Bacterial Infection on Skin

[Charlotl]

Already had a vet visit and are doing treatment but since I couldn't find any photos like what was going on with my guy thought I would post some in case it helps someone else.

9 year old axolotl with a wound/skin issue. Tank cycle crashed for an unknown reason 2 weeks or more prior to noticing the skin situation. Cycle crash and average tank temperature of 72F likely contributed to the infection. No behavior differences or general discoloration noticed. Previously (3 months ago) had scuffed his face which healed a little bumpy but otherwise fine. Came back from a work trip and noticed the tank cycle had crashed. A week of 50% water changes to keep ammonia in check noticed the extra bumpiness under his chin. With good sunlight and food as a lure was able to position him to get the photos below and make the vet appointment for a couple days after.

Vet took a scraping to check for fungus and bacteria under a microscope and verdict came back as a bacterial infection. Vet said it was strange that he wasn't experiencing redness else where or the typical "red leg" thing but what they saw under the microscope was pretty straight forward. He is on a daily topical application of a dilute iodine solution and the tiniest amount of an oral antibiotic daily for 21 days. Just got done with Day 3 and he is a little scrapped up from the car trip and swapping plus stressed from being pulled out of the water every day and hasn't eaten yet although he looks at the food (which is a mood he gets in from time to time even in the best situations). The wound itself looks raw perhaps from the scrapping they needed to take or maybe the meds are working too. Now have a large fan on the temporary tank (68F for now and trying for more) as the larger one starts the cycle back up and he hopefully recovers.

 

[Charlotl]

More photos from other views.

 

[wolfen]

it sounds like you might have suffered ots (old tank syndrome), make sure you do regular ph tests as sudden ph drop is first sign.
what has the vet said about the eye clarity, albino should have red eyes if they are light coloured it can be a sign of anaemia.
check your water supply as it could have gone soft which will also cause cycle crash due to lack of kh.

 

[Charlotl]

it sounds like you might have suffered ots (old tank syndrome), make sure you do regular ph tests as sudden ph drop is first sign.
what has the vet said about the eye clarity, albino should have red eyes if they are light coloured it can be a sign of anaemia.
check your water supply as it could have gone soft which will also cause cycle crash due to lack of kh.

It may have been old tank syndrome of some kind but typical symptoms didn't fit. The pH was in normal ranges. I suspect one of the sitters forgot to dechlorinate the added water during a change and it threw things off. Lesson learned to check first thing when I return from vacation next time.

There is no discoloration of his eyes and they are as they should be. Perhaps you are thinking of the reflection that vets look for with them? If light is angled certain ways compared to the eye the reflectivity can look to be a pink/red color. My photos only had ambient indirect light so no reflection to see.

 

[Charlotl]

Good news update on the little guy. Got the all clear from our vet at the follow up appointment this week! Poor thing's wound was all scrapped up from the diagnostic tests and the stress of being out of the water daily for iodine and meds kept that whole puffy area looking really raw to the end of his 21 day treatment. The swelling you can see around the pit in his first pictures above went down pretty fast but I was worried that it had gone all the way through his skin in that indention... I was very worried and decided to leave him alone except for small chunks of cut up red worm which he would eat a little of. I unfortunately wasn't able to get a good photo as his hospital tank is in a dark area but it looked really gross. In the week between his last treatment and the follow up vet appointment the rawness mostly subsided, the tissue is a little puffy but because it is scaring not infected and his apatite for his pellets is back!

The cycle on his regular tank is looking good and I expect to move him back into his home in the next week or so.

 

[wolfen]

if he has had iodine then a close eye needs to be kept on him as iodine absorption can force morphing.