Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone! I could use some advice. I work for the devil (also known as PetCo), and this week I brought 4 sick juvenile chinese water dragons home to give them some extra TLC. About a month ago (right when I began working for the devil) they were taken to the vet for eye infections. The vet said they happened because the enclosure's humidity was too low. She prescribed Gentamiacin Sulfate eye drops to be given twice a day. I gave them the eyes drops when I worked, but when I was on days off no one took care of them so they didn't get better. That is why I brought them home with me. Anyway, 3 of the 4 seem to be clearing up, but I am very worried about the 4th. His little eye is SO swollen and SO cloudy that you can't even see his eye. It doesn't seem to be getting any better, and it looks so bad that I can't really imagine it getting any worse. This is also my first experience treating any kind of eye infection. What I need to know is, Is this the right way to be treating these eye infections? And what else can I do to help the really bad eye out? I know most of you will say "Take it to the vet!" but this isn't my animal, and if you know how PetCo operates, the chances of any more money being spent on him is very slim. Either way, any info and advice you can give me would be great.

Thanks!

PS. . . . I have been keeping their hospital enclosure right around the recommended specs, and they have been offered crickets and fresh greens daily.
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3.5.1 leopard geckos
0.1.0 leopard tortoise
0.1.0 asian leaf turtle
1.0.0 ball python
0.1.0 adopted cat
0.1.0 hamster

If the Gentamycin is not working (as prescribed), then another option may be Terramycin ointment. This product can be usually found at animal feed & supply stores or you can search the internet. If the eye was traumatized, or if the animal keeps rubbing it, the damage can worsen. If this is the case, you should apply the medication & try to keep the eye covered. Carefully monitor the eye & determine if it is healing.
If there is any possibility of getting the water dragon to a vet, it should be done promptly.
Goodluck.

I would try to convince your manager to write the animal off as a loss, and turn it over to your local herpetological society if they have a rescue program. I know that our area petcos constantly come to our society with their problem animals, and quite often they are water dragons with eye infections. In fact, they come to us so often that we are filing paperwork with petco to get them to sponsor our organization as we are having a hard time paying to treat all of the animals they "donate".