Poorly Horsefield, desperate
Posted: 25 Mar 2024, 11:28
Hi.
At the end of Jan, my 18 month old horsefield, Tucker wouldn't open his eyes. He also stopped eating. Vet gave me some antibiotic drops and advised me to flush his eyes daily. His eyes would slightly open but not fully.
He hasn't eaten since 23rd Jan... which I think is because his eyes are closed. Before this he loved his food
The drops helped a bit but progress tapered. He then started on antibiotic IM injections every other day and had a few tube feeds as his weight was dropping.
They checked his poop and he needed worming, so that was done.
3 weeks ago they fitted a pharyngostomy tube because his weight was becoming a concern. At that point he went to oral antibiotics which he had through the line every other day (had his last one today) and is being fed critical care food prescribed by vets; emeraid it's called. He started on 0.3mls twice a day, slowly up to 0.6mls twice a day and as his weight is now up he is having 1ml twice a day. Weight on 23rd jan was 107g. It went down to 91g and is now back up to 105g as of last week.
Basking spot is around 34-35°C. Temp ranging in his viv between 26-32C. Humidity between 60-70. I use a basking flood bulb for heat (150w) and a uvb strip bulb for uvb.
Substrate is fine orchid bark (not using any sand or soil as advised early days by vets).
He has a humid hide.
Vets assuring me it takes time for reptiles to recover, esp when so small.
He has barely opened his eyes in the last two weeks. Still won't eat. I am soaking him at least twice a day; once in water with reptoboost and one baby carrot food soak a day.
He is barely moving around, probably because he can't see a thing. He is showing natural behaviours; burrowing, seeking heat/cooling himself etc. But isn't active like he was.
Is it worth asking vets to check his bloods?
Antibiotics stopped today because he has been on them so long vet wanted to give them a break. Surely they'd have worked by now??
I flush/clean eyes twice a day with saline prescribed by vet.
What am I missing? Its breaking my heart seeing him like this. Vet assured me we are not at the stage where they'd recommend PTS and said if they thought that would be best for him they'd definitely say. I feel so helpless. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks🩵
At the end of Jan, my 18 month old horsefield, Tucker wouldn't open his eyes. He also stopped eating. Vet gave me some antibiotic drops and advised me to flush his eyes daily. His eyes would slightly open but not fully.
He hasn't eaten since 23rd Jan... which I think is because his eyes are closed. Before this he loved his food
The drops helped a bit but progress tapered. He then started on antibiotic IM injections every other day and had a few tube feeds as his weight was dropping.
They checked his poop and he needed worming, so that was done.
3 weeks ago they fitted a pharyngostomy tube because his weight was becoming a concern. At that point he went to oral antibiotics which he had through the line every other day (had his last one today) and is being fed critical care food prescribed by vets; emeraid it's called. He started on 0.3mls twice a day, slowly up to 0.6mls twice a day and as his weight is now up he is having 1ml twice a day. Weight on 23rd jan was 107g. It went down to 91g and is now back up to 105g as of last week.
Basking spot is around 34-35°C. Temp ranging in his viv between 26-32C. Humidity between 60-70. I use a basking flood bulb for heat (150w) and a uvb strip bulb for uvb.
Substrate is fine orchid bark (not using any sand or soil as advised early days by vets).
He has a humid hide.
Vets assuring me it takes time for reptiles to recover, esp when so small.
He has barely opened his eyes in the last two weeks. Still won't eat. I am soaking him at least twice a day; once in water with reptoboost and one baby carrot food soak a day.
He is barely moving around, probably because he can't see a thing. He is showing natural behaviours; burrowing, seeking heat/cooling himself etc. But isn't active like he was.
Is it worth asking vets to check his bloods?
Antibiotics stopped today because he has been on them so long vet wanted to give them a break. Surely they'd have worked by now??
I flush/clean eyes twice a day with saline prescribed by vet.
What am I missing? Its breaking my heart seeing him like this. Vet assured me we are not at the stage where they'd recommend PTS and said if they thought that would be best for him they'd definitely say. I feel so helpless. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks🩵