Sedation when going to the vet

[Stez]

I'm taking my axie to the vet tomorrow - he has a large lump on his arm as you might've seen from my other thread - I hate to spam, but I could really use some input before I take him (for anyone interested, I got the number for an axolotl specialist with whom my vet will consult with after he's examined him.) You can delete this after tomorrow if you don't want me clogging up the board!

Now, my question is this: Could I sedate him with a few drops of clove oil to pacify him for the car journey? It's only about 10 minutes there and back, but I think it will be incredibly stressful for him given that he is quite sick. I don't want him to make himself any worse. The fatal dose is far more than a drop or two, so I don't think it will do any damage, but I could do with some opinions from people who might be knowledgeable on the topic of sedation.

Any help much appreciated!

 

[birdsong]

While I have no sedation experience I would suggest putting him in a sealable container and filling it to the top to minimize shipping with maybe some stress coat in a light proof bag I would not sedate in any way since you don't know if he will have a reaction or if it would be more potent in his weak state .

 

[LSuzuki]

I agree, don't sedate. What I did when I had to take mine to the vet was put them in a containers with lids and put the containers in a cooler with some towels to keep it from bumping around in the cooler. The cooler kept the light out, so less stress.

 

[LSuzuki]

Oh, and, good luck!

And your post is not in anyway spam - people search this forum all the time, and they will find these questions and answers. So, you have just added to the body of knowledge here. :happy:

 

[Skudo09]

I would not sedate him at all. Sedating him without knowing the best dose to give him safely could result in overdosing. Also because he is sick he may be more sensitive to the sedation. I agree with Laura on the container with lids in a cooler with towels.

 

[herpvet]

I'm taking my axie to the vet tomorrow - he has a large lump on his arm as you might've seen from my other thread - I hate to spam, but I could really use some input before I take him (for anyone interested, I got the number for an axolotl specialist with whom my vet will consult with after he's examined him.) You can delete this after tomorrow if you don't want me clogging up the board!

Now, my question is this: Could I sedate him with a few drops of clove oil to pacify him for the car journey? It's only about 10 minutes there and back, but I think it will be incredibly stressful for him given that he is quite sick. I don't want him to make himself any worse. The fatal dose is far more than a drop or two, so I don't think it will do any damage, but I could do with some opinions from people who might be knowledgeable on the topic of sedation.

Any help much appreciated!

Hello,

Unless you're experienced in sedating him I certainly wouldn't advise it, particularly without discussing with the vet who is going to be examining him. Sedation or anaesthesia, like all drugs, has a variety of potential side effects and should never be undertaken lightly.

There is potentially a risk with any stress to an ill animal, and in theory it is arguable whether the "psychological" stress of the travel is worse than the physiological stress of any sedation (and probably in practice unknowable), but with an ill axolotl properly managed transport should be less risky than sedation in my opinion.

Hope he gets sorted out.

Bruce.

 

[Stez]

Ok, I won't sedate him - thanks for the responses. He's been in the fridge for 4 days now, so he's a little less active than he was, and isn't stressing himself out as much. Might it be a good idea to put an ice cube or two in his tub for the journey, just to slow him down a tiny bit more/keep the water cold?

 

[herpvet]

Ok, I won't sedate him - thanks for the responses. He's been in the fridge for 4 days now, so he's a little less active than he was, and isn't stressing himself out as much. Might it be a good idea to put an ice cube or two in his tub for the journey, just to slow him down a tiny bit more/keep the water cold?

I would say that's a good idea, it will help reduce the rate of any water temperature change for him - maybe even take some in a cool box to add to his water on the journey home as well so he doesn't warm up so much - the less/slower any temperature change the better in general.

Good luck with him.

 

[Stez]

They thought it might be an inflammation or an infection, and are consulting with the specialist axolotl vet in Morpeth before they contact me with any further information.

One question: He still isn't nipping at my finger, so I assume he wouldn't eat a worm - however he has been in the fringe for 4 days, so his metabolism is slowed right down, and he isn't very active. Does the water temperature have any bearing on how likely he is to eat?

 

[CatSpit]

That's so great that you took him in to be seen by a vet in consultation with a specialist - I hope you get good news and he recovers nicely.

 

[LSuzuki]

Yes, cold suppresses metabolism and appetite. Good luck!

 

[Stez]

The specialist really couldn't tell us much from the picture, so based on the fact that he has a lot of swelling on his left arm, and his legs are slightly redder than usual, we decided that it is most likely an infection. I'm to give him one injection of 0.01ml Baytril, twice a day. I just gave him his first, and it went better than expected. Is it best to keep him fridged while he's on antibiotics?

 

[LSuzuki]

Good question. I don't know if the antibiotics would work better or less well with refrigeration. Perhaps your vet could ask the expert?

Regardless, if you change the temperature, do it slowly.

 

[birdsong]

I would say no because it will slow his metabolism thus slowing his metabolizing of the meds but I am not a vet so this is just my humble opinion good luck and let us know if he gets better