Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Orion has only had 1 episode since Sunday which in my opinion is good.

I called Doug Dix last night and left a message for him to call me back.

He called back today and told me what all needs to be done.

I need to put an under the tank heat pad and time it so it goes on 1 hour after lights out and goes off one hour before lights on.

He is so kind as to send me the medicine I need for Orion. He said that Orion probably has pneumonia and that it was probably caused by incorrect temps (they could be off by about 10 degrees in the tank). He's express shipping the betadine (spelling?) to me and I should be getting it Monday.

I'm still keeping Iris out of the tank because I do not want to risk her getting sick also. Both have round the clock lights and Orion has extra heat now that he is sick.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

I am glad things are looking on the up side! Continue to keep us posted!

Just out of curiosity, what do you do with the betadine? My understanding is that that is a topical disinfectant of sorts... I am quite curious.

Elizabeth
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1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

I guess it's a liquid.

Doug told me that he's sending me a syringe with a rubber needle that has to go down Orion's throat. Then I just press down for a certain amount of CC's on the syringe and then I take it out.

But I also think he told me that I'd have a hose of some sort to put down his throat. He's supposed to give me the directions again so when he does I'll post them on here for ya.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

Could it have been Bacitracin possibly? That is an antibiotic often used in pneumonia cases caused by certain strains of infection...

I will be very interested in what he sends. Thank you for sharing!
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1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

Not sure. I'll have to wait until Doug emails me back with directions.

I do have a question now though. He told me to get an under the tank heat pad.

My brother's ex brought one with her because she had 2 full grown mali's (male and female). It's a Zoo Med Repti Therm UTH

Item# RH-4
120VAC 60Hz 8W

It's a little dusty on the top and the cord is also dusty. But the bottom party where it's supposed to be sticky isn't sticky.

The only things I'm worried about are as follows: If it works, will it work properly and I have paint on my desk (it's a wooden laminated desk you'd use for schoolwork, and the paint is paint I had left over from when I decided not to paint my room orange. So it's wall paint) since the pad is not sticky is there a chance it might manuever and get on my desk and burn my desk?

The tank bottom touches the desk so that's not a problem I just don't want to risk catching my room let alone the house on fire while I sleep tonight.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

The under tank heaters are not hot enough to ignite. With mine with the reostat turned all the way up, you can place your entire palm on it. it's just a warmth that works it's way through. Also, do you really want "lights on" 24-7? I can't remember if it was Doug or my herp vet that said it can hamper their ability to get proper rest. Just a thought.

Jim
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)

Doug had also told me in my email to up the temps at night and during the day. I have 2 types of red light bulbs.

1 type you can actually see the red because for some reason it lights up the whole tank. The other bulb you can barely see it and since Orion sleeps under this log hide he can't see the light so it just omits heat.

He's actually been sleeping better since I put the lights on him.

I'm gonna go out today and get a new heat pad for the tank. After Orion gets better I might take it off and put it on my leo's tank because she needs it also. Only if Doug says I can take it off if not then fine.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

Ok I just got this email this morning. He doesn't mention the name of it but here's the directions on how to give the medicine just in case anyone else needs them:

Take 1 cc of the solution I send you and give it orally to your male once every other day in mid-morning. I'm sending a 3 cc syringe with a tubing needle. Insert the needle into the mouth of your male keeping the needle along the top of the mouth. Slowly work in down the throat until most the needle is out of sight. Then give 1 cc of the solution and pull the needle out. Do this every other day for a total of 5 doses.

If you have trouble getting his mouth to open - DON'T force it. Take a toothbrush that has a rubber tip on the end and wiggle the rubber tip between his front teeth. Odds are he'll bite it. While he is bitting it, put the end of the toothbrush in his mouth to keep it open. Then have someone else put in the needle and give the solution. Call me if you need to! 360 435-2679

Doug
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

Let me know if the tooth brush works. I had to force feed my mali and when he didn't want to open his mouth there was no way I could get it open. I hope that I will never have to do it again but if so I would like to know the tricks.
I hope Orion feels better really soon. He is lucky to have someone who care enough to help him.

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The addiction can be dangerous. 1 Uro named Buddy aka Big Boy & 1 Ig named Tiny

Way to take care of him!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

I'd like to thank everyone on here for their support in this tough time in my life.

I really have a passion for my animals and all animals. I don't really know what I would do if any of my animals died.

I got into these animals in November 2002. My brother got his mali and I got one with him. Ever since then I've been addicted to these cute and cuddly reptiles. I'm hoping that Orion will get over this with the help of the medication. I'm planning on breeding him and Iris so I can also share the joy of these animals with my other brother because he doesn't have one yet. He wants one badly. So I'm going to give him a baby whenever they breed.

I'll tell everyone when I get the medicine and give it to Orion. I'll tell how he reacts to it and if the toothbrush trick really works.

Thanks again everyone!
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

yeah it would be nice to know how to open their really strong jaws. i had to give helga injections one time which i really hated doing and the other times i have given her medicine, i have had to put a little drop on the crack of her mouth and wait for her to be curious and open up. that could take up to 20 minutes!
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***