BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Glenn is my 2010 Indonesian. As some of you know she was a baby and in very bad shape when I got her. I'm currently in a debacle. She has been suffering from chronic respiratory infections since mid 2011 racking up over six or more vet visits. The problem started with her right eye. The pupil itself is healthy but her lower eyelid is and has been swollen on and off throughout her illness. It drains more than the left and sometimes bubbles, which is typical RI. Her nostrils plug up and her breathing continues to be more heavy than normal. At it's worst, she needed to keep her mouth open so she could breath at night to sleep.

Her first five visits with other vets had helped her but failed in the end...

This past month, my newest vet and reptile specialist started her off with Baytril 20mg/ml suspension per day for 10 days along with an eye ointment Neopoly Bac Opthalmic Ointment 3xs per day for ten days. Like the past treatments, the drugs imporved her symptoms greatly and just when I think she's made it over the hump she falls back. After the unsuccessful 10 day trial, my vet is continuing her same regiment (baytril and eye ointment) for an another 14 days along with the drug cephalexin 25mg/ml 2xs a day for 14 days. Its day 10 now and she's still stuffed up but her eye has improved a bit. I'm almost positive she's not over the hump, even with 4 days left.

She's worm and parasite free and has been from 1 fecal two years ago up to her most recent 2 wks ago...

Habitat and husbandry for her is ideal. While she's been sick Ive increased ambient temps, humidity and other things...I know the whole shpeal...

I just want her to get better...

The vet says the next step if this fails is a blood test...

What can they find from that, and how would any of her treatment change??

Any hints, suggestions, wisdom or anything else would be much appreciated...

She's been moved to 40gal on paper towels for better ambients and because her left eye picks up susbstrate easily...

Sorry to hear Glenn is still having problems.

As a matter of interest, have the vets definitely diagnosed an RI, either upper or lower? Have they considered there might be an infection either viral or bacterial further up in the head causing the sinuses or tear ducts, both or either lacrimal canaliculus or nasolacrimal to be blocked. It may be worthwhile talking to them about trying a nebulised solution of F10 antiseptic as a nasal and sinus flushing to see if it would offer some relief. It is a safe procedure commonly used to treat parrots with blockages.

Baytril is a reasonable all round approved veterinary abx but as she has been on it for so long without permanent improvement I am a bit perplexed as to why they just keep prescribing another course. I note a cephalosporin has now been added to the abx cover so hopefully it may broaden the spectrum enough to have a more lasting effect.

Good luck for a full recovery for Glenn. You have done the right thing by her.

El Lobo- thanks for your expertise and input. I'll surely update once news becomes available in the next few days or so.

There have been other members who seem to have had similar issues with their gigas species. Hopefully one will speak up soon.

However, a local rescue posted a photo of a dog (I know, we are supposed to be talking about skinks here!) that had very "nasty" looking eyes. Very dry, scabby eyes. They did some tests and found it was Lupus! Call me stupid, but I was not away that other animals can have Lupus. I honestly dont know what the symptoms are in reptiles. According to the internet, reptiles can get Lupus as well (and yes, everything on the internet is true ). Anyway, just thought I would through that out there for you to discuss with your vet.

Good luck!

Reptileking, thanks for the information on that. That's very interesting.Ill post an update very soon.

there are several threads on what some of us have had to go through with odd re-occuring symptoms similar to this. That being said, I sincerely hope that your skink wont be one of them and that he gets better.
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=20085&p=393280&hilit=baneling#p393280
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=19929&p=391841&hilit=baneling#p391817
Etc, etc.

Vet took blood today. I also got a hydration and b vitamin shot as well in hopes she would feel a bit picked up from her funk. Her eye is doing ok. Just some heavy breathing still and her nostril holes continue to clog themselves up. I'm crossing my fingers and waiting for the results due Monday.

Hey there sorry to hear about your bluey experiences. Remember that this is a tropical animal and temps need to be regulated. I've had a fair amount of experience with Easterns with RIs and it is generally pretty easy to clear up, although the blueys can be in a bad way for a while.

If suffering an RI they need to be kept under constant heat with temps not allowed to fall below about 30C and preferably slightly higher i.e 33C (~91F). Don't give the bluey anywhere to hide that will be cooler than this. The heat allows the body to get it's immune system and digestive working properly - remember that antibiotics should only be treated as a supportive therapy not a cure in itself. Water should be cleaned daily and any potential sources of re-infection removed/sterilised. This includes sterilisation of the cage, replace substrate and sterilise furnishings.

