bearded dragon xrays

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Marie Kubiak — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 12:34:25 GMT

Sounds like a good thing to look at, will message you later when a bit more time to think/plan....

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:34:58 GMT

Back to the op. I think that a period of hospitalisation and supportive care may be indicated as a start. Carefully palpate for any small pea sized hard masses. If there isn't any improvement after a couple of days I would consider endoscopy or celiotomy. If he bloods are indicting good Renal function, some meloxicam on board wouldnt hurt. Recheck the glucose daily if you can. Goodluck

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:02:35 GMT

Actually Marie, do you fancy a bit of a retrospective study on glucose measurements vs outcomes in some lizards. We could both do some recording over the next 6 months or so and see if we can get some sort of correlation similar to FHB and the rabbits. Might be a paper in it? I for one would love some further indicator for those "ain't doing right" beardies to identify those that need to surgery at an early stage.

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:19:46 GMT

:-) yep perhaps she should be opened up after all :-)

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Marie Kubiak — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:15:50 GMT

So basically likely to be a horrible weird tumour somewhere :)

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:09:11 GMT

Ha ha yep also consider insulin resistance due to progesterone secreting ovarian tumours if female. I presented a nice case of one in a water dragon at Milwaukee ARAV a couple of years ago.

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Marie Kubiak — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:00:11 GMT

That is quite a marked hyperglycaemia for a reptile.

Also consider gastric neurendocrine carcinomas/somatostatinomas - meant to be a rare neoplasm but we have had a couple in beardies lately - one vomiting, the other just quiet and anorexic. Hyperglycaemia was the only parameter altered and did not respond to any standard mammalian hypoglycaemics. Neoplasms are located in gastric mucosa typically so if blood glucose remains high then consider gastroscopy. Hyperglycaemia is a risk factor for hepatic lipidosis so I would force feed high fibre diet to try and prevent exacerbation of this secondary problem.

Marie

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Mark Rowland — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:45:22 GMT

Could indicate sepsis, aggressive abs and fluids required. Could also indicate pancreatic disease. The last beardie I had with a glucose like that ended up having to have a pancreatectomy because it had pancreatic neoplasia ( not meaning to worry you it was only 3yo). Post the rest of the bloods if you wish. ? Any haematology.

Re: bearded dragon xrays

David Mills — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:26:30 GMT

Thanks for the advice. Bloods all normal except glucose 30mmol/l. Anything to worry about?!

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Mark Rowland — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:58:25 GMT

Nope not at the moment. Husbandry review, faecal exam, bloods, supportive care first, then endoscopy if indicated. Goodluck

Re: bearded dragon xrays

Marie Kubiak — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:41:59 GMT

It has got accumulated ingesta in the GIT but that doesn't necessarily mean a surgical obstruction - sluggish GI motility is non-specific as is anorexia and lethargy. The increased coelomic opacity is slightly concerning, could have a coelomitis going on.

Is there anything on history or exam to suggest complete obstruction is likely? As they are pretty small lizards and dorsoventrally flat they lend themselves to good information on palpation. If nothing convincing palpable then look at doing a lateral view, bloods and quick scan to check for fluid and tap plus assess repro status if female to get more of an idea where pathology is originating from.

Marie