Bruised and swollen

[PatchworkClocks]

You might want to consider a vet visit at this point. The fact he won't use that leg is worrying in itself, and you'll also want to figure out what's wrong with his eating habits.

 

[SariYappa]

So sorry for Wooper
Have you already tried a vet? Do you have access to one near you?
Good luck!!

 

[snuggly time]

I found one who said they would take a look but they haven't seen an axolotl before. To be honest I'd have to wait until the end of the month because I've run out of cash with it being a 5 week month.

Not really sure how they could help at the moment if they don't have much experience. I am thinking about maybe fridging him for a few days and seeing if that helps. I gave him a really small baby worm a few mins ago so will see how he copes with that.

 

[PatchworkClocks]

I found one who said they would take a look but they haven't seen an axolotl before. To be honest I'd have to wait until the end of the month because I've run out of cash with it being a 5 week month.

Not really sure how they could help at the moment if they don't have much experience. I am thinking about maybe fridging him for a few days and seeing if that helps. I gave him a really small baby worm a few mins ago so will see how he copes with that.

Maybe ask around at pet shops and the vet clinic you're going to if there are any specialist vets who have more knowledge on amphibians. Fridging him in a case like this probably won't help all that much. He needs to be fed, and while he's in the fridge, he won't want to eat.

 

[snuggly time]

Wooper's seen a vet, I found an exotics vet who also cares for amphibians (International Zoo Vet Group in Halifax in case anyone ever needs to know in the West Yorkshire area). He's now on a course of antibiotic injections and they took a culture by needle to be sent off, so we will know what it is by next week hopefully.

I have to do the injections myself, it's like trying to hold down a bar of soap that wriggles and flips around. So by the end of this week I think we're both going to be rather stressed out! *Fingers crossed*

 

[PatchworkClocks]

Glad to hear you found some help! Wishing the best for Wooper.

 

[snuggly time]

Woke up this morning and checked on him and I think he now has fungus. When we were at the vets he got so stressed out he burst a blood vessel on the end of his tail which bled for quite a while. She eventually stopped the bleeding by holding an ice-cube to it for a few seconds. So it looks like it might be fungus at the end of his tail.

I can't salt bath because he's got an open wound which has been bleeding all night from where the vet took a culture of the infection. I have Indian Almond Leaves in his tub, so I'll put some fresh ones in this morning when I move him to a clean tub. If that doesn't work I suppose it can't hurt to try a tea bath?

Poor thing, I have to inject him again today so I'm thinking that's going involve a lot more blood loss. If anyone has any injecting techniques which involve minimum fuss and stress on the axie please let me know... >.<

 

[snuggly time]

This is just from picking him up and moving him to a clean tub.. I'm so worried about handling him later.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Poor little guy. And what a dilemma The antibiotics need to be given at the correct intervals or they will be less effective, but the bleeding is a concern. I think I would proceed with the next injection and then keep him cool and dark till you can speak to your vet for further advice.

 

[snuggly time]

Update on Wooper. His side has a hole in it where it was bleeding but it seems to be very dark so hopefully it's healing. The swelling has gone down a lot. There's 2 more injections to do, one tonight so hopefully that will go ok. The last one wasn't too bad. He bled a bit but not as much as he had in the morning. I'm not handling him to move and clean him out, I'm just scooping him into a small tub whilst I clean his bigger one out. He seems ok with this as he hasn't stressed out too much.

I Keep offering him small worms and he's not interested, but I'll keep trying!

 

[PatchworkClocks]

What a trooper you have there! Glad to hear the bleeding has stopped. I'm not sure if you should or want to try, but if he keeps refusing to eat, there is a force-feeding tutorial. Of course you should probably wait until after your last dose of antibiotics, but if his weight starts to become a problem, force-feeding might be your only option if he won't take the food on his own. At the moment I would just put his refusal to eat down to stress, and it could possibly be the medication messing with his appetite as well. But you know, just something to keep in mind.

 

[snuggly time]

I have discussed force feeding with the vet. The problem with Wooper is, if he's not happy he will throw everything up. So there's a chance we would force it and he would be sick anyway. I'll tackle that obstacle if and when I need to. At them moment we're keeping handling to a minimum so he doesn't open that wound again.

 

[snuggly time]

Wooper got the all clear from the vets today. His infection seems to have gone so the antibiotics have worked well. The wound on his side looks sore but seems to be healing well.

Just need him to eat now! He ate a few bloodworms the other day, but not many. I bought some waxworms today to hopefully tempt him into eating and gaining weight. He's not so interested in them though.

I put him back in his tank when we got in. Hoping perhaps his usual surrounding will chill him out and get him back to normal.

 

[snuggly time]

Here's some very bad update photos. Sorry my camera is rubbish and he wouldn't sit still!

The first two are of the wound that is healing from the vets needle. The third is the original wound which has healed over now - pleased about that.

 

[Petersgirl]

Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry I didn't know about all this. Wooper the Trooper has pulled through, though!
I hope he starts eating soon. Good luck to both of you Beks!

 

[Amy82]

I am so happy to see Wooper is doing better! :rofl:

Did the vet ever say what specifically was wrong? Broken leg + infection or did the infection cause the leg to be all wonky?

 

[snuggly time]

It was the infection which made the leg swell up. It was a stab wound in his side, once the first swelling went down it was visible. Still not sure how he did it. I've removed most of his plastic plants in case it was them, but they feel too soft. Checked all the other ornaments and they seem fine.

She said it was a strong strain of bacteria which had infected him. But she gave the right antibiotics.

He's started eating again now. He's had a worm for the last 3 days, no problem. I think he's pleased to be back in his tank. He had about 2 hours of exploring and not sitting still!