Constipation/columnaris/dropsy

[Andie]

I'm coming so close to breaking down right now. I checked on Galinda today, and not only is her belly as bad as ever but her scales have begun to raise. I started a salt bath immediately to try to draw fluids out and lower the swelling, and then I saw that the 'fuzz' had begun to return as well

I don't know what to do with her now- it seems like so many things to tackle all at once. Should she go back to the salted/medicated/aerated aquarium, or will that just stress her out more? I really hate to watch her struggling with this, but I'll admit I hate dealing with it even more . . . if somebody can possibly suggest an immediate regimen of treatments, I would appreciate it. She's alert and still mobile so I really think if I hit it hard enough she can make it, I just need to act fast.

Anybody?

 

[WILDER]

You do no once scales raise the chances are slim, try some epson salt baths and antibiotic treatment, finger crossed.

 

[Andie]

She's in epsom salts right now. I may grab a cab up to the pet store in a minute to get some medicated food, on the chance it's internal parisites rather than constipation. She is defecating now, but it's very stringy and pale, and I understand that's a sign of parasitic infection.

 

[WILDER]

Bacterial infections and constipation can also cause long stringy white poo, she has dropsy which is hard to cure once the scales stick out like a pinecone.

http/www.petfish.net/dropsy.htm

 

[Andie]

Okay . . . so the constipation can also cause dropsy, then? Because she was having the bowel problems and the swollen abdomen for quite a while . . . almost a month, now. I was treating it as constipation, and it was only today that her scales began to protrude, which was why I believed I had been treating her for the wrong problem. I already had her on a week of Maracyn for the columnaris, but I can put her back on it in case it's bacterial, rather than parasitic . . .

 

[WILDER]

If he stood a chance the maracyn should of helped with a bacteria infection, the columnaris is the second bacteria infection on top, to be honest there is nothing to be done now, you have done everything, sorry.

 

[Andie]

Don't be sorry; it's hardly your fault I'll give her another go of the Maracyn - I'll try 7 days instead of 5 this time - and then if it helps, it helps. If not, I'll just keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't suffer.

 

[Andie]

I went out and bought Maracyn 2. I was treating for columnaris with Maracyn, so maybe the switch in medications will do the trick. If not, she's in a nice-sized tank with plants, her fun bubble-ride and all the meds. She's comfy, and I really can't do anything else. Which, ironically, is the thing I hate the most.

ETA: She's having fun blowing bubbles at the airstone. Gah, it's breaking my heart

 

[WILDER]

How is she doing.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Don't give up hope just yet. I've seen them recover from dropsy quite easily, even after pineconing. I think it has a lot to do with what stage it was in when you caught it.

 

[Andie]

She's doing decently- I'M the wreck! I was up all last night hovering over her (I gave Fiyero a salt bath too, as well as a pea, because he's got a bit of a pudge too) so I fell alseep in class today as soon as I was done writing my essay ) My dear, sweet professor let me sleep for twenty minutes; I only woke up when she said "five minutes, everybody"

The pineconing hasn't gone down, but it hasn't worsened, either, so I'm hoping I'm at least drawing off a little fluid with the salt baths. Her poop isn't white, anymore, either, it's now yellow again, so I hope that means nothing inside her is eating all the nutrients. She's a little pale, but no stress stripes and she's still bobbing around and checking out the airflow; her favourite toy

I'm torn about what to do with the temperature; I know columnaris prefers warm water so I haven't got a heater in there with her, but I hate to stress her out even further. Is it worth the risk of encouraging the columnaris if it might make her a bit stronger?

 

[WILDER]

Bless her, just keep it at the same temp, fingers crossed for you, keep doing the epson salt baths, good luck.

 

[Andie]

I just checked on her again and I don't dare hope, but gah . . . it may be my imagination, but the scales by her spine seem to have lowered. Yesterday the scales all over her front half were puffed up a bit, right up almost to her spine (although the scales around her tail were still flat) but now as near as I can tell, only the ones around her "belly bulge" are up; possibly a decrease in swelling?

She's due for her next salt bath in an hour or so . . . I'm so determined to do everything I can for her. I didn't have a chance to save Snapdragon; he was hit so fast, he was there one day and gone the next, and I swore I'd never keep a betta again. Now I figure if I can do all I can to help her, at least, then I'll feel justified in going back on my decision

 

[WILDER]

Sounding very good but not out of the woods yet, are you still using the maracyn as i would.

 

[Andie]

Oh don't worry, she's getting the full regime I'm going to treat this as aggressively as I can for the full seven days, one way or another (I can't take her home with me this weekend so I'm taking her tank down the hall to stay with my friend. Man-Sum is a pre-veterinary student and almost compulsively responsible; she's kept bettas herself, too, so when she promises to drop the tablets in once a day, I know I can count on her )