High protein foods such as egg, beef etc seems to also give them a boost, even better if you can give some live snails etc. I don't know the mechanism of why them seem to get a boost from this, but it might have some hormonal component. But anything that stimulates their wellbeing should be encouraged during this period.

Of course with any wild caught animal you will never know what other infections/problems it could have underlying and may predispose him to other problems - but he doesn't look like his appetite has been too bad.

Good luck.

Blood test results show Glenn having an abnormally low white blood cell count. As far as her organs and everything else, they all look great. She is still sick and im not sure what to do at this point.

What did the doctor say that the white blood cell count could be do to? And did they not recommend further steps that can be taken?

My family dog who was 13yrs old had to be put down due to illnesses that were "reoccurring" and painful brought upon by her low WBC count.

The vet doesn't know why and he's my areas specialist.

No other steps pushed by vet.

I've tried 3 vets $800, 2 fecals, blood test, 2 shots, 2 different eye ointments, and 3 different antibiotics.

She remains active and eats well. Just sick still with labored, sneezing and clogged nostril holes.

Keeping cage warm. Trying another Bayril 10 day trial. Moved some. Stuff around in her cage so she can get more heat. Temps are where I want them to be.

so I am certainly new to the reptile world, but my daughters gecko developed a lump above her eye.. took her to vet (not reptile certified) but does treat them. She said it was infection from bad shed, she lost her eye, we even looked in and saw nothing but pink bulbous flesh.. yuckkk I know.. anyhoots they gave her injection of Ceftazidime (Fortaz) and you are suppose to do this every 3 days for a few wks, but since gecko was so tiny, they wanted to do it. so they did it once a week (due to work schedules... drive... etc..) for 3 wks and man this stuff kicked major butt!!! within 2 days the bump (abcess burst..) we cleaned it.. burst again.. etc.. and then with a shed 4 wks later all... was clear ...... she HAD an eyeball... !! I couldn't believe what I was seeing ... so her infection was so bad even the vet thought her eye was gone.. (as there was clear liquid leakage when we took her) she is absolutely fine now, can see to hunt .. etc. so I think this antibiotic is a broad spectrum, look it up,,, maybe it can help w/the respiratory issues..I don't know but it is worth looking into for Glenn .. I hope this med is something that can help... sending healing thoughts you and Glenn's way

Thanks for the support you guys.

This whole thing is tearing me up inside and has been for months and especially these past 4 wks. I'm very attached to Glenn and when she suffers I suffer too.

I will research that shot (antibiotic) you speak of. Thanks

Sorry this is so ongoing for Glenn.

Low WBC count is really only confirming she is under attack from something and possibly the immune system is working so hard to fight an infection that the WBC's are being used at a greater rate than the body can replace. Low WBC can be indicative of many serious diseases but shouldn't necessarily be considered as in Glenn's case she is clearly showing symptoms of a persistent respiratory problem. There are also a few abx that will destroy WBC's but I don't think Baytril is amongst them.

Ceftazidime is effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria as is Baytril to a lesser extent. The vets I use if confronted with an obstinate infection will often broaden the spectrum with an abx proven to be effective against anaerobic bacteria. Metronidazole is such an abx which also has the property of crossing the blood brain barrier.

I keep feeling these infections as reported in Glenn and a few others in the past couple of years are resident in deep tissue or bone and recur when the immune system is placed under any kind of stress. Probably the only really conclusive diagnosis would come from a culture and sensitivity but that can't be performed until all abx have been cleared from the body.

Good luck with restoring Glenn to good health Rush. You wouldn't be doing all you have unless you really cared.

What's a "culture to sensitivity"?

Thanks el lobo, I was hoping you would weigh in again. I will look that antibiotic up and see what the vet has to say.

Got what that is and means. I'm curious to see how many days it takes to rid medicine from skinks body so a culture can be taken because she has shown 25 percent improvement being back on Bayril this time around. Not a cure because it won't last.

Culture and sensitivity test tomorrow morning. Can't wait for my girl Glenn to get back on track and be a happy skink again.

Good luck, I hope you figure out a way to get her stable.

Rush wrote:Culture and sensitivity test tomorrow morning. Can't wait for my girl Glenn to get back on track and be a happy skink again.

cultures can take up to a wk or more... I'm sure they told you, My culture on Mr Skinks mouth came back positive (after a wk of waiting,,, was done on a sat) for aerobic bacteria still waiting on the fungus, not treating him yet and his eating has gone out the window, don't know if it is mouth rot or infection from me pulling out a splinter of substrate, is very stressing for me so I can't imagine how you feel! hopefully the culture results will bring the right meds to get your girl healthy, sending many positive thoughts your way and hoping Glenn is feeling better very soon!