Tongue sticking out of mouth

[IvoryReptiles]

It's possible that the tongue swelling is from having bitten his own tongue too. It happens. I hope he recovers and grows healthy under your care!! Keep us posted on his progress!

[Wizzlewuzzle]

I tried to get him to eat a worm tonight, but he showed absolutely no interest in it at all. So I tried crickets again, since he at least tried to eat one last night before he hurt his tongue, but he ignored the crickets too. I'm worried about his lack of interest , since as Grif pointed out, he looks kind of emaciated. Maybe because his tongue still hurts, even though it is back in his mouth? Really hoping there isn't something serious going on with his mouth. Hopefully the vet will be able to help on Monday. Any advice on helping the journey to the vet (2 hours round trip) be as stress-free for him as possible?

[GrifTheGreat]

I tried to get him to eat a worm tonight, but he showed absolutely no interest in it at all. So I tried crickets again, since he at least tried to eat one last night before he hurt his tongue, but he ignored the crickets too. I'm worried about his lack of interest , since as Grif pointed out, he looks kind of emaciated. Maybe because his tongue still hurts, even though it is back in his mouth? Really hoping there isn't something serious going on with his mouth. Hopefully the vet will be able to help on Monday. Any advice on helping the journey to the vet (2 hours round trip) be as stress-free for him as possible?

You can use a critter keeper with just moist paper towels as substrate so he/she doesn't dry out and so some humidity will be in the keeper. Cover the keeper so that the Sun doesn't shine on him/her, but keep him/her warm just not hot. make sure the keeper is secure so it doesn't bounce around a lot. It is nearly impossible to keep stress levels low while taking them to the vet. Mine is just 5 no urea away and they'll still be pretty unhappy about all of it.

[BlueisallIneed]

Your doing the smart thing, just soak him and wait till you can get to the vet. I wouldn't offer any food for a little bit, maybe a dy or so.

[Wizzlewuzzle]

You can use a critter keeper with just moist paper towels as substrate so he/she doesn't dry out and so some humidity will be in the keeper. Cover the keeper so that the Sun doesn't shine on him/her, but keep him/her warm just not hot. make sure the keeper is secure so it doesn't bounce around a lot. It is nearly impossible to keep stress levels low while taking them to the vet. Mine is just 5 no urea away and they'll still be pretty unhappy about all of it.

Thanks, Grif. I already feel about Packy the way I feel about my kids--I want to keep them safe, healthy, happy. Just in this situation I feel so helpless having to wait for the vet. If I could trade with Packy and make me the one who is underweight with an injured tongue, I totally would. Thank you again, though. Having a plan for the upcoming vet journey helps me feel a little bit less ineffective.

[Wizzlewuzzle]

Thank you very much also to blue, both the ivories, and ariel. I really appreciate the advice and encouragement!

[GrifTheGreat]

You're welcome.

Try to remain calm. They can sense emotions and become stressed. I've been here before and save my oldest female from dying. I had to force feed her for 2 months straight and she finally pulled through. Now she's the Queen of my Pacman Frogs Lol!! She is also really calm and doesn't mind being handled because I had to so much when she was sick. I did what I had to, to save her.

I commend you for your efforts.

[Wizzlewuzzle]

Just got back from the vet. They said that Packy has a bacterial infection on his tongue, and they gave him some antibiotics. They said hopefully his appetite would be back in 48 hours but that I could try force feeding him in the meantime. Edit: I put half a baby nightcrawler in his mouth, and he ate it! It feels good for him to finally eat something, even if I had to put it in his mouth for him. Should I let it go at that for now? Is half a baby nightcrawler sufficient or should he eat more? He is 2 1/2 inches long (I measured and it turns out that my "guesstimate" was a good one) and as you can see in the pictures earlier in this thread, underweight. The vet seemed kind of vague/unsure about how much he should be eating.

[BlueisallIneed]

Aw that is great that it can be treated and he ate!!!! hope your little baby gets well soon!!!!!

[GrifTheGreat]

Just got back from the vet. They said that Packy has a bacterial infection on his tongue, and they gave him some antibiotics. They said hopefully his appetite would be back in 48 hours but that I could try force feeding him in the meantime. Edit: I put half a baby nightcrawler in his mouth, and he ate it! It feels good for him to finally eat something, even if I had to put it in his mouth for him. Should I let it go at that for now? Is half a baby nightcrawler sufficient or should he eat more? He is 2 1/2 inches long (I measured and it turns out that my "guesstimate" was a good one) and as you can see in the pictures earlier in this thread, underweight. The vet seemed kind of vague/unsure about how much he should be eating.

Yes give him more. He will need the strength to recover. He is large enough to eat about 1 1/2" night crawler pieces. You can give him about 3 pieces this size per day. Be sure to dust one piece with calcium every other feeding and one piece with a multivitamin for reptiles/amphibians once per week. Be sure not to dust with both at the same Time in the same feeding.

Keep us posted.