Update on Newt

Newt went to visit my vet today. Poor baby has been very lethargic the past two days. 

Dr Folland believes Newt's not currently strong enough to hold up his own body. His Metabolic Bone Disease is severe. 

They did a blood draw on him to test his blood calcium levels. He did NOT like the blood draw! 

As I held him, every so often Newt would vibrate to remind me he was very unhappy. It was so adorable! 

His calcium levels are normal (thanks to lots of supplements in the last 4 days) and so Newt got an injection of Calcitonin to help encourage his bones to re absorb the calcium. 

Now we just wait. I will continue to force feed him twice a day and take him in the sun daily. I hope he's able to pull through. 

More Pics of Finn

Finn is doing great. His scabs haven't grown back and he's quite adorable. He's decided that he likes being wrapped in a blankie at night.

Oh, and he might actually be a girl, but I haven't taken the time to check for sure. :)

Turbo's Surgery was Successful

(NOTE: Guess what? Turbo is actually a boy. He's about half the size he should be and looks more like a female. But he's a boy. Just to clarify the difference between this post & the last one on him)

Turbo went to see my awesome vet today. His surgery was a two part procedure. 

The first step was removing the large blood clot on the back of his head. Until the vet stopped a vessel from bleeding they had to bind his head tightly. As long as I held him and rocked him, he stayed calm and didn't try to scratch at his face. 

The second step was to sedate him and find out what was going on in his eye. 

It turns out that Turbo had a massive hematoma (blood clot) that started in his eyeball and spread into his face. Sadly, the eye was dead and had to be removed. 

He will have a week with external stitches and internal gauze in his incision along with antibiotic shots. 

In a week, we'll remove the gauze. In a few weeks, we'll surgically remove some of the dead skin and extra tissue on the back of his head. 

We expect him to have a full & complete recovery. 

Good news! 

Newt had a hard day too

Newt didn't want to get out of bed this morning. He's been weak and sluggish all day. :( 

Poor lil guy. It didn't occur to me until today that he might not make it. 

We just have to wait and see. The waiting is the hardest. 

Rocking the Baby

Turbo made it through the night and through the day. I just gave her more pain meds and dribbled Pedialyte in her mouth.

Her eye looks terrible and she's really lethargic. I have her wrapped in a towel and I'm rocking her. She's asleep and comfy. 

Poor baby. My awesome vet will see her tomorrow at 8:40 am. Then we will see if she can be saved. I sure am going to try! 

Turbo, rescue number 84

I know I said "No more iguanas!! And I meant it!! 

But I couldn't say no to Turbo. She (or he) is a 6 to 7 year old iguana with a SEVERE facial abscess/tumor growth affecting one whole side of her face. 

The pics are horrifying and I will only show you one. 

She is on the surgery schedule for my awesome vet on Monday, but after tonight, I am not sure if she'll make it that long. :( 

Her tumor ruptured and bled a lot. Then the swelling started. Her face is huge and so uncomfortable looking. Poor baby. I gave her some pain meds and put her to bed. 

It's just touch and go now. She should have a good chance to survive if she can make it to the vet Monday. 

I'll keep you posted. 

Newt, rescue number 83

Today-- even though I said over & over again that I didn't want to ever rescue another chameleon-- I rescued a chameleon.

Yep, I know.

But how could I resist this little guy?

This is Newt. He is a 5-ish month old male veiled chameleon with SEVERE Metabolic Bone Disease. Severe.

Because of rescuing other reptiles with MBD, I have all the supplies I need to treat his MBD: calcium injections, vet-grade calcium syrup, liquid calcium, three types of calcium powder, and an awesome brand-new, never used UVB light.

And awesome weather this weekend for outside time. Sunlight is the BEST MBD treatment ever.

So for now, I'll give him Critical Care every day and extra calcium. He's in a smaller cage to keep him contained so he won't fall or hurt himself. And this weekend will be good weather so I'll take him outside for a half hour every day.

Baby steps forward. I expect him to make a complete recovery.

Update on Finn

Great news! Finn's layers of scabs and dead tissue were removed to find he still has nostril holes. He doesn't have MBD and his mouth doesn't close right because the scarring on his upper lip. He should be able to breathe fairly normally once he is completely healed in another few weeks.

 It's always good news when the vet says "This is actually one of the healthier beardies you've ever brought in!" 

Animal Roll Call

Here's a picture view of all my current critters! 

Sancho: 

Miss Prissy pants:

Lucy:

Buddy:

Ryuu: (going home soon)

Princess: (available for adoption)

Allie: (about to be adopted)

Max: 

Milo:

Ziggy: 

Tiger: 

Hermy: (still hibernating)

Teddy:

Belle: 

Finn, rescue number 82

Even after 81 rescues, I can still be surprised by what I find. This is Finn, a 8 month old beardie I just rescued. I thought he would be a simple rescue. I knew he had a wound on his nose from a tank mate, but I expected it to be easy. 

Wrong! The wound is 2 to 3 weeks old and destroyed both of his nostrils and ripped open his sinus. Luckily, it does not go into the roof of his mouth. 

Finn has MBD and can't close his mouth because it's misshapen and can't close his mouth because that is the only way he can breathe. 

Oh and he spent 9 hours today in a cardboard box with no heat or lights or food or water. Only toilet paper. 

This is a beardie permanently wounded by Ignorance and Fear.