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Illness/Sickness: How long do salt baths take to show results?

bobafett417

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I am wondering, does anyone know how long does it take for repeated salt baths to show results? I have been using a salt bath on my mudpuppy over the last 3-4 days and haven't really seen drastic results. I am using the salt bath for a fungus, see link: http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...gus-not-responding-antifungal.html#post328957
The fungus is greatly reduced but, that is due to me scraping it off. The pieces I haven't scraped off are slowly spreading still. I have been doing 2 salt baths a day with 5 teaspoons of salt per 2 liters of water. I also have been exchanging and cleaning all the water he has been in. He looks pretty healthy outside of the fungus.
 

bobafett417

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UPDATE: My mudpuppy isn't doing as great as I hoped. I noticed that the fungus has spread to his gills now and I don't really think the salt baths are helping at all. I don't live in an area where there is an amphibian expert and am not sure what to do next. Suggestions? Any would help please. I haven't gotten a single bit advice on this matter and its frustrating me greatly.
 

bobafett417

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Thanks for the reply Dana! I thought I wasn't going to hear from anyone. I haven't tried to feed him yet but, I am pretty sure he will eat though. I haven't fed him because he was at a good weight and had a pretty big meal before all this happened. I read somewhere not to feed him while he is getting better unless he really needs it. I don't know if this true or not.

I wasn't sure about fridging him since the fridging was most associated with Axolotls and I wasn't sure how he would react. Although I suspected that fridging might slow down the spread of the fungus but, I could never find anywhere that said that.

I am concerned about the salt baths not working because it is spreading sooooo fast and it seems like the fungus is not being affected by the salt baths. I would think after today (it will be the fourth day in a row of salt baths twice a day) you would see some kind of recession in the fungus or a change in it instead of it growing and spreading further. At this rate, the fungus will cover 50% of his body in 2-3 days.

Today I tried to gently brush off the fungus off his gills so he can breath still, and his gill popped off of his gill branch. I am very concerned. How many salt baths a day do you recommend? I have been doing it twice a day. Also, as a last resort, today I started using a salt bath/anti-fungal bath to try and stop its spread.
 

vistajpdf

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Hi again. I wish I could be of more help. I have no experience here but wanted to know if you saw this link? Below is a paragraph I cut and pasted from the article which concerns me about the fungus and gills. I'm waiting for one of the experts here to jump in. You may want to private message one of them if they don't respond.

Caudata Culture Species Entry - Necturus maculosus

Stress on the animal should be kept to a minimum, as stressed animals are more likely to acquire fungal infection of the gills, which is usually fatal if untreated (personal observation). Many Necturus obtained from biological supply warehouses and similar commercial organizations perish from this sort of infection. Treatment usually involves the use of salt baths and/or medications and may require the assistance of a veterinarian. Gill size should also be monitored, as smaller gills may also signal an illness. No Necturus species undergoes metamorphosis, so gills will not shrink for this reason. Monitor gill size before attempting treatment, since size may fluctuate over time, or due to changes in water temperature and/or dissolved oxygen level.

Good luck and keep this link new so it is seen. I've received a lot of great help here, but I have fire bellied newts and frogs and a walking toad - no mudpuppies.

Dana
 

bobafett417

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I am just posting this as a help to others who may be looking to this forum for help. And as many forums don't go beyond more than the problem, I thought I would write the results of my efforts.

The fungus kept on spreading despite all the treatments that were recommended to me that were supposed to help. Nothing was working. The salt baths just seemed to stress him out and didn't help him at all. The fridging just slowed the spread of the fungus and just made a drawn out painful death. I was finally able to consult with a specialist who had all the top of the line medications available. We expedited a medication even though by the time it arrived, the fungus had taken over most of his body. I applied the medication one time in a last ditch effort but, it proved to be too much for his little body. The medication which I will not disclose, worked as when I applied it, some of the fungus melted right off. But, he died the next day.

