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Illness/Sickness: Urgent: swollen head

axolotl newbie

axolotl newbie

New member
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
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Brighton
Burrito is now looking worse- I've started a new thread as I don't know how to edit the title of the existing one which is here

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...58-sick-axolotl/89701-swollen-bottom-jaw.html

Her head has now come up in a dome shape. The roads are closed due to snow and the nearest exotic vet is over an hour away. I think I'm going to put her in the fridge. Here is a picture of her today
 

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Oh my! That looks like it's gotten much worse! Poor Burrito :(

Perhaps fridging while you work out how to get to the vet will help to keep your lotls metabolism slowed - I really think you need some vet attention urgently.

I'll keep my fingers crossed & I hope you get some better answers than mine soon.




<3 >o_o< <3
 
axolotl newbie said:
Burrito is now looking worse- I've started a new thread as I don't know how to edit the title of the existing one which is here

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-be...58-sick-axolotl/89701-swollen-bottom-jaw.html

Her head has now come up in a dome shape. The roads are closed due to snow and the nearest exotic vet is over an hour away. I think I'm going to put her in the fridge. Here is a picture of her today
Click to expand...

Im so sorry for your burrito, i am very curious to know what is wrong with him. Its pretty weird! I cant think of what could be wrong as you said you have checked for things lodged etc.

Is he still eating? How is he acting?
Its very unusual. Did you notice him acting differently before it started to swell? More aggressive, unusual behavior etc.
 
She's been absolutely fine until Saturday, when I noticed her throat looked a bit puffy. She's been eating and acting normally until then, although I did notice her snapping at the plastic plants and assumed she'd maybe scratched the inside of her mouth. I suppose it still could be that. I'm going to call and email my nearest exotic vet even though there's no way I can get there today because apparently Sussex can't cope with even the smallest sprinkling of snow and I don't have a car.
 
axolotl newbie said:
She's been absolutely fine until Saturday, when I noticed her throat looked a bit puffy. She's been eating and acting normally until then, although I did notice her snapping at the plastic plants and assumed she'd maybe scratched the inside of her mouth. I suppose it still could be that. I'm going to call and email my nearest exotic vet even though there's no way I can get there today because apparently Sussex can't cope with even the smallest sprinkling of snow and I don't have a car.
Click to expand...

Keep us updated. Its possible its a infection but i guess you cant really tell
 
I would also think it's an infection. I hope you're able to get Burrito to the vet soon.
 
I had a telephone consultation with the exotics vet but their computer system was down so she wasn't able to look at the pictures I sent her. She is hopeful that she will be able to offer me more help tomorrow. However I am feeling increasingly anxious about what it might cost me to see them and the travel time is 1 1/2 hours each way on public transport, and it's likely she'd require more than one visit.
I am waiting to hear back from my own vet to see if he will help me look inside her mouth, but the receptionist thought it would be unlikely he'd be prepared to even do that. The exotics vet told me how to do it myself using the corner of a credit card which I have just done very briefly. The roof of her mouth is very swollen, corresponding to the swelling on top of her head.

Somebody suggested tea baths may help in the mean time. What do you think?
 
I've just found out that another local vet practice treats exotics. Although they are not experts they all have basic exotics husbandry skills and are happy to liaise with expert vets at other practices. They sound great and both receptionists I spoke to were very excited to be meeting an axolotl. So I'm taking her in tomorrow morning :)
 
She's just eaten a little bit of prawn, despite having been in the fridge all afternoon, and she seemed a bit stronger and surprisingly active. The swelling hasn't gone down at all but I'm feeling very encouraged that she wanted to eat. Will she be able to digest it in the fridge?
 
I took Burrito to the vet this morning and they took a sample from the swelling on her head, which was thick yellow pus, so she is being treated for an abscess.They gave her the first of a course of 3 injections of Baytril, and has to go back on Saturday and Tuesday for the others.

She looks slightly more swollen since this morning, but I'm guessing it's from being poked around.

They were absolutely brilliant at the clinic and Burrito was a massive hit. They haven't treated an axolotl before but consulted the vet I spoke to on the phone on Monday. They asked if they could take her photo so they could put her on their Facebook page. I'll send a link if this happens.

Thanks everyone for your help- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she makes a full recovery, and have removed all the fake plants from her tank as I suspect her biting them may be what caused the abscess.
 
I'm so happy I found them. They'd done a load of research in advance of our appointment, and although we will be seeing a different vet on Saturday the one who treated her today took her through to the the other vet to show him how to give the injection on Saturday.

They were so interested in her and asked loads of questions. One of the receptionists seemed particularly taken with her, despite her current appearance! I wouldn't be surprised if they end up getting some for the waiting room!

I can't recommend them enough. They weren't mentioned on the list of vets on here so wondering if they could be added somehow. They are called Coastway Veterinary Clinic and they have a branch here in Brighton, and another in Portslade, where it turns out they have an exotic specialist.

Brighton & Hove's Favourite Vet | Coastway Veterinary Group

The specialist I spoke to on the phone, and who advised Coastway on how to treat her is Melissa Nollet from the Seers Croft clinic

Seers Croft vets for small and exotic animals, Crawley and Horsham West Sussex

I hope this will be helpful to any members in Sussex :)
 
wow that is good news :D

I shall keep my fingers crossed for burrito to make a speedy recovery.

You're such a good axie carer for taking him off to the vet & for spotting the swelling so early at the very start! *medal*



<3 >o_o< <3
 
She looks a little bit better already. I think the roof of her mouth is still quite swollen as she still can't close her mouth fully, but the dome on top of her head has gone down a little and she seems a bit happier. She doesn't really want to eat but that's no surprise really.
 
She had her second injection today. It was all different staff there today- all equally friendly and enthusiastic and everybody came out to meet her. She's definitely more interested in food but still finding it difficult with her swollen mouth, so I think I'll see if she fancies some frozen bloodworm as they will be easier for her to swallow.
 
I'm so glad she's feeling better and wanting to eat!
I'm sure with the awesome care between you and the vet she'll continue to make an awesome recovery :)
 
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