Illness/Sickness: Bloated/huge belly/ascites/oedema??

Hi there

I'm very worried because my leucistic axie Hermes has been increasing steadily in size for the past couple of months. It's been very gradual and it wasn't until I went away this weekend that I realised just how big he's got. I read a previous post by jenniepeg and her axie was much bigger, but I fear he's going the same way and that he will only get bigger. He's struggling to move around now and I'm not entirely sure how much he is eating (two axies). I initially thought that it might be a change in the water as I have recently moved from Kent (where the water is quite hard) to Lancashire (where the water is soft in comparison), but after reading a few articles I'm worried it may be ascites or oedema caused by heart or liver problems. I have included some pictures. Can someone give me some advice/a good vet to go to near Chorley/Blackpool, please.

Leanne - very worried axie owner!

Hi just had a look at the photos. Could is possibly be that your axolotl has managed to eat some of the pebbles in your tank? From what i could see they seem to be of 'edible' size for an axolotl. I would remove them leaving just a sand substrate and fridge hermes in the hope that if this it the case it will be passed out. Hope everything works out and there is good news soon.

It may be stones, but if he's that big I think it should go to a vet. Hopefully someone else can help you out on this. Hope he gets better.

I think your only choice is a vet visit. Maybe print off the post by jenniepeg and take it with you so the vet may refer to it.

Has your axolotl got bigger after you moved to the soft water area?

hi, sorry to hear about your poorly axie if its the same problem as my Darnell, i'm afraid it wont go away, i took Darny to the vets to be drained twice a few months ago, and he was doing great but hes just started to start getting big again :'( hes not as big as he was when i got him though. I am taking him to the vets again in a few weeks (payday) to see what they recommend. Have you got a vet near you willing to treat your axie?

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies! Unfortunately I think Hermes is getting worse. He doesn't appear to be eating very much though he does actively attempt to eat the food. He appears to be having problems eating it! Almost like he can't swallow. His tail is curled at the end and when I look at his tummy it's moving as if he's having contractions!

I'm going to try and get him to a specialist vet at the weekend if I can, but I need to find one. I am a qualified veterinary nurse and i know that if this is a heart/liver/kidney problem there's not much I can do, and I may have to accept euthanasia as his only treatment as I don't think it's fair to stress him out by taking him to the vet all the time.

In reply to the stones, the picture doesn't show it properly I don't think he could eat them and besides he's had the exact same pebbles in his tank for around 5 years! In response to the question about change of water, yes he has started getting bigger since the change in water and my move from South East to North West.

If anyone can give me anymore ideas that would be really great!

Leanne

RIP Hermes

Hi everyone

Thanks very much for your help, but I have to report that Hermes has unfortunately been euthanased today! RIP my beautiful boy!

He did have ascites and we tried Baytril antibiotic for 1 week (under direction of a vet), but no change so I felt it was best to put him out of his pain and distress.

Again thanks to everyone who helped!

Leanne