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Post by WillemsMom on Jan 15, 2004 16:59:18 GMT -8
I'm just getting caught up on posts I've missed, and this is a wonderful thread. It is clear, Shaun, that you will do anything for your ig. I love the thought that it might be pistachio nut shells. Sure fits your vets description. I like what Debbie said about the Vet insurance. So far, Will has enjoyed good health, but I can see how the igs of well-educated and loving owners can still become seriously ill. And I LOVE what Tesa said about taking charge! That is so true. Applies to our own health too. And a special Blessing for your Dad. How great that he understands. I'll be following your thread and pray for the best outcome.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 16, 2004 18:14:59 GMT -8
Pistachio shells! Wow! I wonder how long it would take them to break down? I'd like to help out financially. Can you PM me your vet's address and phone number, and I'll send some money Orko's way.
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Post by Desiree on Jan 17, 2004 5:12:09 GMT -8
I am so sorry to hear about Orko. I hope he is going to be ok. Keep us posted
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Post by Shaun on Jan 17, 2004 14:06:49 GMT -8
*REALLY LONG* Thanks for the offer Steph but it looks like we have things sorted out. For the last four days Orko has been staying with the vet in the hopes of having the surgery done. The vet decided surgery should be the last option and a bunch of drugs later I got to pick Orko up today for the whopping price of 359$. So as of today we have 600$ into Orko and no surgery. We brought this to the vets attention along with the fact that I'm college student making 6.25$ an hour. He told me that if Orko didn't make a complete recovery he would do the surgery for 200$ no strings attached, so I guess that works out. If he heals now then it would be the same price as if he had had the surgery done. The vet also gave me FOUR things to give Orko, which is going to be a real pain in the arse to give. Is it normal for an iguana to hate humans after staying with a vet for four days? It was like Orko had become wild, biting and whiping, he even shyed away from my hand. However when I got him home he went back to his old sweet self. He also ate a piece of collard green the size of three of his heads and an equally large piece of mustard green out of my hand. When I put him in his cage I found a nice surprise... HIS HEATING LIGHT BURNED OUT , so after replacing that he got a salad with melon in it. He ate that with about as much passion as I've ever seen him eat anything, atleast 8 chunks of fruit with other greens accidently eaten as well. I'm really hoping this is a sign of improvement, but there was one day when he ate like this with the parazap. *crosses fingers*
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Post by Shaun on Jan 17, 2004 14:10:58 GMT -8
Also the vet said the density didn't look right for it to be shells. I saw the newest xray and there was no sign of any objects, but the lower region seemed denser then in the pictures with the objects. I should of taken pictures of the xrays.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 18, 2004 14:23:57 GMT -8
I'm so glad to here that Orko is doing so much better! Keep us posted on his recovery.
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Post by Debbie on Jan 18, 2004 16:42:50 GMT -8
Hey Shaun I'm glad to hear the Orko will not need surgery and I am glad that your Vet is going to work with you about the money. When we picked Miss Zak up from the vet, He kindly said that will be $320.50! I be that in the last 5 years that we have had Iggys we have prob spewn about $1,000 to $1,500 on vet bills and things that they need. As far as the medicine goes, giving an iguana medicine by mouth is not all that fun. We had to give Iggy medicine by mouth for a period of 1 week and we had to pull down on his dewflap to make him open his mouth and then hurry up and squirt the med into the back of his mouth with the syringe. Let me tell you that is scarry when you pull open the mouth of a 5 1/2' Ig! I have gotten back some pics of Miss Zak and Iggy and Bam-Bam. One of the pics I took was of Miss Zak's belly full of stitches. As soon as Blake gets them loaded on photobuckets I will post the pics. Miss Zak is eating very well now and she is pooping almost every day. We feel that she is going to make a complete recovery from all that she has been through. I will post pics soon. Debbie Iggy Bam-Bam and Miss Zak.
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Post by Shaun on Jan 18, 2004 17:39:46 GMT -8
Yeah I bet that's intimidating, I really don't like having to give him four different things oraly, when it was just the syringe of water it was a pain in the butt. He ate fairly well today, about as much as yesterday. He went to the bathroom today too, and there was a hardened chunk of white urate in it. It was about as long as this: _____, it wasn't smooth and oval shaped though, it looked like it had been broke into pieces and there were other smaller shards. I'm hoping that the rest will come out in the future.
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Post by Tesa on Jan 18, 2004 18:14:20 GMT -8
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ya! I'm still worried tho. What kind of meds did the doc give you? Something about this sounds fishy to me.......but then again I'm a terrible skeptic/cynic! Keep us updated
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Post by Shaun on Jan 18, 2004 19:09:43 GMT -8
Well the panacur for the pin worms was 19.99. I also have:
Cisapryde syrup - 19.99 Metronidazole - 19.99 Baytrill -19.99 Calciquid - 19.99
I'm not really sure what each one of them does.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 20, 2004 22:20:34 GMT -8
My opinion is that you call the vet and ask specifically what each med is for. Make sure you log it in your "ig diary," if you have one (if not, start one). If these meds are antibiotics, you don't want to give them too often, so keeping track of that may help you in the future.
If you are giving any antibiotics, I'd also ask the vet what to give Orko to help rebuild his natural intestinal flora. Which makes me wonder if this "mass" was undigested food. Which could mean there's a lack of the necessary bacteria. Just thinking outloud... but it may be worth exploring.
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Post by jiffypop on Jan 21, 2004 5:10:13 GMT -8
I have no idea what the Cisapryde is, never heard of it. Metronidazole is the generic name for Flagyl, an antibacterial. Baytril is also an antibiotic and tastes horrible!! The Calciquid is a calcium supplement. I'd also be concerned about getting some probiotics into Orko after the antibiotic treatment is done. Ask your vet or you can find the products online. Some familiar names are Nutribac, Benebac, and Acidophiliz. Best wishes for Orko's quick recovery.
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Post by WillemsMom on Jan 22, 2004 17:46:13 GMT -8
I'm so glad there are members replying who know something about ig meds. I'm drawing a total blank on this, but I wish for you and Orko excellent medical support.. the very best of everything else.
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Post by SurvivorSteph on Jan 23, 2004 20:06:22 GMT -8
Jiffypop... do you think he needs to wait until after the antibiotic treatment to start the probiotics? Would the probiotics support Orko's immune system during the treatment and keep him from becoming too out of balance?
(OK, I'm not an ig...) but I've been on antibiotics for about 5 years straight, and I have to keep an intake of probiotics to keep all my friendly bacteria cultures on top of things, so that makes me wonder if even short term AB use would warrant probiotic use ASAP.
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Post by jiffypop on Jan 26, 2004 5:45:20 GMT -8
I really don't think that any probiotics will be beneficial until the meds are done. The ABX will just kill of any good bacteria that is introduced. I use a product called Salad Topper, sold by CricketFood.com, that has like 37 nutrients plus probiotics in it. It can be used daily, sprinkled over their salad. I can't vouch for long term use of this product since I've only been using it since August, but the lizards have been healthy and stools look good all the time now.
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