Sick panther

[nurseekc]

I need advice-my Nosey Be is about 9 months old, male. For awhile now-about 2 months, he has been having issues-it started that he would eat very little for about a month-would eat an occasional cricket but preferred superworms. He's always been a good eater, so this concerned me. About 2.5 weeks ago, he was seen at vet & had x-rays. Doc thinks maybe an impaction-something shows in his intestine area. She put him on lactulose. He's had about 3-4 poops since that time. He has eaten nothing in 3 weeks. I offer crickets everyday & he ignores. I spoke to a breeder here in town who told me he may have a respiratory infection because I told him I observed him doing weird stretches & blowing out his chin into a big beard like thing. He has been on Baytril for 2.5 weeks about-no change in eating. He is also getting calcium supplement orally every 3 days. The odd part is he remains strong, very active, good colors, drinks well, good color, etc even after all this time. His claws are apparently worn down from cage but he seems to have normal strength. Anyone have any thoughts? Vet wants to do barium swallow etc to see where blockage may be. But surgery not good in reptiles so not sure what benefit would be there. He did have some weird poops that seemed wirey & like they had wood in them-maybe he ate some of the flaking branches (which I have taken out). Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
Erin

 

[Carlton]

About 2.5 weeks ago, he was seen at vet & had x-rays. Doc thinks maybe an impaction-something shows in his intestine area. She put him on lactulose. He's had about 3-4 poops since that time. He has eaten nothing in 3 weeks. I offer crickets everyday & he ignores. I spoke to a breeder here in town who told me he may have a respiratory infection because I told him I observed him doing weird stretches & blowing out his chin into a big beard like thing. He has been on Baytril for 2.5 weeks about-no change in eating. He is also getting calcium supplement orally every 3 days. The odd part is he remains strong, very active, good colors, drinks well, good color, etc even after all this time. His claws are apparently worn down from cage but he seems to have normal strength. Anyone have any thoughts? Vet wants to do barium swallow etc to see where blockage may be. But surgery not good in reptiles so not sure what benefit would be there. He did have some weird poops that seemed wirey & like they had wood in them-maybe he ate some of the flaking branches (which I have taken out). Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
Erin

A few questions for you.

Was there any substrate or moss in the cage?
Did the weird poops happen after the lactulose (I don't know what this is or what it treats)?
If so, maybe he's passed the mass and is no longer impacted.
Did they do a repeat x-ray?
Why is he getting so much calcium? An oral supplementation every 3 days is alot! You can overdose it.
What's his humidity, temps, and UV light regimen? How old is your UV bulb and what brand?

If he had a respiratory infection he would not be drinking, active, and possibly crouching dark and quiet during the day. The gular puffing could be display.
He may be refusing to eat because the Baytril makes him feel ill (I've seen this), or refusing crickets because he's holding out for superworms or is tired of them. He could simply be a fussy eater. Happens a lot. Have you tried other feeders such as silkworms, hornworms, roaches, large flies, spiders, moths? Sometimes flying insects get them interested.

 

[kinyonga]

Lactulose is for constipation.