New procedure appears success in saving one of our dragons

Sandy, one of our female beardies, went from being extremely healthy and happy to critical condition near death overnight. Our vet, with the help of some of the best reptile vets in the country, pulled her though with a procedure that as far as is known has never been performed on bearded dragons before, a blood to marrow transfusion. This will be written up for vet journal publications by our vet, Dr. Carolyn Kohn at River Forest Animal Hospital in Sarasota, who performed the procedure.

She consulted with other experts in the US and they assisted with their ideas, such as meds to use to help reduce any swelling, bleeding, rejection, where to go into the marrow, what needles, caths to use, and also their support and encouragement. The contributing vets were:

Dr. Douglas Mader, author of Reptile Medicine and Surgery, in the Florida Keys, Marathon.
Dr. Divers-Hernandez College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA.
Dr. Ivan Alfonso of Orlando. He has some really good herp articles with photos on vetmed on his site.
Dr. Susan Lightfoot in Tampa. Florida Veterinary Specialist.

Just in case one of you needs some top expert help, and are near any of these cities, these are some of the best bearded dragon vets or specialist in their fields in the country. How fortunate for us that they are all located in Florida. For those not in Florida, they will do phone consultations. I know I have a dragon alive today because of them and their ingenuity to put together what was a very cutting edge emergency medical procedure

I've never seen a living dragon that looked so bad so quick, or one that survived with iron levels so low in the blood. We are hopeful and it appears the procedure is successful.

For those of you that don't know her, Sandy, the dragon who received the procedure, is the gold dragon in the top left corner of every page on this website, so is very special to us and this site. It was our big healthy orange male 21 month old Merlin, from Matthew of Mystical Dragons, that became the donor. He is doing excellent, they said he hardly blinked when they took 5cc of his blood. Thank heavens we had a dragon that was so hearty and could share that health with her and allow her to survive.

Merlin, the hero of the house: He is now 680 Grams (not a bit of fat on him) and still growing.

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Congratulation CheriS! I'm so glad that Sandy made it through.

This is a great book, and I have been trying to order it, no luck yet.

Isn't Dr. Alfonso Sandfire Dragon Ranch's vet? I'll have to check the site again.

Either way, Sandy was in the hands of many skilled professionals, and again, congratulations.

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Sandfire Ranch is in California, Dr Alfonso is in Florida and has a private preactice and a surgery location also. SO I do not think he has anything to do with Sandfire ranch. He is absolutely brilliant with chameleons, but knows his beardies too, it was his suggestion for this procedure as he had treated a female dragon with similiar symptoms before that they thought was related to hormones and egg stasis

Mader's new edition of his reptile medicine and surgery just came out this month, so you should be able to find it now, or maybe the 1st one on a book site

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

This is amazing. I am glad to hear everything is going well.

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Thats wonderful! I'm so glad they are both doing so well. And its good to see the medical knowledge and options growing. Congratulations!
Cristine

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Wow, that's really amazing. Keep us updated on her recovery!

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Did they figure out what caused this all? This was the girl that was egg bound?

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Egg stasis ( a bit different that egg bound) is one possibility, leukemia or another blood disease is another. In egg stasis they can be pre or post ovulatory, the yolks can form in the ovaries (this is much more common in iguana's than beardies, or they can not pass into the uterus properly and the shelling gland, so they can not be shelled to lay. IN some cases they will reabsorb, in others they may have to be surgical removed.

It has been reported by some other vets that dragons in egg stasis had low RBC, Sandy's was dreadly low and it went down fast, like someone who was bleeding internally woudl, but there was not other signs that she was bleeding internally. But they are testing for leukemia also as she had no immautre RBC in her blood. These are the two main options that are possibiities

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Wow. That's amazing... Keep us posted on Sandy's recovery. I'm glad that Merlin is doing well....

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

That is a truly amazing story, glad it ended ok.

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

So, three weeks later, how is Sandy doing? And her donor?

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Merlin is fine, never knew anything went on around him...

Sandy continues to improve, her packed red blood cells were 7 just prior to the transfussion, then they were 11 a few days after (this was probably due to the blood from Merlin) but then a week later she was up to 15 and a week later again up to 17. So she is regenerating them herself now so that is a big plus. She does not want to chase and eat her insects, but she will lick up food offered to her. HE knee is very swollen where they had to put the cath into the marrow, so she is being touchy about that right now.

We are hopeful that she will recover.... a long ways from us taking her home to die 3 weeks ago!

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

I'm glad to hear shes doing well and improving. I wish you, Sandy (and merlin the hero!) the best of luck.

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Thanks for the update, Cheri! Glad to hear she is doing better, and improving.

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

That's simply a wonderful news. You are doing an amazing job with her Cheri, it needs to be noticed! Good work with her, congrats, and keep us posted. Thanks, Naht.

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

It's not me, its a Vet that was willing to take on impossible task and some others we have met throught the years and email with. Our vet is very up front about possibilities of success, but willing to try something different and write some of the pages of medical information. Not reckless in her work, but dedicated. I have total confidence in our vet, I know what she does not know, she knows how to go to the source that does and how to brainstrom with others to come up with new ideas to apply to bearded dragons. Not all things are successful, but in this case we had her contact a friend, Dr Alphonso in Orlando that has had a case somewhat alike with one of Ronnie Buck of Australian Bearded Herps (ABherps) and what they tried that did work. Sandy was even in worse shape, as she had just hardly any Iron in her blood left, so she had to have a transfussion also... we are very blessed!

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

Cheri, I think everyone on the forum will agree that you are doing wonders and an amazing work with the beardies and all other lizards you might come in contact with. You are very involved and your love for these little creatures in itself a wonderful thing.

Of course, the vets got to do the "work" with Sandy. However, I'm sure you were there to assist them to the best of your capacity and knowledge. I don't have any doubts that you are taking care of Sandy in a wonderful way, and yet, still find the time to take care of the rest of the herps you have with you. Your involvement is something you should be recognized for, and be acknowledged to your true value: You are a gem.

So no DOUBTS in my mind that you are doing wonders with Sandy, even just by your dedication, your presence and the love you give her. These things are essential and should not be kept silent.

We often say that the vets are wonderful dedicated people, and that's true. But Cheri, you are an amazing woman and I'm telling you, you are a wonderful woman that gives with her heart and is not counting your time to help, advises or reassure. Thank you. Nath

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

wow, your embarassing me!

It's not hard to do something you love, what is hard is going to work everyday in a non animal related field

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

What kind words....
I don't think just any vet would have tried this procedure or go to these kind of lengths. And I'm sure it was your insistence and dedication that made this happen, Cheri. Give yourself some credit, girl!

 

RE: New procedure appears success in saving one of our drago

How is her recovery? it's been...2.5 months?