Joey update
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:29 am
It's been a while. But I do have some good news. FINALLY!
Although Joey looks a bit scary, he's doing much better.
I just got everybody out for some pictures, so these are literally minutes old. Just weighed them for the first time on my new home scale!
So, as you can tell, Joey looks kind of bad. But there's no swelling or inflammation, and there hasn't been for several months, so this is the best he's been in a year!
The inflammation comes and goes. But these last few months has been the longest period of doing better since this all started (June 2010).
(I’m going to copy from a previous post where I told of Joey’s progress, so if it seems like you’ve read it before, you might have.)
The only thing that coincided with this improvement and the last, was the vet giving him a vitamin A shot, an antibiotic shot, plus a steroid shot.
I have found that, for Joey, the antibiotic alone does nothing. Or, not much. Certainly not enough. We have had Joey on three different antibiotics, back to back. One of them I had to inject for about a month. No improvement, or minimal at best.
The reason for all three shots this time was the amount of inflammation in eyes and feet. Vitamin A -because we think that this is the underlying issue here; a seemingly poor ability for him to absorb this through natural means. Antibiotic -because we wanted to boost his healing incase he was fighting an infection. Steroid -because he had so much inflammation, eyes very inflamed, feet very puffy and cracked.
Most of his lids are gone on his right eye and he doesn't have very many digits left, on any foot.
In the picture you can also see the crust that builds up along the edge of his upper lip.
Every time I get him up, I have to soak his eyes for him to be able to open them. I use Refresh Optive drops; I like them because they are a bit oily, so the lubricant lasts longer. I also have a "Vetrogen Gentamicin Sulfate" ointment from my veterinarian, it helps when his eyes start to get red and swollen.
As I just got him up for the pictures I noticed that his left eye is unusually crusty, and has a bit of dried blood, as if he's been trying to force it open without anything to soften the crust first.
Joey is exactly 2 years old, is about 17 inches long (43 cm), and weighs 280 g
The biggest improvement, however, is his energy. Before, he hardly ever even moved. Now, he's up and checking things out. Before, when I laid him in the tub to soak, I had to put a folded washcloth under his head in order to keep his nose above water. Now, he keeps traipsing around the tub, walking like an alligator trying to keep his tummy off the bottom--it's the cutest thing EVER!!
I have hope that he might stay better, have longer good periods. I don’t think he’ll ever be a normal healthy skink, but maybe...
Alright. On to even better things.
This is Maddie, Merauke, about 10 1/2 mos. old, 17 inches (43 cm), and weighs 278 g, so nearly EXACTLY the same size as Joey.
We think Maddie is a girl, if anybody thinks differently ...I’ll pound on them! Naah, just kidding. She’s a curious active little sweetheart! Always out ‘n about, more often ON her hide than IN it.
This is Jazz, Merauke, sibling to Maddie, so also 10 1/2 mos, but measures 18 1/2 inches (47 cm), and weighs 320 g.
I used to think Jazz is a girl, but lately I’ve been seeing a few male traits, so I’m open for opinions here.
Jazz is the proverbial reptile, spends all her days doing... absolutely nothing! Hardly ever comes out of her hide (we think this is why the difference in size between her and Maddie), and huffs up a storm when you reach in to get her.
Something that really scares me is that Jazz has shown some of the same inflammation-signs on her feet! I’m really trying to not freak out, yet. She’s lost one toe, and now two more are turning black! I soak her at least once a week and rub her feet to increase circulation and remove any possibility of stuck shed.
I absolutely keep them in separate parts of the house, don’t ever touch the other two after touching Joey without washing my hands. I try to do everything with the other two first, wash and wipe down, then get Joey. If I have Joey anywhere where the others may need to be sometime, like the tub, I sterilize it with a hospital grade spray after removing Joey.
I don't know. Seems silly to think that I have such bad luck that I HAPPEN to get two BTS with the same affliction! But what is it then??!
I really hope I'm just overreacting to a case of shed-restriction.
