Greetings again,
I'm still struggling w my new redfoot, 4 inch purchased at a reptile show and given to me by my dad on Feb 28th. Farm raised in South America then moved up from FL.
I'll try to make this short.
Since day one, she was under weight and had bubbly nose and watery eyes.
Took her to the vet ASAP.
She was diagnosed w an RI and was started on five rounds every 72 hrs of Fortaz. Tomorrow will be her fourth.
She seemed to get better but has not been eating, maybe a a couple bites of banana and tomato but that's it.
Last Friday was her 2nd injection, the vet noticed she has been losing weight and so they did an assist feed and tested her stool-no parasites.
She regained energy but then Monday, she all of the sudden had bubbles coming out of her nose again! The vet said that sometimes this is a sign of them clearing out the infection. The vet (3rd injection) decided to also start her on amikacin, in addition to her Fortaz. And did another assist feed.
I might also mention, every time we have to go to the vet during the week, I have to bring her to work w me all day as the vet opens after I start work and it's 45mins away. So I head over right before they close. I keep her in a pet carrier w a heat pad and a towel to hide in and offer her food during my lunch-as well as a soak.
I'm concerned we are stressing her out too much. She's been traveling since I got her. Is this a valid concern?
Then there's the assist feeding, they said she was very sweet/tame and handled the feed just fine BUT then there was talk of implanting a feeding tube! The vets said she cant fight the infection if her body was very weak and malnourished. He suspects that she has been sick for a long time and probably not eaten almost anything in a month!
Also, I was looking at the bottom of her shell and it looks odd, shell rot? Well, I asked the vet on Monday and he said he didn't think so but it looks odd to me.
I have not been letting her enclosure temps drop below 85. She has food and water at all times inside, a hide, a ceramic heat emitter, and a Mercury vapor bulb. She's on coconut coir that I keep at 50/60...sometimes more right after I mist. I try to keep the top dry and the bottom moist.
I've offered Almost everything listed on the care sheets, even marzui. She looks at it and sometimes make a small attempt but gives up.
I made her a mush of all the food, thinking it might be easier to bite but nothing.
I soak her twice a day in warm water. One of the soaks is usually in an organic carrot baby food soak or I juice -safe greens- and mix w warm water and try to never let it get cold.
My questions/concerns are:
1. Should I tell the vet I want to give her a break after her last injection-instead of going and getting her a feeding tube implant? Or have her on more meds-he also mentioned starting her on herpes meds even though she has no signs-just in case-
2. How else can I get her to eat?
3. How long do these things usually last? The not eating and RI
4. I've read that some people order blood tests? Should I? There has been no mention of one.
5. An X-ray? At that point I'd have to drive over an hour away for one.
6. Does that look like shell rot?
So maybe it wasn't too short, my run down that is but I thank you in advance.
I'm trying everything and I really want her to out live me!
I'm still struggling w my new redfoot, 4 inch purchased at a reptile show and given to me by my dad on Feb 28th. Farm raised in South America then moved up from FL.
I'll try to make this short.
Since day one, she was under weight and had bubbly nose and watery eyes.
Took her to the vet ASAP.
She was diagnosed w an RI and was started on five rounds every 72 hrs of Fortaz. Tomorrow will be her fourth.
She seemed to get better but has not been eating, maybe a a couple bites of banana and tomato but that's it.
Last Friday was her 2nd injection, the vet noticed she has been losing weight and so they did an assist feed and tested her stool-no parasites.
She regained energy but then Monday, she all of the sudden had bubbles coming out of her nose again! The vet said that sometimes this is a sign of them clearing out the infection. The vet (3rd injection) decided to also start her on amikacin, in addition to her Fortaz. And did another assist feed.
I might also mention, every time we have to go to the vet during the week, I have to bring her to work w me all day as the vet opens after I start work and it's 45mins away. So I head over right before they close. I keep her in a pet carrier w a heat pad and a towel to hide in and offer her food during my lunch-as well as a soak.
I'm concerned we are stressing her out too much. She's been traveling since I got her. Is this a valid concern?
Then there's the assist feeding, they said she was very sweet/tame and handled the feed just fine BUT then there was talk of implanting a feeding tube! The vets said she cant fight the infection if her body was very weak and malnourished. He suspects that she has been sick for a long time and probably not eaten almost anything in a month!
Also, I was looking at the bottom of her shell and it looks odd, shell rot? Well, I asked the vet on Monday and he said he didn't think so but it looks odd to me.
I have not been letting her enclosure temps drop below 85. She has food and water at all times inside, a hide, a ceramic heat emitter, and a Mercury vapor bulb. She's on coconut coir that I keep at 50/60...sometimes more right after I mist. I try to keep the top dry and the bottom moist.
I've offered Almost everything listed on the care sheets, even marzui. She looks at it and sometimes make a small attempt but gives up.
I made her a mush of all the food, thinking it might be easier to bite but nothing.
I soak her twice a day in warm water. One of the soaks is usually in an organic carrot baby food soak or I juice -safe greens- and mix w warm water and try to never let it get cold.
My questions/concerns are:
1. Should I tell the vet I want to give her a break after her last injection-instead of going and getting her a feeding tube implant? Or have her on more meds-he also mentioned starting her on herpes meds even though she has no signs-just in case-
2. How else can I get her to eat?
3. How long do these things usually last? The not eating and RI
4. I've read that some people order blood tests? Should I? There has been no mention of one.
5. An X-ray? At that point I'd have to drive over an hour away for one.
6. Does that look like shell rot?
So maybe it wasn't too short, my run down that is but I thank you in advance.
I'm trying everything and I really want her to out live me!