Illness/Sickness: Help!!! Dear loved hatchling Crowbar bloated,I I think...

[tigmades]

Thanks for your reply Morrison.

I agree, the hole-poking should be used as a last resort, but I fear I will wait until it's too late. He hasn't eaten for 3 days and for a hatchling that's concerning... and he's just so big..... I fear he'll be dead by tomorrow.... it's a tough call. I'm just hoping if I do end up poking, he'll be tough enough to endure the stress and heal fine. I think if he hasn't eaten for 3 days, there's not a good chance he'll eat in the future, since he has less and less room. He's already near bursting and I can't imagine if the pressure build up in his system is doing his organs any good. Poor heart

 

[tigmades]

Well, I ended up popping him.. He didn't squirm so hopefully it didn't hurt... Turns out that was all fluid build up!! O.O Now I'm wondering if it's due to some other genetic problem... We'll just wait and see I guess. For now, I'll keep him separate, in a calm, dark environment. I think he's going to pull through! Biggest fear: it happens again. I guess only time will tell. I'll give up update tomorrow, for if he survives until then I have bright hopes for recovery!!

Any wild suggestions for why there was a fluid build up?

 

[tigmades]

Well he's still alive but looks like he's still not eating. I'm not sure if he's constipated? I think I saw the same string of poop leading out of his body as yesterday......

Here's a pic of the de-bloated chump!

So what do people do about constipated hatchlings??

 

[maghan6]

Just wanted to say I'm glad little crowbar made it through the night! Im not experienced enough to offer advice in this situation, but I know you're doing every thing you can for him. This little fighter has touched my heart, and I just wanted to say my thoughts are with you both!

 

[Morrison]

Aww what a little fighter

Maybe he's not eating yet because he's still not feeling well. Maybe it'll take some time. Glad the fluid is out.

Not sure though if it will come back. I hope not. Or else you'll end up doing weekly poke-a-hole-treatments until it's over. That would be madness.

Is he still in the fridge?

 

[tigmades]

Thanks guys for all your words of encouragement and help/opinions!

I'm thinking if it does come back, well.. I'll have to see how it affects Crowbar. If he doesn't go off his food most of that time, and doesn't seem to be suffering, and it comes down to doing a weekly poke, I'd do it. If I were Crowbar, I think a poke from "The Doc" once a week is worth living through rather than euthanasia. I'll just have to make sure that if I feel he's suffering, I don't let that cloud my decision...

For now, I'm just so relieved he's decided to stick around

Also: I noticed his tail kink is fading... it's nearly straight!! Genetics, are you fixing your own issue??

Thanks again guys! I'll keep you updated!

 

[axolotl newbie]

Hi is Crowbar still in the fridge? If he is that could explain why he's not eating. I would definitely take him out and see if his appetite increases.

 

[tigmades]

Oh no, he was only in the fridge for I think 8 hours? He hasn't been put back in since, and he still won't eat.

He was actually pretty weak today in comparison to yesterday... I think he's on the decline again! Arg! It'd be pretty impossible to force-feed an axie ~1" long without a high risk of doing some damage in the process... it's been 4.5 days since he's eaten anything and he won't take any form of food, and I fear there's nothing I can do but continue to wait... either that or help him along rather than watch him starve to death.

If it comes down to that, what is considered the most humane way to cull a hatchling?

 

[FX1C]

http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/euthanasia.shtml

I'm sure you'll know if it's necessary or not - no one knows crowbar like you do.

I'll keep rustling my pompoms & cheering for the little guy to recover - but it's easy to forget crowbar is only 1" long & has an uphill battle ahead
He's been such a fighter.



<3 >o_o< <3

 

[Morrison]

How's he doing now?

 

[tigmades]

I believe he has passed on. This morning when I checked on him, there might have been a flicker of movement, not sure. I had to leave the house - I have university and an exam today... I'm quite certain that if he was alive, he isn't now. I just didn't want to do anything with him before I could be certain. He went over 5 days without eating.... Is that long enough for a hatchling to starve?

I figure there must have been some other genetically problem... RIP my little Crowbar

 

[FX1C]

I'm sure the fact that he was misshapen from the start meant he was battling something big from the start

RIP Crowbar
Rainbow Bridge is your hide now.

For a little guy he sure won some hearts. You can rest easy you did the very best you could for your little one.



<3 >o_o< <3