Bloat or gravid?

[Clintaceous]

I have a female alpine newt that maybe about 3 weeks ago, maybe earlier, looked a bit pudgy. I took notice of it about a week and half ago, as I had originallt boiled it down to her just getting the lions share of worms. I only feed 1-2 times a week though, so I doubt she is fat.

The swollen area is mainly around her pelvic region, so I'm inclined to think its eggs. However, when she moves her hind legs forward, the swollen region squishes in very easily, like its filled with fluid. She is housed with 3 other newts, including 1 other female, and only she is showing this 'figure'.

I plan on taking her to the vet this week. She is still very active, and still very much likes to eat.

 

[Clintaceous]

So quick update, I took her to the vet and basically they can't do anything for her due to her small size. The exotic vet here has never really dealt with amphibians before, especially newts. He did offer to do x-rays and such, but he warned about the costs, that the images might not be clear, and that if he took samples he might seriously hurt her. I could tell he never dealt with caudates as he suggested keeping it warmer than the max 20C I try to aim for. In the end, the vet thinks its an impaction.

Personally I think its bloat or edema, but I am not ruling out what the vet says as this happened rather quickly and its localized around her pelvic region going to try a few things. What throws me off is she is very active and still willing to eat, which go against what are probably the 2 biggest symptoms of impaction, which is lethargy and loss of appetite. The way I see it, the newt may have organ failure and could be on its way out in the worst case scenario, thus treatment may be all in vain. However, it presents itself as a good learning experience in how to properly tackle this issue for myself and anyone else in the future. Regardless, I am going to try my best to see if I can cure her! I am prepared for euthanasia, but that is an absolute last resort.

To start off the treatment, I will hospitalize her, and treat her as thought the vet was right with impaction. I'll place her in a cool area at first and see if she has a bowel movement. I'm pretty sure she had one when we got back from the vet as I saw a rather white bit of feces on my plants, but its hard to say if it was her. Wish she had that before leaving for the vet! I will also being getting supplies and chemicals for ARS, or Amphibian Ringer's Solution. It may help, it may not. But its worth a try to start treatment and point me in the right direction of what is happening.

Its unfortunate that our hobby is as niche as it is, it makes diagnosing these things hard. Especially now that this forum seems dead! I am not pointing fingers or saying people should pipe up, but rather anybody who uses this forum should post their experiences, good or bad, no matter how controversial or mundane, like I am to better help out hobbyists in diagnosing disease and treatment, and just performing general husbandry of their pets. So I will be posting my 'journey' for others to see. Wish me luck!

 

[Clintaceous]

Here is an update of my newt with pictures.

Unfortunately she seems to have gotten worse, size wise. Otherwise she acts totally normal. Still eats and still poops. I shone a light on her and it looks clear inside of her. To me, this seems like fluid build up.

I placed her in ARS solution to see if it'd help. Even after a 24 hr soak, she is still large. I added a bit more salt, like a pinch, to the solution to see if that'd help. Still no change.

Honestly my biggest concern at this point is just trying to know when she is suffering, and at the point of no return. I'd rather she go peacefully. For now she'll stay quarantined, kept cool and terrestrial, and cross my fingers since my vet will not draw fluid from her (which I understand due to her small size and thin skin).

 

[axolotl nerd]

Here is an update of my newt with pictures.

Unfortunately she seems to have gotten worse, size wise. Otherwise she acts totally normal. Still eats and still poops. I shone a light on her and it looks clear inside of her. To me, this seems like fluid build up.

I placed her in ARS solution to see if it'd help. Even after a 24 hr soak, she is still large. I added a bit more salt, like a pinch, to the solution to see if that'd help. Still no change.

Honestly my biggest concern at this point is just trying to know when she is suffering, and at the point of no return. I'd rather she go peacefully. For now she'll stay quarantined, kept cool and terrestrial, and cross my fingers since my vet will not draw fluid from her (which I understand due to her small size and thin skin).

i'm not an expert in newts, i don't keep them and i never have, but i would personally either 1.) euthanize when she becomes disinterested in food or 2.) take her to a different vet and get it drained

 

[Lilib]

Here is an update of my newt with pictures.

Unfortunately she seems to have gotten worse, size wise. Otherwise she acts totally normal. Still eats and still poops. I shone a light on her and it looks clear inside of her. To me, this seems like fluid build up.

I placed her in ARS solution to see if it'd help. Even after a 24 hr soak, she is still large. I added a bit more salt, like a pinch, to the solution to see if that'd help. Still no change.

Honestly my biggest concern at this point is just trying to know when she is suffering, and at the point of no return. I'd rather she go peacefully. For now she'll stay quarantined, kept cool and terrestrial, and cross my fingers since my vet will not draw fluid from her (which I understand due to her small size and thin skin).

Sorry to revive the thread, but I am having a similar issue and wondering what ended up happening to the newt? I am seriously debating if I should drain it myself I've done it before with fish & I am getting desperate.

 

[Clintaceous]

Ah geez, here I am harping on you guys about not sharing info and keeping updates!

Unfortunately, it ended up being bloat and she had to be put down. I noticed before I put her down that she had two solid masses inside her that could be seen if you held a light behind her. The vet did an autopsy for free and found that she had been suffering from an impaction. He said it wasn't the sand that created it, but chitin. My guess is it came from either the soldier fly larvae and waxworms I gave to them as a treat. I only gave it to them for one week, but my guess is she was having some kind of health issue at the time. My personal belief is that impaction does not necessarily come from eating substrate or chitinous foods, but underlying health conditions that are already affecting the animal before ingesting indigestible material. The fact that my other newts ate those foods and survived makes this more likely. Of course there are exceptions, like an axolotl eating a giant pebble.

I digress though. If your pet is showing similar symptoms, I'd be prepared to put them down. If they still eat, I heard that giving them some kind of vegetable oil like olive oil can lubricate their insides and help pass an impaction, assuming yours is bloated for that reason.
I'd be very careful draining a newt/salamander. They have VERY thin skin from what I've read, and it is very easy to injure them if you are not careful. Proceed with caution, and if you can I'd take it to a qualified exotic vet.