HELP NEEDED! (swollen eyes, not active)

[Anastasia Clark]

Hi! I have a 10 month old tegu. I've had her since she was 5 months old. When I first got her, she ate really well and was really active. She then started to slow down, started to not eat and stayed buried most of the time. I assumed that she was trying to brumate since it was cold outside. Recently, she has been puffing her eyelids out it looks like. I'm not really sure how to explain it because I'm not really sure what's going on. We pulled all of her substrate out and found what looked to be mites. So we cleaned her enclosure and now she is just on paper towels because of how bad her eyes are. I bought some antimicrobial eye drops and I'm administering them 3-4 times a day. At first, she immediately starting moving around more and her eyes were looking better. They quit getting puffy and she seemed happier. After a week, we reduced the eyedrops to twice a day and she went right back to how she was. We then upped it back up to 3-4 drops a day and she's making slow progress. I just want to know if anyone has any opinions on what could be wrong.

We were using cypress mulch, we also have lucky herp UVB bulb 10.0 that we just replaced, her diet consist of ground turkey meat with calcium supplement. She has eaten twice since all of this has happened and has had 1 bowel movement. We are trying to find a vet to take her to, but in the meantime I am just trying to ease my mind. I have been trying to research and read everything I can to try and get close to an answer, but I can't find anything close to what I'm experiencing. I will post a photo, but I will say to open at your own risk. It's pretty bad.

Thank you so much in advance and I will answer any questions you may have.


Also the photo was taken before we got the mulch out. When she first started doing it.

 

[rantology]

I don't have any advice for you beyond vet, asap. But I wish you the best of luck, poor baby

 

[Walter1]

Not sure if a vitamin deficiency or infected from something that shouldn't be in its eyes.

 

[Anastasia Clark]

I don't have any advice for you beyond vet, asap. But I wish you the best of luck, poor baby

Thank you. With covid going on it’s been difficult to get her in anywhere. But I’m doing the best I can. It just hurts my heart to see her like this.

 

[Anastasia Clark]

Not sure if a vitamin deficiency or infected from something that shouldn't be in its eyes.

I was thinking vitamin deficiency too. But I don’t know what she’s missing if it is. And I was thinking something in her eyes, but i throws me off because both of her eyes are doing it. Not just one.

 

[Guman]

Might try soaking her a few times a day and gently cleaning eyes with fresh water drizzled over her . What are your temps in her home? I suggest adding whole pray! These babies just do not get enough calcium from ground meat even with, added calcium. I wonder if the cypres had a chemical it that she did due will with.

 

[Guman]

This article might help. I would think it points to infection, something in the eye. What eye drops did you buy?

Reptilian Opthalmology — A Window To Reptile Health
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptilian-Opthalmology--A-Window-To-Reptile-Health/

Your little one needs to see a vet. Do you have a vet school nearby?

 

[AlphaAlpha]

I would think some sort of infection.... usually when the body surrounds its self in liquid its protecting its self.

I'd keep soaking him and allowing him to keep them clean also carry on with the eyedrops (if your sure they are safe) if not get some neosporin or something.

Also keep trying your best for a vet app or see if there's a chat service online ??????

 

[Walter1]

A bacterial infection or vitamin A deficiency is a likely culprit. Antibiotics for the first, A shot of Vitamin A for the second. Both require a vet for proper dose.

Still, it might becsomething else, but those are likeliest causes.

 

[Anastasia Clark]

Might try soaking her a few times a day and gently cleaning eyes with fresh water drizzled over her . What are your temps in her home? I suggest adding whole pray! These babies just do not get enough calcium from ground meat even with, added calcium. I wonder if the cypres had a chemical it that she did due will with.

I have been soaking her every other day. She sits in the water for about 5 minutes and then she’s over it. Her basking is 100 and ambient is 75. She’s really irritated right now so it’s hard to get her out. When she gets upset it causes her eyes to come out more.

 

[Anastasia Clark]

This article might help. I would think it points to infection, something in the eye. What eye drops did you buy?

Reptilian Opthalmology — A Window To Reptile Health
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptilian-Opthalmology--A-Window-To-Reptile-Health/

Your little one needs to see a vet. Do you have a vet school nearby?

The closest vet near me who can see her is about two hours away. I’m trying to get an appointment for her to be seen. I posted a picture of the eye drops.

 

[AlphaAlpha]

did you try for a vet online chat????? They maybe able to diagnose or at least give you the heads up using pictures etc....... This could save you half a day on travelling

 

[Anastasia Clark]

I did look into that! But the one I got on looked super sketchy. Do you have a recommendation?

 

[AlphaAlpha]

no I don't sorry, I just thought it might be an idea ..... quick google search >>>>> askmyvet.net
petcoach.co

but then again I'm in the UK..

hope you get somewhere with it all though good luck..x

 

[Debita]

The only problem I've had with eyes is when my humidity wasn't keeping up. My Tegu wouldn't open one of his eyes, then he stopped opening both. Fixed the humidity, which fixed the eye thing. There was no tissue protrusion like your Tegu has.

Personally, I am on the infection side - but it is interesting that it's affected both eyes, since infections don't usually present in both eyes at the same time. I'd be grumpy too if I couldn't see what was going on around me. Poor little guy. Hope you get to a vet soon, this really does look serious.

 

[Godzilla Earth]

yeah, Idk, could be pink eye or something. maybe try antibiotics if your vet recomends it and be sure that, if you do, give him probiotics too

 

[Anastasia Clark]

Hi! I have a 10 month old tegu. I've had her since she was 5 months old. When I first got her, she ate really well and was really active. She then started to slow down, started to not eat and stayed buried most of the time. I assumed that she was trying to brumate since it was cold outside. Recently, she has been puffing her eyelids out it looks like. I'm not really sure how to explain it because I'm not really sure what's going on. We pulled all of her substrate out and found what looked to be mites. So we cleaned her enclosure and now she is just on paper towels because of how bad her eyes are. I bought some antimicrobial eye drops and I'm administering them 3-4 times a day. At first, she immediately starting moving around more and her eyes were looking better. They quit getting puffy and she seemed happier. After a week, we reduced the eyedrops to twice a day and she went right back to how she was. We then upped it back up to 3-4 drops a day and she's making slow progress. I just want to know if anyone has any opinions on what could be wrong.

We were using cypress mulch, we also have lucky herp UVB bulb 10.0 that we just replaced, her diet consist of ground turkey meat with calcium supplement. She has eaten twice since all of this has happened and has had 1 bowel movement. We are trying to find a vet to take her to, but in the meantime I am just trying to ease my mind. I have been trying to research and read everything I can to try and get close to an answer, but I can't find anything close to what I'm experiencing. I will post a photo, but I will say to open at your own risk. It's pretty bad.

Thank you so much in advance and I will answer any questions you may have.


Also the photo was taken before we got the mulch out. When she first started doing it.

UPDATE: Got her Into a vet finally. They said that she has an infection in her third eyelid. Got sent home with some eye drops and some pain medicine. Other than that, she’s a healthy baby! Thank you everyone for your input and suggestions!!!

 

[Walter1]

That is very good news.

 

[Godzilla Earth]

AWESOME! that is awesome

 

[Guman]

So glad that you got her in to see the vet! Hope she will be better soon