Illness/Sickness: Prolapse - please help

[Clairey Beary]

Hi everybody, i am pretty worried about my golden albino (Marmaduke) i have checked on my axies this morning and found he has the start of a prolapse. i have had baby axies in the past that have died from this and i was just wondering if anyone could give me any pointers or advice on how i can help my poor axie.

I have already popped him into a small tub of fresh dechlorinated water and put him in the fridge on the warmest setting. should i put some rubber gloves on and maybe gently try pushing it back in or should i leave him to settle in the fridge for a few days 1st?

Thank you in advance

Claire

 

[Clairey Beary]

Oh i forgot to mention that i have him and his tank mates on sand substrate, but i have noticed white bits around the tank, not in the shape of a normal spermatophore but clear with a white bit on it. maybe if this is him trying to lay them then this could be the cause??? But it could be one of my others as they are all male. Marmaduke is only around 10 months old but has been sexually mature for quite some months now, with the black toe tips and slightly swollen cloaca.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[Bellabelloo]

Would you be able to post a picture of his problem?. It will help enormously to identify the problem. Do not touch the area, if it is indeed a prolapse you could cause quite serious damage.

 

[Clairey Beary]

I will try and get a pic posted as soon as possible (he is a very active axie so might have to wait for my boyfriend to get in for an extra pair of hands).

i have been looking at other pics of prolapses on here. it is not the clear ones ive seen but pinky/reddy colour.

thanks

a very worried Claire

 

[Clairey Beary]

Here are 2 pictures of the prolapse and 1 of Marmaduke in his hopefully temporary home.



I hope somebody can help.

 

[oceanblue]

The pictures do look like a prolapse. In human medicine the treatment for rectal prolapses is to try to gently reduce the prolapse by pushing it back. The problem is that if the prolapsed tissue is necrotic then it will perforate and the animal will die. A vet may be able to reduce the prolapse more gently possibly under anaesthetic.

You are correct to fridge this axolotl for now. Maybe others will be able to offer more advice.

 

[Clairey Beary]

Thank you oceanblue! Im definately not going to try and push it back in. im going to keep him in the fridge and fingers crossed some ppl come back with some more info, in the mean time im trying to look for a vet near me that specialises in them if one exists. Ive got everything crossed for him. He doesnt look ill and seems his perky self. Lets hope it corrects itself

Thanks again

Claire

 

[Darkmaverick]

The only way to treat this prolapse is a reduction under anaesthetic and then a pexy (suturing to fix in place). There is no other permamenent cure. I would recommend you get it to a vet ASAP because prolapse is considered a critical emergency and requires very prompt treatment. Fridging is always a good palliative measure to reduce chances of secondary infections.

One other thing to note is that once an animal has a prolapse, there is a good chance a prolapse can recur again (if pexy not performed). The tissues holding in place becomes stretched and lax. Very often, euthanasia is another valid option. Not suggesting this is only solution, but do give it some thought.

 

[Clairey Beary]

Thank you darkmaverick, i will have a good hard think. i will also keep trying for a vet that can do the procedure. i will keep updated when anything new occurs.

thank you

Claire

 

[Bellabelloo]

. i have had baby axies in the past that have died from this and i was just wondering if anyone could give me any pointers or advice on how i can help my poor axie.

Out of curiousity, are the babies that died from this related to Marmaduke?. If so it is possible that there is a genetic problem here.

 

[Clairey Beary]

Hiya, no there is no relation. They were laid by my previous adults which died a couple years back.

 

[Clairey Beary]

Well good news everyone, Marmaduke's prolapse has gone totally back in by itself. I do have the number of a vet just incase this does happen again and he needs surgery. But fingers crossed.

Thanks for everyones help :O)

Claire and Marmaduke

 

[melfly]

Hi, glad he's better! Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again! Mel