Gravid lizard help please

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:27:30 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]But as I said, Elvis is usually leaving the building before we get our chance in a lot of these cases.[/quote]

Agree completely - it is the equivalent of someone turning up with a pyo where the dog is collapsed, emaciated and so dehydrated it's almost crispy. I am afraid I've become quite hardened to it these days and find I suggest euthanasia far more than I used to. I certainly only offer 2 choices - everything or nothing. It gets too depressing otherwise.

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:27:45 GMT

Rubbish, sorry to hear that.

Marie

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Mark Rowland — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:03:01 GMT

Ah Bugger......

But as I said, Elvis is usually leaving the building before we get our chance in a lot of these cases.

Thanks for the update.

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 02:08:41 GMT

Alas, she died, while she and owner were still being readied for surgery.

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:04:21 GMT

Thanks.

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Marie Kubiak — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:02:44 GMT

It is 10 iu/kg, I give 2 doses at least 4hrs apart if first is not effective. Dose of calcium gluconate is 50-100mg/kg 1hr before oxytocin

Marie

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:00:51 GMT

Many thanks. To both of you.

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]Ca, 1 shot oxytocin (10 units/kg)[/quote]

Can I just double-check the doses, cos 10 units/kg sounds quite a lot. And what would be a reasonable dose of calcium gluconate?

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Marie Kubiak — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:55:24 GMT

I agree, if quiet then be concerned - water dragons are fairly scatty at the best of times and any that don't try and charge round a consulting room are significantly unwell.

Medical therapy may still be effective but it would be best to give calcium prior to oxytocin and leave a nest site in with her (a litter tray/box of damp soil/vermiculite is usually adequate) and if no progress within next 12hrs or evidence of deterioration then go straight for surgery. I have to say I try and persuade owners to go for surgery asap for non-breeding animals so will bypass medical therapy most of the time. Oviductal rupture and resulting coelomic eggs I've seen in water dragons far more frequently than in other lizards (presumably due to their nature in charging round blindly crashing into things when startled) so again would opt for surgery to investigate fully and treat definitively.

If you haven't done much reptile repro surgery I've just finished writing my BSAVA reptile surgery lecture notes this afternoon and can send these to you!

Marie

Re: Gravid lizard help please

Mark Rowland — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:43:05 GMT

If she is dull and inactive you need to act. I would hospitalise in an appropriate environment, give fluids, calcium and try oxytocin once. If there is no response to 1 shot of the oxytocin (response is variable in lizards) I would go in surgically. Some pre op bloods would help as well, go for the ventral tail vein with a preheparinised 1ml syringe and orange needle and do it like a cow in miniature. At least if the oxytocin doesnt work you have allowed some fluids on board which will make the surgery easier. If she dies dont beat yourself up, youre getting into this 5 days into the game. But if it were me, I would go fluids (io with pump if poss), Ca, 1 shot oxytocin (10 units/kg) and surgery if not improving. Analgese prior to the surgery (I would use buprenorphine 0.1mg/kg).

Goodluck