SueAndHerZoo
Established Member
As a recap, I purchased a female veiled from Petco on January 31. 30 days later I took her back stating that I saw mucous on her branch and she seemed lethargic, low appetite, and closing her eyes during the day. Supposedly they brought her to their vet the next day and she was sent back with a clean bill of health. Now it's about 3 weeks later and she's not doing well. She doesn't seem to be eating (but never really would eat in front of me) and she's just not thriving or growing. She hasn't shed since the first week I had her, you can see her hip bones, and she doesn't look any larger than when I bought her. I called around to several potential reptile vets this morning hoping to find someone who would see her TODAY and finally found one at my regular dog vet - they had just brought an exotic pet vet on board!
He suspects MBD (says her jaw is rubbery) and yes, she is very underweight for her age. Doesn't suspect parasites but rather some sort of infection. He gave her two injections: one calcium gluconate and one Enrofloxacin/Baytril. He sent me home with both of those that I am to continue orally, as well as Critical Care to force feed her with. He warned me to prepare myself that she probably wasn't going to make it and that if she does, recovery will be long and slow.
I'm going to be researching the various ways to give orals (even though he demonstrated for me) but I don't feel as if she got enough since she never really opened.... he just kind of placed a drop in the side of her mouth. If anyone has any helpful tips or tricks on giving orals please share. HOPEFULLY she will get strong enough to start gaping at me and that will be my chance, but she doesn't do that right now, nor does she open when I press gently behind her cheeks. She is SO frail I am afraid of hurting her.... she's a whopping 11 grams at what we guess is 4-5 months old.
Only reptile lovers will relate to spending well over $1000 on a $60 pet. But once they are ours, we have to do whatever we possibly can, right? Wish me luck and send some positive energy to Bonnie. I was hoping she would grow up to be big and strong and someday meet my male, Clyde.
Sue
He suspects MBD (says her jaw is rubbery) and yes, she is very underweight for her age. Doesn't suspect parasites but rather some sort of infection. He gave her two injections: one calcium gluconate and one Enrofloxacin/Baytril. He sent me home with both of those that I am to continue orally, as well as Critical Care to force feed her with. He warned me to prepare myself that she probably wasn't going to make it and that if she does, recovery will be long and slow.
I'm going to be researching the various ways to give orals (even though he demonstrated for me) but I don't feel as if she got enough since she never really opened.... he just kind of placed a drop in the side of her mouth. If anyone has any helpful tips or tricks on giving orals please share. HOPEFULLY she will get strong enough to start gaping at me and that will be my chance, but she doesn't do that right now, nor does she open when I press gently behind her cheeks. She is SO frail I am afraid of hurting her.... she's a whopping 11 grams at what we guess is 4-5 months old.
Only reptile lovers will relate to spending well over $1000 on a $60 pet. But once they are ours, we have to do whatever we possibly can, right? Wish me luck and send some positive energy to Bonnie. I was hoping she would grow up to be big and strong and someday meet my male, Clyde.
Sue
I inject my roaches, silkworms, or what ever feeder they like, with the meds, alot of what we get in is wc , and not adjusting well, so by using feeders as medication vessel, it is way less stressful than pinning the the animal down and forcing the mouth open. 