For anyone seeking advice, I would say take this website with a grain of salt. Most of the people on here don't even help you. And the help you may get from some of the forums might harm your pet more than helping it.
 

markrimn

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I am just posting this as a help to others who may be looking to this forum for help. And as many forums don't go beyond more than the problem, I thought I would write the results of my efforts.

The fungus kept on spreading despite all the treatments that were recommended to me that were supposed to help. Nothing was working. The salt baths just seemed to stress him out and didn't help him at all. The fridging just slowed the spread of the fungus and just made a drawn out painful death. I was finally able to consult with a specialist who had all the top of the line medications available. We expedited a medication even though by the time it arrived, the fungus had taken over most of his body. I applied the medication one time in a last ditch effort but, it proved to be too much for his little body. The medication which I will not disclose, worked as when I applied it, some of the fungus melted right off. But, he died the next day.

For anyone seeking advice, I would say take this website with a grain of salt. Most of the people on here don't even help you. And the help you may get from some of the forums might harm your pet more than helping it.

That is unfortunate. My condolences on the loss of your pet.

But I wouldn't really trash this forum. You started off saying you had no amphibian specialists, which would be the first advice I would say to seek.

Secondly, despite all the pooled knowledge on this site, and other web sites, most of this is fly by the seat learn as you go. Most people on this site are only able to offer anecdotal advice which may or may not work, since your creature may or may not have the same problems.

Further, every creature reacts differently to different stimuli, not to mention the reaction of different fungi, and diseases. Sometimes illness and death are just unavoidable even if you have all the answers.

One last note: Why would you not disclose a medication, which by your account seemed to work, though it was to late for your creature, when said medication may be beneficial to another person who has a pet experiencing a very similar fungal infection? I would hope you would rather help another unfortunate soul out if you could, instead of withholding potentially life saving information.
 

bobafett417

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First, I can do whatever the hell I want. This forum was posted by me and I had only one member who attempted to chime in and help. It is a load of ****. I had this forum up for sometime and no one seemed to put any input. Yet, I posted a final message and you have seemed to respond in less than half a hour just to hear yourself talk. Why don't you go do something than waste your time trying to find problems or belittle my testimony. I am posting this not for you but, for the many other caudate owners that may be looking for this site for help. But, you are right, I meant to berate this site and not this forum. I have many friends who have used this site. Their comments about how most of the users here have an elitist view, is true. I am an upcoming herpetologist who is studying in the profession so, I am not inept in understanding how different treatments can affect different species, let alone different individuals. The specialist I consulted, is not for the public and after sometime begging him, the specialist decided to help me. So, as I said before, there are no specialists in my area. Don't try to make me sound like I'm a hypocrite just because you decided to hop on this forum so, you can get your ego stroked. The medicine will not be disclosed, plain and simple. If you can't figure out what that means, too bad.
 

markrimn

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First, I can do whatever the hell I want. This forum was posted by me and I had only one member who attempted to chime in and help. It is a load of ****. I had this forum up for sometime and no one seemed to put any input. Yet, I posted a final message and you have seemed to respond in less than half a hour just to hear yourself talk. Why don't you go do something than waste your time trying to find problems or belittle my testimony. I am posting this not for you but, for the many other caudate owners that may be looking for this site for help. But, you are right, I meant to berate this site and not this forum. I have many friends who have used this site. Their comments about how most of the users here have an elitist view, is true. I am an upcoming herpetologist who is studying in the profession so, I am not inept in understanding how different treatments can affect different species, let alone different individuals. The specialist I consulted, is not for the public and after sometime begging him, the specialist decided to help me. So, as I said before, there are no specialists in my area. Don't try to make me sound like I'm a hypocrite just because you decided to hop on this forum so, you can get your ego stroked. The medicine will not be disclosed, plain and simple. If you can't figure out what that means, too bad.

I have lurked here for several months but only just now became a member, but not because of your post. Thus far I have found most the preposted FAQ and guides to be very informative.

Once again sorry for your loss, and I hope all works out well for you in the future.
 
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