Dying Axolotl please help

[tara]

injection no 3

Charlie is a little more active now, he lifted his head up to look at me yesterday, i was so thrilled that he had done that, it's better than no response. He still won't eat (nearly 3 weeks) but he is moving a bit more. The vet said he has a 50/50 chance, better than none. Of to the vet again later today, will keep you posted. Thankypu.

 

[tara]

injection no 4.

Charlie tried to eat a blood worm today he had it in his mouth then spat it out, but i think that is a good sign, at least he is now trying to eat,tomorrow i am going to try and tempt him with a piece of raw prawn. The vet said his blisters are slowly shrinking in size, so i still have my fingers crossed. He has one more injection to go, so we will wait and see what happens. Thankyou to those that have taken an interest in Charlie's outcome. I will keep you posted.

 

[tara]

injection no 5

Charlie has had his last injection for the time being, he ate a small piece of raw prawn today!. The vet said to keep up with the salt baths for a few more days and to watch him over the next 4-5 days. If he seems to get worse i have to take him back to the vet asap. So fingers crossed he will keep improving.

 

[John]

If he's really eating then I would say he's going to be ok. I must say that I'm very surprised he is improving after so long. I hope he eats properly for you. I often tell people after 10 days of the animal not eating that it's a goner. I really hope you are lucky (and you are very lucky to find a vet who knows about amphibians - probably because they're so common in Aus and NZ).

 

[tara]

Charlie looking ill.

Charlie may not make it but i take heart in the fact that i did everything i could for him, and the vet was wonderful! . I am interested in John's comment that if an axie doesn't eat for ten days then its a goner, why are we then told on this site that they can goes weeks without eating?. I am a little confused now. Yes John we are extremely lucky we have a vet that know something about axies, he said he finds them extremely interesting creatures. He said he would be willing to help any west aussie that needs help with their axie. So that is good to know for those of us that live in Perth. Thankyou.

 

[Kaysie]

They can survive for sometimes months without food, but if they've quit eating due to stress or illness, chances of getting them back on food diminish with every day.

 

[John]

Thank you Kaysie.

 

[tara]

ok

Ok thankyou, i understand now what John was saying.

 

[Hofnarr]

Hello tare,
If your Charlie has eaten so long nothing, you should try to offer to him small little pieces of chicken liver. His liver must start to work only again slowly. With such a long period, there can be big problems if you feed him the wrong or to plentiful feed. Chicken liver works like a blood transfusion. He gets important nutrients and minerals. The chicken liver helps Charlie's liver to function again. Worms do not have so many nutrients and fish is too heavy at the moment to digest. Every day a tiny piece of chicken liver and after three days a feed break. If he has recovered and snaps greedily at the feed, you can raise the feed amount. Daily a little more, however, do not exaggerate. But he could get stomachaches and it can come to a self-digestion.
I hope it goes out well and Charlie again becomes healthy!

 

[tara]

what is this?

Today when i checked on Charlie, there are these little bubbles on top of the water, they look like human saliva (spit). Does anyone know what they are?? Thanks

 

[kelladz]

Tara what do the blisters on your baby look like? Mine is having what sounds like the same trouble and it makes me cry to see her this way. Millie has blisters one her stomach and head.....her gills look like they have been eaten off or she has rubbed them on the rocks and she just sits there too. We really can't afford to take her to the vet however so injections are out of the question for us. We went to the pet shop last week who gave us some salt solution to put in the water....it has a few different kinds of salt and some tea tree oil in it....we have to put it in with every water change. Millie hadn't eaten anything for almost a week (we usually feed her worms and she was taking one big one every night - still hadn't grown any though since we bought her in April) last night I tried her on some liver that we had in the freezer and she took 2 little pieces and kept them down.

I am at a loss as to what to do...she has been like this now for about 2 weeks. What do you do with salt baths? I might try this. I don't really want to put her in the fridge but that might also be an option...however she is on sand so can't have swallowed gravel and isn't swollen.

 

[newtsrfun]

I wouldn't try to use the main tank to treat the axi, use a sperate container that is free from bacteria and easy to change water out of. A tubberware or other plastic container of a liter is a good size. Mixce up a salt solution, with some slime coat enhancing water conditioner, and some of the teatree oil, and put the axolotl in that for a few days, changing the water every day.

 

[tara]

sorry to hear that

Hi Kelladz, Charlie's blisters look like two small round circles on top of his head, that are raised and a different colour to him. The blisters are lighter in colour. Our vet only charged me $55 for all Charlie's treatment. The blisters started off small then got bigger, now after treatment they are very, very, small. I also did salt baths i put Charlie in a 2 litre ice cream container, with aged water and 4 teaspoons of sea salt left him in the bath for 10 minutes, then took him out and put him in his recovery tank, i never put him in the fridge but.......that was my choice. I don't think after all this that Charlie is going to make it, as he is now on his side and not moving, i just pray he doesn't suffer any more, it breaks my heart to see him like this. I did salt baths twice a day for over a week.He didn't seem to mind the baths at all. My very best wishes with your little one, i know how hard it is.

 

[niajetze]

very sad to here that ... after all he has gone through I was really crossing my fingers for you

 

[tara]

thanks

Thankyou Carrie for your kind words. Regards Tara.

 

[purkle]

So sorry to hear about your wee one it sounds heartbreaking. You have tried your best though and i'm sure he knows it

 

[tara]

update on Charlie

Well i decided to put Charlie back into his big tank with his mates last night, i thought he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Well this am he was walking around a little so i thought i will take the advice of Hofnarr and try some chicken liver, the butcher thought i was crazy (probably am) so i fed Charlie a little piece and he woofed it down!! i could not believe it, so now i will keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't vomit it back up. As he is back with the others i have to watch him more closely, i hand feed them all so i know that they have all eaten today. Charlie is still very ill but he isn't giving up and neither am i. He has a long journey ahead but we will do it together, and what will be will be. For those of you that have a sick little axie, never give up hope, these little creatures are amazing.

 

[MelanieK]

Will keep my fingers crossed for your Charlie. Eating is always a good sign!

 

[g_k]

good luck with charlie tara. been reading this and been keeping my fingers crossed for him. i just hope mine never gets sick like that.

 

[Nina]

Hi tara,
hope charlie is going ok.
im in perth too and my axie is sick, who is your vet? it sounds like what is wrong with mine is very similar, apart from the blisters.