Worst rescue case I've recieved! My heart hurts for these 2! :(

[SnakeCharmr728]

I agree it does sound like a lot, I was a bit surprised when they gave me the estimate! Unfortunately the vet I go to I travel 3hrs to see because she is the best of the best in my state. but even being a rescue, I still don't get a price cut. There are other herp vets willing to work with us but none that I trust as much as her.

She will only be removing 3-4inches, depending on the vein.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

For more updates: Read them here in blog form.
http://www.northbaytegurescue.com/leo-and-piper-updates.html

 

[Aardbark]

Glad to hear those two are doing well and are on the road to recovery. I love happy stories. Keep up the amazing work.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

Better yes, but still battling the pneumonia.

 

[K5ander5]

I dont know if the posts were moved but i was reading along and the info stops in June. Are these guys ok? I saw the male looking great but I am concerned for the female.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

Sorry. Ive been keeping updates on our facebook page.

A lot has happened since then, we did get her tail taken care of and that has healed perfectly. It was a simple procedure.

Piper was declining and her mouth was becoming mucousy again so we took her to a different vet and did some more blood tests and an xray. Xray on both Leo and Piper shows good bone density so thats a positive. However her blood panel came back a bit more concerning than the first one.

Its been reviewed by several vets and no one can exactly figure out what is going on and why antibiotics are not helping.
This is the vets comments when comparing her first and second blood panel.

"So here's what I see from May 1st: mild anemia (PCV is low), inflammatory response without a toxic change (hets are high), moderate increase in CK (muscle damage/wasting), slightly elevated total protein (dehydration). Bile acids seem a little high too but I would have to check. Keep in mind, many of the chemistries we get in reptiles are not significant, as they have different meanings in reptiles than they do in mammals. Evaluating liver function is tricky.... we have to look at trends and how certain chems look in comparison to others. So looking at LDH, CK, and Bile acids, her liver is working a little harder than normal but it is not a direct indicator of disease. As of May 8th, I would say she has inflammation/infection somewhere, weight loss/muscle wasting or muscle trauma, mild anemia due to poor body condition or a blood draw artifact, and some dehydraton. Her calcium and phos levels are normal and her Cahos ratio is normal. On to the more recent results. Her anemia is still present. Her hets and especially basos are more elevated (infection, inflammation, parasites), liver still a little stressed, but her Ca and Phos levels are still good. Her hydration status has improved. Pancreatitis? I suppose so; I see the elevated amylase but it may be inconclusive in a tegu. Studies done on iguanas suggest that elevated amylase can mean pancreatitis; however, we don't know for sure if that holds for tegus. Piper is feeling better and doing better, but I do not think her bloodwork is normal. Unless I'm reading it wrong, the het count is still very high and the baso count has skyrocketed. She is still anemic, and her bile acids are higher"

Piper has been neglected for a long time; it will take her a while to get back to normal, or what will be "normal" for her. If she does not continue to do well, or starts declining, we will repeat blood tests. depending on the results the next step would be to start the hunt for the exact cause (via bone marrow aspirate, coelomic endoscopy).

For now, she has finished her antibiotics, she is eating great, very active and curious. She seems happy. We aren't forcing any more antibiotics on her to give her system a rest. She will receive another blood panel in 6 weeks. Its obvious that something is still going on, her mouth is still frothy but her lungs are clear.

Shes been such a mystery and I swear Ive got some grey hairs coming in from stressing about her so much! She is a total sweetheart.

Leo is doing well, we are focusing on getting some weight off of him.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

X rays

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

pics

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

more pics

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

Become a sponsor and get this awesome bumper sticker as a thank you.

 

[K5ander5]

ABSOLUTELY, I know I am very new with Tegus but they are so smart, active in their human interactions, and they're just flat out beautiful creatures so yeah I will be more than happy to donate and start sporting around that sticker lol

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

K5ander5, when you donate be sure to private message me your mailing address so I can get your bumper sticker to you! Thank you!

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

Piper update!

Shes been sleeping despite keeping her lights and heat on but she wakes up to bask for a little bit about once a week. Her body and limbs became really swollen indicating she high inflammatory proteins again and her mouth was more frothy than it normally is so we started her back on antibiotics almost 2 weeks ago. The swelling has gone down about 50% and her mouth is a bit more clear. I wish I could keep her awake for the winter as giving antibiotics to a brumating, non-eating animal always makes me nervous but at the same time not giving it to her could be more dangerous since the brumation is obviously being hard on her body. I hope she can pull through this and if she makes it through to spring I will have a lot more hope for her! This road to recovery just keeps getting longer and longer!

 

[Aardbark]

The poor thing. She looks ok and ready to shed, except for the mouth stuff. Is that what mouthrot is? I hope she pulls though too, me and Zilla are both cheering for her

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

Unfortunately shes not ready to shed, thats just how she is, that dull color and full of scars.
Not mouth rot but more of a systemic bacterial infection and so much going on internally that even multiple blood panels and long rounds of antibiotics cant seem to pinpoint and truely kick.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

Piper update:
We have sent all her blood panels, x-rays, and history to several amazing reptile veterinarians all over the west coast and are getting bad news. Several of the vets are convinced its hepatic lipidosis or possible cancer/tumor (liver tumor). Saying basically nothing can be done since its so advanced, there is no cure or treatment and shes terminal. Our only option would do an exploratory surgery and take histopath samples, but that's expensive and basically wouldn't fix things, only possibly answer some of our questions. It would put her through too much with the chance of her not even surviving anesthesia so we have decided against that. As shes so swollen now, the prognosis is poor. He recommended euthanasia and says it may be best thing to do for her, since she most likely is in pain at this point.

I have fought so hard for her these past 8 months. She has been a real trooper and has shown me her strength and will to live, but clearly the neglect had went on far too long and it became chronic to where no amount of antibiotics or medical treatment is going to save her. She has felt what it is to be loved and I'm dreading the future as I don't want to say goodbye yet.

However, she is still showing spirit, is active and eating well - It will be a down hill ride from here on out but she will get lots of love and spoiling during her last, however long she has.

 

[Aardbark]

Poor Piper. Ive been following the updates on facebook as well. Its really sad to see her not doing so well, but she is such a fighter. Your last post there of how she woke up and was basking and said Hi really made me tear up. I am still holding on to hope that she will pull through.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

Yea, that definitely her saying shes not ready to go yet. Last night she played in the shower and roamed the bedroom a little bit. She may be terminal but shes not at the point where she needs to be euthanized so until then, she gets all spoiling she deserves.

 

[JessiGu]

My heart is with you and the two beautiful fighters....

 

[SnakeCharmr728]