I'll end this like I usually end my threads: I'll keep you updated.
Although Joey looks a bit scary, he's doing much better.
I just got everybody out for some pictures, so these are literally minutes old. Just weighed them for the first time on my new home scale!
So, as you can tell, Joey looks kind of bad. But there's no swelling or inflammation, and there hasn't been for several months, so this is the best he's been in a year!
The inflammation comes and goes. But these last few months has been the longest period of doing better since this all started (June 2010).
(I’m going to copy from a previous post where I told of Joey’s progress, so if it seems like you’ve read it before, you might have.)
The only thing that coincided with this improvement and the last, was the vet giving him a vitamin A shot, an antibiotic shot, plus a steroid shot.
I have found that, for Joey, the antibiotic alone does nothing. Or, not much. Certainly not enough. We have had Joey on three different antibiotics, back to back. One of them I had to inject for about a month. No improvement, or minimal at best.
The reason for all three shots this time was the amount of inflammation in eyes and feet. Vitamin A -because we think that this is the underlying issue here; a seemingly poor ability for him to absorb this through natural means. Antibiotic -because we wanted to boost his healing incase he was fighting an infection. Steroid -because he had so much inflammation, eyes very inflamed, feet very puffy and cracked.
Most of his lids are gone on his right eye and he doesn't have very many digits left, on any foot.
In the picture you can also see the crust that builds up along the edge of his upper lip.
Every time I get him up, I have to soak his eyes for him to be able to open them. I use Refresh Optive drops; I like them because they are a bit oily, so the lubricant lasts longer. I also have a "Vetrogen Gentamicin Sulfate" ointment from my veterinarian, it helps when his eyes start to get red and swollen.
As I just got him up for the pictures I noticed that his left eye is unusually crusty, and has a bit of dried blood, as if he's been trying to force it open without anything to soften the crust first.
Joey is exactly 2 years old, is about 17 inches long (43 cm), and weighs 280 g
The biggest improvement, however, is his energy. Before, he hardly ever even moved. Now, he's up and checking things out. Before, when I laid him in the tub to soak, I had to put a folded washcloth under his head in order to keep his nose above water. Now, he keeps traipsing around the tub, walking like an alligator trying to keep his tummy off the bottom--it's the cutest thing EVER!!
I have hope that he might stay better, have longer good periods. I don’t think he’ll ever be a normal healthy skink, but maybe...
Alright. On to even better things.
This is Maddie, Merauke, about 10 1/2 mos. old, 17 inches (43 cm), and weighs 278 g, so nearly EXACTLY the same size as Joey.
We think Maddie is a girl, if anybody thinks differently ...I’ll pound on them! Naah, just kidding. She’s a curious active little sweetheart! Always out ‘n about, more often ON her hide than IN it.
This is Jazz, Merauke, sibling to Maddie, so also 10 1/2 mos, but measures 18 1/2 inches (47 cm), and weighs 320 g.
I used to think Jazz is a girl, but lately I’ve been seeing a few male traits, so I’m open for opinions here.
Jazz is the proverbial reptile, spends all her days doing... absolutely nothing! Hardly ever comes out of her hide (we think this is why the difference in size between her and Maddie), and huffs up a storm when you reach in to get her.
Something that really scares me is that Jazz has shown some of the same inflammation-signs on her feet! I’m really trying to not freak out, yet. She’s lost one toe, and now two more are turning black! I soak her at least once a week and rub her feet to increase circulation and remove any possibility of stuck shed.
I absolutely keep them in separate parts of the house, don’t ever touch the other two after touching Joey without washing my hands. I try to do everything with the other two first, wash and wipe down, then get Joey. If I have Joey anywhere where the others may need to be sometime, like the tub, I sterilize it with a hospital grade spray after removing Joey.
I don't know. Seems silly to think that I have such bad luck that I HAPPEN to get two BTS with the same affliction! But what is it then??!
I really hope I'm just overreacting to a case of shed-restriction.
I'll end this like I usually end my threads: I'll keep you updated.