Back from the vet, medication questions...

bridgofaith said:
Thank you very much everyone with the kind words!

Sweet Elizabeth survived the night. I have been in constant contact with Dr. Alfonso and Dr. Stein has also been involved. So, with that said, I am not giving up and it appears neither is Elizabeth! Everyone involved feels this is a case of full blown pneumonia.

Steamy showers and a warm mist humidifier have been added to the mix. Administering her meds and the force feeding went fine today. She isn't moving about her cage, but she is sitting up, watching everything going on.
Click to expand...

About the force feeding....

if you have been using Baytril for a long period of time, its very probable that it killed off most of the digestive enzymes in your little girl and that can be part of the reason she is not eating.

Be careful with this because you may be force feeding her, but if she can't digest the food then its not helping any.

If this is the case, I would suggest nutrobac to help jump start digestion. Though I am not sure if it would ok to administer while she is still under baytril.

Hope this information could be of some help, and best wishes for the little one.

S.F
 
SpinyFranky said:
About the force feeding....

if you have been using Baytril for a long period of time, its very probable that it killed off most of the digestive enzymes in your little girl and that can be part of the reason she is not eating.

Be careful with this because you may be force feeding her, but if she can't digest the food then its not helping any.

If this is the case, I would suggest nutrobac to help jump start digestion. Though I am not sure if it would ok to administer while she is still under baytril.

Hope this information could be of some help, and best wishes for the little one.

S.F
Click to expand...

Thank you, she has only had 2 doses of Baytril. That's not the cause of her not eating. She stopped eating before the Baytril was even prescribed.
 
Heather; Thanks for the update. I will keep praying for her and you. I know this has got to be very hard on you. Keep your chin up and know that you are giving her the very best care possible.
 
Thank you so much Jann! Gary and I have been emailing constantly since early this afternoon. His advice is priceless! Elizabeth did eat 2 silkworms this evening on her own! That alone is a huge step in progress!
 
That sounds like good news. She must be feeling a bit better to eat on her own. I'm really pulling for her and hope that she will show even more improvement tomorrow.
 
I would say a little improvement. She ate 3 medium silkies on her own and this morning she is moving around her cage. She hasn't done that in a few days. Her eyes are a little fuller also. I am encouraged by everything I'm seeing.
 
I really hope she recovers Heather. It's such an awful feeling having a sick chameleon - like having a sick child, only they can't tell you what's hurting.:(
 
bridgofaith said:
I would say a little improvement. She ate 3 medium silkies on her own and this morning she is moving around her cage. She hasn't done that in a few days. Her eyes are a little fuller also. I am encouraged by everything I'm seeing.
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Good just what I was hoping to hear.
 
Heather it is starting to sound like she is turning the corner!! That is wonderful news. You are doing a great job with her, keep up the great work & the updates.
 
bridgofaith said:
I would say a little improvement. She ate 3 medium silkies on her own and this morning she is moving around her cage. She hasn't done that in a few days. Her eyes are a little fuller also. I am encouraged by everything I'm seeing.
Click to expand...

thanks for the update. I agree with Laurie, I think she may be on th rebound. Keep doing what you are doing. She is in the best of hands.
 
Make sure you clean the mucus of her mouth because it make it very hard for her to drink. You can inject water or pedialite into her feeders to help keep her hydrated.
 
yay!!!!!!
it's sooo good to hear of a beloved pets recovery!!!!! i know how hard it is to see them ill,,, you feel so helpless....
sounds like you are doing a great job with her!!!!!!!! lisa
 
Thank you everyone so much for the encouragement, I appreciate it. Every feeder is injected, mucus is constantly being removed, she gets steamy showers and a 24/7 warm mist humidifier is in her cage.

I won't feel that I have given her the best care possible until a full recovery is made. Then, I will feel I did ok. :)
 
Last edited:
Update

I just received the culture and sensitivity results from Dr. Alfonso.

There are 2 different organisms growing, both are sensitive to Baytril.

#1) Heavy growth of: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (formerly Xanthomonas maltophilia-Pseudomonas maltophilia)

#2) Heavy growth of: Morganella morgannii

Continue the Baytril for another 6 days then stop.
 
Copied from Wikipedia: S. maltophilia frequently colonizes breathing tubes such as endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes, the respiratory tract and indwelling urinary catheters. Infection is usually facilitated by the presence of prosthetic material (plastic or metal), and the most effective treatment is removal of the prosthetic material (usually a central venous catheter or similar device). The growth of S. maltophilia in microbiological cultures of respiratory or urinary specimens is therefore sometimes difficult to interpret and not a proof of infection. If, however, it is grown from sites which would be normally sterile (e.g., blood), then it usually represents true infection.

In immunocompetent individuals, S. maltophilia is a relatively unusual cause of pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or blood stream infection; in immunocompromised patients, however, S. maltophilia is a growing source of latent pulmonary infections.[5] S. maltophilia colonization rates in individuals with cystic fibrosis have been increasing.[6]

In UK in 2006 there were about 1000 recorded cases with 300 fatalities (30%).[citation needed]

S. maltophilia is naturally resistant to many broad-spectrum antibiotics (including all carbapenems) and is thus often difficult to eradicate. Many strains of S. maltophilia are sensitive to co-trimoxazole and ticarcillin, though resistance has been increasing.[7] It is not usually sensitive to piperacillin, and sensitivity to ceftazidime is variable.

The Stenotrophomonas maltophilia may be growing in the cage.

Good thing the Baytril will help! Good Luck!
 
Ellron said:
The Stenotrophomonas maltophilia may be growing in the cage.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. As far as it growing in the cage, this is what Dr. Alfonso had to say about that:

It is never a bad idea to clean the cage but these are obligate aerobic bacteria which means they need to be in the respiratory system to cause any issues. I don't think you need to do anything special to clean the cage.

Ivan
 
Hello! I'm a Jackson's Cham mom with very sick little creature! Could I possibly get the information for Dr. Alfonso? I live in the Orlando area and the vet I have been using has not helped us at all. My babe every clearly had a URI and has not been treated properly and appears to be knocking on deaths door. And information would be helpful! Please email me at [email protected] or respond here!!
 
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