Got blood chemistry results back from the lab today and I'm beside myself...
My tale...
Had a case of writer's block, went to the pet store for dog food, came home with a Jackson's, made every mistake imaginable. Turns out I live within range of one of the best herp vets there is, and with his help, was able to bring little guy back from death's door. Connected to some successful jackson's keepers, tested their patience with lots of questions, feel confident I did it all "by the book" (if only there was a more extensive book!!) Missed all of my own contract deadlines but got him tuned up and healthy as could be, or so I thought. He spent the summer basking on the back patio, under his drip, with recommended-brand CA/D3 dusted, gutloaded insects every couple days and repitvitamins every other week. After six months, something was "off", took him to the vet, but vet said he looked great, well hydrated, strong grip. Next day, siezures, and blood labs told the story: 1:2 CA/Phs ratios and uric acid off the charts. Started liquid calcium supplements and phsophorous binders, but seizures intensified, esp in response to bright light (uric acid crystals in option nerves?) and two days later he died. Vet said given my supplementation schedule, it probably wasn't my doing, but organ damage caused during capture/transport/residence in pet store when he was young, and kidneys just couldn't keep up as he matured. Perhaps he was being kind. Fas forward... In the interim I acquired two juvenile (6 mo)panthers from a terrific breeder. Have been following his practices: CA/D3 crix every day, reptivitamins every other week. Gut load with collard, carrot, sweet potato, orange. One is growing like a horse, cup trained, tries anything I offer (loves steamed broccoli). Other is growing slowly, goes on and off food but drinks well. When he refuses crix or when they've been in his cage long enough to doff the dust, I give him pheonix worms, which he loves, to keep the calcium intake up. Use MV bulb plus basking lamp, temp gradient 75-95. He's 55 grams, drinks about 1.5-2 ccs/day from syringe plus whatever he laps when I'm not looking (he's shy). Just before New Year's he fell off a branch. Also hadn't eaten much at all for three days. Thought it might be accident, might be start of whatever claimed my Jax. Also noticed one himpene not prolapsed but not fully retracting either. Had bloods drawn, got them back today-- again, CA is 10 and Phos is 20 (uric acid normal, thank heavens). How can this be? He gets CA/D3 every single day!! His MV lamp is 12 inches above the highest limb in the cage; its 93-95 under his basking light. Can't blame this one on import suppliers -- I'm obviously doing something wrong. Can anyone with experience help me here? I know blood values can change in a day -- is it possible the lab results were skewed by the fact that he hadn't eaten anything but a couple of mealworms the few days before they were drawn? (Its now a week later and he's eating well again.. which will last a few days until...). Is it possible for a 6 month old MV bulb to decline in low wavelength output (they're supposed to last a year)? Other thoughts??
P.S. I understand from reading threads here that it may not be appropriate to use D3 enhanced calcium every day; that's different than I was told but I am not a biochemist and will defer to whatever is consensus among successful keepers.
Apologies for the long post but... wanted to be complete.
My tale...
Had a case of writer's block, went to the pet store for dog food, came home with a Jackson's, made every mistake imaginable. Turns out I live within range of one of the best herp vets there is, and with his help, was able to bring little guy back from death's door. Connected to some successful jackson's keepers, tested their patience with lots of questions, feel confident I did it all "by the book" (if only there was a more extensive book!!) Missed all of my own contract deadlines but got him tuned up and healthy as could be, or so I thought. He spent the summer basking on the back patio, under his drip, with recommended-brand CA/D3 dusted, gutloaded insects every couple days and repitvitamins every other week. After six months, something was "off", took him to the vet, but vet said he looked great, well hydrated, strong grip. Next day, siezures, and blood labs told the story: 1:2 CA/Phs ratios and uric acid off the charts. Started liquid calcium supplements and phsophorous binders, but seizures intensified, esp in response to bright light (uric acid crystals in option nerves?) and two days later he died. Vet said given my supplementation schedule, it probably wasn't my doing, but organ damage caused during capture/transport/residence in pet store when he was young, and kidneys just couldn't keep up as he matured. Perhaps he was being kind. Fas forward... In the interim I acquired two juvenile (6 mo)panthers from a terrific breeder. Have been following his practices: CA/D3 crix every day, reptivitamins every other week. Gut load with collard, carrot, sweet potato, orange. One is growing like a horse, cup trained, tries anything I offer (loves steamed broccoli). Other is growing slowly, goes on and off food but drinks well. When he refuses crix or when they've been in his cage long enough to doff the dust, I give him pheonix worms, which he loves, to keep the calcium intake up. Use MV bulb plus basking lamp, temp gradient 75-95. He's 55 grams, drinks about 1.5-2 ccs/day from syringe plus whatever he laps when I'm not looking (he's shy). Just before New Year's he fell off a branch. Also hadn't eaten much at all for three days. Thought it might be accident, might be start of whatever claimed my Jax. Also noticed one himpene not prolapsed but not fully retracting either. Had bloods drawn, got them back today-- again, CA is 10 and Phos is 20 (uric acid normal, thank heavens). How can this be? He gets CA/D3 every single day!! His MV lamp is 12 inches above the highest limb in the cage; its 93-95 under his basking light. Can't blame this one on import suppliers -- I'm obviously doing something wrong. Can anyone with experience help me here? I know blood values can change in a day -- is it possible the lab results were skewed by the fact that he hadn't eaten anything but a couple of mealworms the few days before they were drawn? (Its now a week later and he's eating well again.. which will last a few days until...). Is it possible for a 6 month old MV bulb to decline in low wavelength output (they're supposed to last a year)? Other thoughts??
P.S. I understand from reading threads here that it may not be appropriate to use D3 enhanced calcium every day; that's different than I was told but I am not a biochemist and will defer to whatever is consensus among successful keepers.
Apologies for the long post but... wanted to be complete.