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I've got a very sick mali uromasytx that I've been struggling with the past couple of weeks. Seems like every time I put out a fire with him, another pops up to take its place. I rescued my uro 2 years ago from a child that had received the little guy as a pet. I nursed him slowly back to health and ever since he's been fine.

3 weeks ago I noticed the sudden appearance of 5-7 blisters on his back. The blisters were approx. a half centimeter in diameter and appeared to be filled with blood and/or clear fluid. At this point his energy level and eating habits remained normal. Vet suggested he had been burned by the heat lamp. Prescribed anti-biotics, enclosure change (to a more sterile env.) and daily soakings in betadine (iodine). Despite the fact that uros body processes tend to be very slow, all blisters healed within 4 days. Throughout this time he ate nothing (complete loss of appetite) and became extremely lethargic. I began to "assist" feed him a mixture of babyfood (peas), herp vitamins and unflavored pedialyt. At this point it seemed as though he was on his way to recovery. Increase in activity level, still no appetite but regular bowel movements.

Brought him in for a checkup. Vet suggested I try tube feeding same mixture rather than "assist feeding". She also gave him a subcutaneous shot of saline (i think) to get some additional fluids into his body. Since I began tube feeding him (5 days ago, 2 feedings) he hasn't pooped at all. Brought him into the vet again thinking he may be impacted. She examined him and determined that the food appeared to be sitting undigested in his stomach. For some reason his body is not processing the food in his belly. I've been soaking him regularly in warm water and palpating his abdomen as recommended by vet. I've been monitoring the temp in his enclosure and everything appears to be ok there (110 - 120 basking, 80-95 everywhere else). His activity level seems to get better everyday. He still won't eat but seems to be becoming stronger and healthier. However, if he doesn’t start to metabolize the food in his belly he will die.

Sorry for the extremely long post. I feel I've tried everything and don't know where to turn. Has anyone had a similar experience with a uro?? Please help!!!

Do You think he was burned like the Vet said he may have been?

Sounds as if it may have been a diease known as blister diease.
Just wanted to throw that out there.

It can be caused by to much dampness, or water. Causes a bacteria.
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PHEve / Eve

Could be blister disease I suppose. Using standard play sand as a substrate, all uneaten food is promptly removed from enclosure. Very little humidity...

I'm not a vet but I believe there are very few anti-biotics that are prescribed to uros... I strongly suspect that the anti-biotic prescribed by the vet for my guys apparent "burns" would be the same as those prescribed for blister disease... (the anti-biotic I received is a catch all medication used to combat gram-negative bacteria).

Thanks for the post!

well i have no idea about the blister disease but if he did have it, then the antibiotics may not have cleared it up because he may have been required to be medicated longer. i know there are at least two "uro antibiotics" because helga was on both when her feet were infected (i rescued her too)
anyway, this may be a stupid question but how long is he basking for each day?
i hope your guy feels better really soon!
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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 ***

I keep things of interest to me in a binder, and I had this "treatment" saved for blister disease.

Clean with 95% alchohol***NOT RUBBING ALCHOHOL***
Apply Silvadene (silver sulfadiazine)
Baytril Injections

I can't tell you where I found this as I have had it quite awhile. Maybe you can discuss this with your vet. I think others on this forum have first hand experience with blister disease, maybe they have some input. I do not have any, I just kept this treatment in case...

A thermal burn from lights is usually seen as one spot and when it heals it turns white. I have a storrs monitor that had a thermal burn before I got him and you can see it as the white spot on the left side of his neck. The thermal burns usually do not create the other types of problems you are having. You could call Doug Dix and talk to him, I'm sure he would have excellent advice. I hope your guy turns around soon, you are doing everything you can to help him. Best of luck to you!

Pam

Hey there-
I saw the post and just went through combating disease with my largest uro. 2 months ago he stopped eating rather abruptly. I then noticed that his stools were very runny and very dark. I figured there was an infection/ parasite.
I reflected that the last batch of greens was starting to look a little past prime....bad result to laziness.
Well that started a trip to my local vet who by his own admission was not totally up to speed on uros, but has now, with my help (and a whole lot of money) "gotten a handle" on them...Fecals, skin scrapings, blood work, xrays he has a great deal of uro references with mine.. along with a tremendous tail whip injury on his arm.
His point was, like humans if there is a weakness in the immunity system there is generally a malady ready to pounce.
First and foremost was a tapeworm
Secondly, was a nemotode parasite although not in great numbers.
Third was an indication of infection from blood work.
Pseudomonas (spelling?)
It seem that my setup had been invaded!!!
None of my other animals had any symptoms....thank god!
Well to make a long post shorter Panacur and Baytril and Betadine -fairly generic treatments have seem to be very successful. Eating is back to normal and the stools are regular.
However the perfectly uniform skin on his back now has dried up blister scars from the secondary infection.
The source of those blisters, still a mystery.
This is what I did however....
I changed everything-All the sand went to the planters, the cages were completely disinfected, the furniture discarded.
I figured that wherever the infection came from I did not want to repeat those few months!
I wish you success as well with you uro.