Hey everyone. I took Diego Tuesday to the University of Florida Veterniary clinic. He was there literally all afternoon. I was completely surprised to see that the wildlife specialist that was helpling me had actually had experience with tegus. She told me she had spent time down in South Amreicna capturing reds and implanting htem with tracking devices. THus, I was extremely optimistic considering no other vet I have been to yet has any clue what a tegu is. Well they took some swabs of his eyes to check for a viral infection and had the head, board certified opthamologist examine his eyes. Honestly, I don't think I could have found better care for him. Unofrtunately however the verdict came back that the cause is still unknown, but thankfully it doesn't seem to be hurting him and its probalby not threatening, more of a cosmetic, slight visual impairment. I reminded them of all the possibilities that you guys had suggested to me (shed problem, infection, etc.) but they all came back negative. Here's the official diagnosis:
DIAGNOSIS: OPEN: FOR POSSIBLY CAUSES OF BLEPHARITIS/CONJUNCTIVITIS
PHYSICAL FINDINGS: SWOLLEN EYELIDS BILATERALLY WITH MILD CONJUNCTIVITIS MEDIALLY, THE REST OF HTE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION WAS WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS
SPECIAL DIAGNOSTICS: OPTHAMOLOGY CONSULT: BILATERIAL BLEPHARITIS/SWELLING WITH MILD MEDIAL CONJUCNITVAL SWELLING
THERAPY AND EXPECTATIONS: WHILE A DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED, THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN INFECTIONS/INFLAMMATORY CAUSE TO DIEGO'S EYELID PROBLEM. SINCE THIS HAS NOT PROGRESSED AND WAS PRESENT WHEN YOU PURCHASED DIEGO, WE FEEL THAT THIS MAY BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM FROM SOME PREVIOUS INSULT OR A CONGNEITLA PROBLEM. (********in other words thanks to the breeder i bought him from that completely neglected him!!!!!!!!!! reminder: when i bought him i noticed his eyes were swollen and the seller told me that this was only because he was cold WHAT A LIE. not to mention the fact that he also had a lung infection. i swear, if i couldu find the people that sold me diego again.....********) THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TREATMENT FOR THESE CONDITIONS AND TIME WILL BE NEEDED TO SEE IF HIS CONDITON WILL IMPROVE OR RESOLVE.
so thats it. i guess it comes down to the fact that the previous breeder COMPLETELY neglected him. i wish i coudl find that #!$%&*! a word of caution to all, dont be too quick to trust breeders, remember, theyre businessmen trying to make a profit, and they certainly will lie to sell an animal. it sucks people lie and dont take proper care of animals.
chris and diego
