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10:47am

Luuucy is Hooooome!

Featuring:

Gnarla

Yaz

Lucy

I called up Dave last night who was very happy to report that his best girl made it through her 2 hr (!) surgery and is resting comfortably in his arms at home. He was exhausted--from the trips back 'n' forth to Tufts, from trying to modify her entire ROOM to minimize her desire to climb, from all the WORRY & ANXIETY--so we didn't chat long, but I just wanted to know she was OK.

Medically, he read the report which detailed her enlarged right ovary (which was removed and biopsied, along w/ her left ovary), the fluid removed from her coelom, some pancreatitis (which is alarming in mammals, but apparently not as much in reptiles), some spondylosis in her tail (she's never been fond of having her tail touched and has only "whipped" it once, as opposed to most igs) and, most disturbingly, some deposits on her bones which may be indicative of a salmonella infection. I like to think I'm fairly cognizant of most iguana maladies, but that threw me for a loop. Salmonella is inherent in their skin & mucous membranes (I did a swab of Yazzy & Gnarla's backs & mouths for my microbiology course 2 yrs ago) but I'd not heard of it invading the BONES.

She was given subcutaneous fluids, and they sent Dave home w/ Ceftazidime (a broad spectrum antibiotic--I'm used to the traditionally-prescribed Baytril) and Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), presumably to help w/ the pain of recovery and pain from some spills she took recently from her perches, as her leg movement was compromised due to her illness. Dave has to inject the antibiotic, and I hope he feels comfortable doing so. Back in '97, when I had 2 young adult males who got into it and attacked one another, I had to inject Baytril into one. At the time, less versed in medical matters than I am now, it felt like "stabbing a suitcase" and slightly freaked me out--though I was game to learn and do all I could for my igs.

Unlike Gnarla's wraithlike post-op appearance, Lucy didn't look any worse for wear and, as a matter of fact, looked quite green and lovely according to Dave. She took it easy on the car trip home, though she was getting a tad antsy toward the end.

At any rate, sweet Lucy made it through her surgery and will hopefully be on the mend soon. Dave, his new vet in S. Hadley, and the staff at Tufts, are all to be commended in their care of this beautiful little girl! I still am fuming at his previous "vet" who was insisting that Lucy be brought in on JUNE 9TH--by that time, it would have been IN A BODY BAG.

So, kudos to all the good folks involved, and Yaz sends a hearty "get well" bob your direction!