Beau's vet visit

[tcopitho]

A couple weeks ago I took Beau to the vet to have him looked over for respiratory issues. He showed no signs of discharge or lethargy, but ever since I got him in May, I thought he breathed a bit heavy. I'd noticed that he would often prop his front end up on things in his tank, and would sometimes do a small open mouth breath.

The vet agreed that he didn't seem to be breathing normal, and that it looked like his intake breath was laboured. He had x-rays done, and was put on two weeks of Baytril. He finished the course last Monday, and though his breathing did seem better, it was not completely cleared up, I haven't seen him do his little open mouth gasp since. Beau has his follow up appointment on Saturday, where we got another set of x-rays (the originals had some key areas covered up by the gloves of the person holding him), and an increased dose of Baytril. He is now getting a .15ml shot of Baytril daily for ten days.

Although I trust my vet, I thought it would be interesting to get some opinions. I've included a link to Beau breathing following the first course of Baytirl. As well as the new x-rays.

Link:
https://vimeo.com/142785350

[Dakota]

I have no medical advice to give, but looking at your video, Beau appears quite overweight. Fat skinks and skink that have eaten a lot or are gravid tend to breathe like that. I, personally, would consider a diet. Meraukes are typically a very slender species, as I'm sure you are aware of. Keep us updated! Good luck with Beau.

[tcopitho]

Yes, thanks Dakota, I agree he seems a bit chubby, and is currently on a diet as I was thinking the same thing. In the video I would almost chalk it up to him just being overweight, but as I mentioned there were some other signs indicating a bigger issue. However, it could be quite possible that the antibiotics he's on could have cleared them up (he no longer props, or open mouth gasps), and what Im seeing now is simply from his weight. I appreciate the input.

[tcopitho]

Just for a bit more info, he is 22inches long from tip of the tail to tip of the nose, and weighs .76kg

He's always been a bit wide bodied.

[Lea]

The abnormalitity your vet sees is probably just the shadow the heart has cast on the X-ray. It can be made more visible by calcification and it's possible the heart looks slightly enlarged, (but it's hard to tell on an X-ray) which may account for the gasping type breaths due to a degree of heart failure, but without further tests, I'd really be guessing. Something to throw out there at your vet though as you can get a special ultrasound to show blood flow through the heart, but I'm not sure how accurate it would be, nor that it would change course of treatment, since heart failure would be difficult to tackle and treat. The antibiotics may have treated an underlying infection and subsequently reduced cardiac stress, hence your skink is now gasping less. Again, I'm totally guessing and not meaning to worry you, just making suggestions which might help your vet.

[tcopitho]

Thanks Lea, I appreciate your input, I'm going to call my vet and look into it. I certainly hope that's not the case, but I don't want to take the chance of overlooking anything. I'd forgotten that repertory issues can often be a sign of heart problems. Thanks!

[El Lobo]

Following on from Lea's thoughts, I am assuming the vet listened to his heart through a stethoscope. This would give indication by sound of the blood passing through the heart and also detect to some degree if the heart had any fluid build up in the pericardium causing compression of the organ. I am not saying with any certainty that this is the problem but in general terms an animal pointing its nose upward to breathe is attempting to create a more direct air passage to alleviate the stress of compromised breathing function.

[tcopitho]

He did listen with a stethoscope, but did not give me any indication that he heard palpitations or anything else out of the ordinary(Not to say he hasn't missed anything). I've contacted the vet clinic to inquire based on the info ive gotten here and the info he has allready if he feels heart problems could be the case. I'm awaiting a reply and will push the issue more if I have to. Thank you for your input El Lobo. It certainly seems like a growing possibility.