Ali has gotten worse

Ali is the belly up floaty lotl featured in my thread "Treatment Confusion". We received her in this condition a couple of weeks ago. I found out she is almost 11 months old and has spent almost half her life on her side or belly up. About 2 days ago a friend of ours, (a self proclaimed Axolotl expert). was visiting and she she knew how to cure her. I watched as she took Ali in her hands and began squeezing her tummy. I got angry and told her to leave her alone.She told me to relax this is going to work. I told her to squeeze her own stomach, if it works I'll try it on Ali.... That evening at feeding time Ali's tummy was 3 times large than before she was squeezed. She was upside down and her entire tummy was out of the water and was red. I put her in the fridge where she's been for 24 hours. I took her out and though her tummy hasn't grown it hasn't gone down either. I read an article about the salt bath for water retention so I gave her one... After the bath I picked her up to put her in the clean water container and she seemed to be gasping for air or something and then she let out this high gurgling screech. I put her straight into the clean water and she went frantic. I cupped my hand and put them in the water, She swam into them and calmed down. It was then I noticed her tummy had gone down but now she had a bubble (a blister type bump) by her back legs.... She's a little fighter but she's suffering and is depending on me to help her and I'm asking you to help me... Its my fault for letting that person touch her. What angers me is Ali was almost there. The only time she tipped sideways was when she took a bite of her food but she would claw her way right again... I need your help to help me help her.....thank you....The first Pic was basically how she looked before she was squeezed...

What is that in the cloaca? Is something coming out??? It doesn't look like the shapes I've ever seen.

I have no idea what it is. When she let out a scream her tummy went down and that lump came up... Is there anyone that can help???... Please!!

I wish I could help. I'd take her to the vet

Thank you Tammyaxie for your concern. Being involved in animal rescue I know all the vets in my district and none of them are confident with the limited knowledge they have on Axolotl's. I might email the Axolotl Colony of Indiana for help...

Thanx again tammyaxie..

I hope u get the help she needs. I mad for u that someone actually squeezed her

That bubble looks like an intestinal prolapse to me. Some people have had success gently pushing a prolapse back in with a wet cotton swab. It's certainly possible there is internal damage-axolotls weren't made to be squeezed. I would recommend keeping her in clean, cold water, and antibiotics might be advisable to help prevent sepsis if there is internal damage.

Question to a more experienced axie owner: can this be retention?

Thank you rachel1. I just read an article in Caudate Culture: Illness Symptoms and Treatment and I believe you have hit the nail on the head. A prolapse coata will not heal on its own and can be gently pushed back in, preferably with the help of a vet. It also said it was considered a medical emergency.
I believe her original condition was water retention which was almost healed till she got squeezed. I know her and I have a long trek to good health, but we'll get there.

Thank you tammyaxie and rachel1

It looks severely bloated with a prolapse. It needs a specialist vet asap. You can help reduce the bloating a bit by fridging, this will reduce the volume of intestinal gas a bit and may actually help pass some of it. Also keep your idiot friend away from it. You may not like the next bit but personally I would euthanise it, it has a long term condition which is getting worse, you should never have received a floater from the breeder/shop.

I was wandering when some one was going to suggest euthanising her. But thats not in my nature. Even when the vets have given up on the animals I've rescued, I carry on... An animals instinct for survival is stronger than ours. They don't complain about their illness or soreness, they get on with life the best they can. As long as she's breathing I'll be looking for and trying different treatments.. Unfortunately we don't have a specialist vet in this district and the vets here are not confident enough to try... The severe bloating happened after she was squeezed and thats what really angers me.. And don't worry about my friend she isn't one anymore...

But thank you nai live. I've read many of your posts and am impressed by your knowledge and expertise... Thanx again.

Is it okay? Did you push the intestines back in?

Thank you Xavier. Yes we did manager to push the prolapse back in. I held her at water level while my daughter used a cotton swab. It wouldn't go in at first so she dipped the swab in vege oil, rubbed it around the lump and pushed it gently back in. Throughout this whole procedure, Ali didn't move, just her back legs kept wrapping around the swab. I turned her over onto her tummy and held her in my hands just below water level. She burped tons of bubbles but her tummy hasn't gone down much... The good thing though, is she hasn't gotten worse...Refrigerating seems to be stabilizing everything.... Thanx

Hey I'm glad she's not getting worse. can u post a pick of her right side up.

Be sure it keep us updated.

If I could have, I would have strangled your friend through my tablet...

Thanx tammyaxie, today her tummy has actually gone down, not by much but its getting there..
Thanx studiov13, I'm sure alot of people feel the same way. I had to stop my daughter form going over to see her friend for that reason....

Here are the photo's of Ali taken just now... She's such a cutie, a tough, fighting little cutie

It looks like she's getting better!

I'm so glad she's getting better We're all rooting for her

I think thats why she's getting better, she can feel everyones energy..

My god, look at her adorable little face!!! What a beautiful Wildtype, I Love her colors! Mine isn't even that pretty. He's turned almost black in color...
Your little beauty actually looks like she is doing better. It's looks like the bloating/swelling has gone down since your first post. I've been thinking about her, and really do hope she pulls through. It sounds like she is in the care of good people Please, both of you, keep up the good work *hugs* :animal:
Tori