Help! Extremely bloated axolotl about to explode!

[axolotl-lover-]

This is Luca the Axolotl, we have recently started to notice this in Luca and he had just kept getting bigger and bigger. I'm afraid he is about to die soon and we have been giving him salt baths recently. Luca is apparently missing 2 limbs. This started about 2 months ago. Is there any way to help him more and return him to normal size. He lives with another axolotl. I have attached some photos. He lives in a 30 gallon tank with his buddy.

 

[axolotl nerd]

This is Luca the Axolotl, we have recently started to notice this in Luca and he had just kept getting bigger and bigger. I'm afraid he is about to die soon and we have been giving him salt baths recently. Luca is apparently missing 2 limbs. This started about 2 months ago. Is there any way to help him more and return him to normal size. He lives with another axolotl. I have attached some photos. He lives in a 30 gallon tank with his buddy.

at this point, it's either emergency vet or euthanasia. i don't think i've ever seen an axolotl survive a case of edema this extreme, and the prognosis is very poor. even with vet intervention, they will probably only be able to drain the fluid and provide antibiotics that may or may not help. it is likely to come back. personally, i recommend euthanasia- which i can offer advice on if that's the route you choose to take.

 

[wolfen]

there are a couple of things that can be tried but I don't know how successful they will be if it is a case of organ failure.
1. ARS (amphibian ringers solution) this is like holtfreters solution but at a higher strength.
2. dextrose/glucose/sucrose, sugar will draw the fluid out of the body.
3. vitamin A, this is a necessary vitamin required by amphibians and may help with liver issues.
I have attached Amphibian Formulary, look under "Miscellaneous Agents Used in Amphibians"

 

[axolotl-lover-]

there are a couple of things that can be tried but I don't know how successful they will be if it is a case of organ failure.
1. ARS (amphibian ringers solution) this is like holtfreters solution but at a higher strength.
2. dextrose/glucose/sucrose, sugar will draw the fluid out of the body.
3. vitamin A, this is a necessary vitamin required by amphibians and may help with liver issues.
I have attached Amphibian Formulary, look under "Miscellaneous Agents Used in Amphibians"

glucose might work but how is it applied? i can't find any info on it which cant help.

 

[wolfen]

under the information for ARS it says to add 10g per litre with ARS, and under dextrose it has 7.5 - 10% so 75g - 100g, although that seems a bit high so try the ARS with dextrose/glucose/sucrose first.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

You really need to have those fluids drained by a vet, IMO. You may also want to consider the difficult decision of euthanizing with clove oil. I'm sorry to say but I have to agree...I'm not certain if he has a chance...

 

[salamander whisperer]

This is Luca the Axolotl, we have recently started to notice this in Luca and he had just kept getting bigger and bigger. I'm afraid he is about to die soon and we have been giving him salt baths recently. Luca is apparently missing 2 limbs. This started about 2 months ago. Is there any way to help him more and return him to normal size. He lives with another axolotl. I have attached some photos. He lives in a 30 gallon tank with his buddy.

That animal needs a vet, or someform of bloat intervention. I have a chicken that had sour crop, it was dying because its crop was bloated and blocking its air way. I called several vets in my area, but no one delt with chickens/livestock. I had to intervien with a syringe to save its life. That was 2 years ago and that same chicken is still running around my yard.

 

[axolotl-lover-]

problem is that chickens and axies have different treatments, i dont think a srynge will help suck out the fluids

 

[Autistic Catholic]

It's actually how it's usually done. You just have to know axolotl anatomy. That's why a vet is recommended.

 

[axolotl-lover-]

is it possible to do it at home and if possibe, where is the srynge inserted.

 

[Autistic Catholic]

is it possible to do it at home and if possibe, where is the srynge inserted.

It's possible but *only* do it if you can't get to the vet. Unfortunately, I do not know anything about axolotl anatomy to be able to give you advice on this issue and even still, unless the cause of the fluid retention is figured out, you still won't be able to fix the problem. Have you looked into any amphibian vets?

 

[salamander whisperer]

Try relieving the pressure through th the mouth. Use something to open mouthe enough to insert necessary tool

 

[salamander whisperer]

Try relieving the pressure through th the mouth. Use something to open mouthe enough to insert necessary tool

That doesn’t work try the vent

 

[axolotl-lover-]

It's possible but *only* do it if you can't get to the vet. Unfortunately, I do not know anything about axolotl anatomy to be able to give you advice on this issue and even still, unless the cause of the fluid retention is figured out, you still won't be able to fix the problem. Have you looked into any amphibian vets?

Thanks for the suggestion! I will look into it. Poor luca has been refusing to eat, sadly if all fails, a clove oil bath and he will rest

 

[salamander whisperer]

I just realized you guys are thinking it is a build up of water. I believe it is all air.

 

[axolotl-lover-]

I just realized you guys are thinking it is a build up of water. I believe it is all air.

Im so sorry, he is holding in fluids. it can be confusing for some to understand if it is air or fluid from the pic

 

[Autistic Catholic]

Poor guy. Keep in mind that a clove oil bath will be two separate doses. One to anesthetize and the second to kill.

 

[wolfen]

a vet will normally draw fluid out using a syringe, unfortunately because of the amount of fluid build up I don't think that even fluid removal will solve the issue.
looking at the video the edema is more than osmosis and is most likely organ failure,

 

[axolotl nerd]

Im so sorry, he is holding in fluids. it can be confusing for some to understand if it is air or fluid from the pic

based on the video alone, i think it's time to euthanize. he's suffering, but he had a good life. you did everything you could

 

[Autistic Catholic]

based on the video alone, i think it's time to euthanize. he's suffering, but he had a good life. you did everything you could

I would have to agree. I believe he's too far gone past recovery. Either nature will run its course soon or euthanasia may need to be considered. You did what you could for little Luca.