't hurt to ask. =)
The ointment i have is a mix of many different things not just bacitracin its at least 4 other things., im almost 100% terramycin is in it too, i gave him his medicine and had to come home till tomorrow because i have a regent but when i go back tomorrow night ill post exactly what is in the ointment
Sorry that I haven't been able to respond but I was very wrong.his ointment contains neomycin, polymyxin b sulfates, and bacitracin zinc ophthalmic ointment. Also I believe I will be able to get to the vet this weekend by my uncles help and just pay him back when I start working again, as for an update he does seem to be doin a little bit better. He opens his eyes occasionally when drinking his water and there is no longer the white liquid covering his eye it I do think there's a film. At first I ought he was blind but thinking abut it how would he get around his tank and drink water etc. His pooping is fine, I've also been I giving him his oral antibiotic
Alrighty so last I tried to feed him just in case he wanted before I gave him all of his meds. So I held a wax worm on a pair of tweezers and he saw it, stared at it than he turned his head. He hasn't earn in a while and I want some input as to if I should make a slurry or wait till I go the vet and get the vets input. I'm also noticing he is starting to open his eyes when he is not frightened, but just walking around the tank which to me is a good sign considering he hasn't done that for weeks. Thanks.
I would wait and see what the vet says on the slurry thing. If he will lick some off the tip of his nose, that's fine, but definitely don't resort to force feeding just yet. If he is even showing a slight interest in the food, that's actually a good thing, even if he is not actually eating it. Just keep offering it and hopefully he will take something soon. It's also good that he is still active inside his tank. =) How is his weight?
His weight hasn't really changed since this post. Is it that he is so stressed that I'm giving I'm giving him the meds? And if one night he eats a waxwor. Or mealworms s it a bad idea to try to give him his meds considering I'm forcing his mouth open to put it in anti biotic. I hope to actually get mom to the vet by thursday. He's a good guy so I'm hoping he won't charge me to see him like he did last time lol, but be has to make business so I did feel bad that he didn't charge me to see him
The stress of being medicated could be causing a loss of appetite, but that's a necessary risk. The benefits outweigh the disadvantage. What I meant about forcing was that as long as he is not losing weight, forcing food on him is probably not necessary. The less you have to force the better. Again, keep offering food every day, though. Hopefully he will start eating again as his vision improves.
But say he eats one before him I give him his meds. Should I still give him the meds or will it make him vomit?
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood the question. But you should still be fine. I always feed first, then medicate the leos at work and have not had any issues with regurgitation or vomiting.
