Is this scale rot? Please help!!

[Merlot]

I actaully did that last week or so when I changed the substrate. I didn’t know it served as an antiseptic of sorts? That’s super cool, I can definitely tell she likes that stuff. I put way too much in the hide and it expanded so she kicked a bunch of it out lol but it’s okah because they soak up the water well and having a little mixed in the substrate is helping with with humidity. Good stuff for sure

 

[Merlot]

Accidentally bought a bottle of cod liver oil with natural orange flavor? She ain’t having it. But seems like she wants too. My wife fed Merlot a ground whole prey ReptiLinks whol I was away at work. I wanted to keep her hungry until I got home so I could dunk her food in it, so she’s not eating another link right now. Sometimes she could eat 2 links, so we’ll see
If she skips a meal or not tomorrow, and I’ll be awake all day to playyyy with her and told the wife the baby needs some personal time lol

 

[Walter1]

Go back and get regular cod liver oil or crack fish oil pills in the food. Helps a big lot.

 

[Merlot]

Lol after all the staring at the cod liver oil I bought a bottle of 30$ scented stuff. I might just go get a bottle of regular ol fish oil pills to toss in the mix tonight if I can drag the wife to Walmart. Too bad our cable got fixed right away so I don’t have the excuse of a Redbox

 

[Merlot]

So the vet got the test results. Merlot has CANV. CANV is an auto death sentence for bearded dragon and they don’t normally get canv. Beardies do, sister bought my nephew a beardie from petsmart, and after I helped them set up the enclosure and how to properly handle them, my tegu contracted this from in my opinion from the bullshit beardies they sell at petsmart n petco. The vet told me it was most likely from coming into contact with other lizards. She asked specifically if i handled any beardies when the symptoms arrived. I said, shortly before the symptoms arrived I Did. She said it was probably improperly bred and maintained and was a carrier and probably has it too. Has anyone hand CANV in a tegu and had successfully treated it and errradicated it? And could it/would it be contagious for life?. They said if it doesn’t go away she won’t last more than 18 months more at best case scenario. And I couldn’t put her through that.

Would you do?
Try a 200$ medicine compound treatment for 90 Days straight and take the risk of it not working ? And just stick it out wait. And possibly come home to my baby being dead in her cage after we’ve finally tamed her and make her welcome.
Euthanasia?(will break my fucking heart)

I need advice there^^^
And thoughts on treatment and continue on until a potentially devastating day coming home to my tegu no longer breathing.

She has absolutely no signs of suffering right now, eating GREWT, active, calms down after 5 minutes of handling. Let’s me hold her upside down like a baby when that is not normal for a tegu

 

[Merlot]

Pics for your pleasure

 

[Walter1]

http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Reptile-Health/Disease-Management/CANV-in-Reptiles/

This is a link to an article by Dr. Wright in Reptiles Magazine. Unless things have changed, the prognosis is poor in beating it, and the few lizards that have longterm other problems. Interesting that crowded unsanitary conditions are conducive to this lethal fungus.

I don't know how long it can remain hidden before expressing itself.

Well, doesn't sound positive.

 

[Merlot]

So.... I’m sad to report that my baby Merlot, was definitely diagnosed with CANV and would only last 12-18ish months or so with the recommended treatment. Talked to a few reputable breeders and my friend who is a tegu / reptile expert, and I’ve held reptiles for 18 years. Said it’s incuraable and they tegu will eventually die and suffer. Me and my wife chose to euthanize her, she couldn’t have the life she could live fruitfully in spite of how well she seemed to progress trough the extenernal symptoms. She had a good short life of a year, and a great few days leading to her last day here.


RIP Merlot. Was the worst thing to do. Never expected this before. Turns out my nephew bought a bearded dragon who had CANV cuz he wanted to be like uncle. And through teaching him to handle it, which I thought isn’t look healthy From the start, transferred to my
Tegu prob through my clothing. Because I always wash my hands. And my nephew lost his beardie. Contacted the asswhole breeder who sold my brother in law about knowingly selling an infected reptile to make a few bucks that was fatal to my exotic baby.


Not to slid cold, but I disinfected my whole house top to bottom, clothing, jackets, carpets,
Everything.... and got my new baby tegu yesterday with an all new and improved enclosure. I still can’t belive this lesson learned. I will post pics and an intro to my male, I went with a beautiful male this time out of choice,was so beautiful and is already so gentle and friendly in just two days. I’ll think of the name soon. Was thinking of Rusty or Vinnie lol but that’s just the start. RIP MERLOT

 

[Merlot]

Yeah I got a bunch and made a 2nd hide box with sphagnum and in his little extra hide log

 

[AlphaAlpha]

Sorry for your loss but it sounds like you did the right thing considering your situation... good luck to the future .... R.I.P MERLOT

 

[Walter1]

You did right by him.

R.I.P. Merlot