Emergency with axolotl

[Notthrilledatthatidea]

Sorry to post here....I'm in desperate need of help with an axolotl.
She's swollen so much she can't keep upright. Hasn't eaten in a month. I legitimately can't find an aquatic veterinarian in the whole of Wales.

Anybody have any idea what I can do???

@Babyboomtastic I think it's really negligent of the human race to allow such a beautiful creature to nearly become extinct.

I have TRIED to contact multiple people to no avail.

Mumsnet was my last hope.

I'll dwell. No worries about that

Please try not to blame yourself, sounds like you are doing everything you can.
But it's best not to let our pets suffer. Any vet should be able to help with a put to sleep.
Sometimes all we can do is stop the suffering for them.
I can't advise you any further as I am a rodent/ rabbit keeper. But good luck.

No way, that's a radical idea that😱

@brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Totally should be. Unfortunately there are only 700-1000 left in one river system in Mexico. Should anything be kept in captivity? I honestly don't know but they are on the brink of extinction. Hence I can't find a vet that can look at her

I was also going to suggest Origin vets/Dr Lance Jepson. They visit vet paractices in Wales and have bookable clinic days.

https://www.origin-vets.org/meet-the-origin-vets

Following. I hope it’s Ok.

Do come back and update.

Gosh that’s awful. I hope you find a solution, OP.

Where did you originally get it? Do they captive breed? I’m ignorant about axolotls apart from knowing they are very cool!

Poor thing.
There's a good, active, axolotl group on Facebook. It's called Axolotl keepers UK. They're very knowledgeable about health issues.
I hope that you get some good advice ❤️ sorry I don't know the answer for you.

Join some Facebook groups, you’ll get advice probably from people who have been there and probably quite quickly once you’re approved to join the group. This is what I tend to do with my exotics if I’m unsure what I’m dealing with requires a vet trip or if I can resolve it myself. Reddit also tends to have helpful communities.
It’s just over the border in England but Taylor and Marshall vets are in Shifnal and very good with exotics. I do find it a bit irresponsible you having an animal and no clue where to take it in case of an emergency. Axolotls eat 2-3 times a week, if it’s not eaten in a month then surely you should have been urgently seeking advice weeks ago? And from somewhere more suitable than Mumsnet 🙃
Hope you get it sorted.

edit: Google does bring up a few exotic vets in Cardiff, not sure if you’ve called those? Even if they’re not specifically aquatics I know some exotic vets do cover animals like axolotls, turtles etc

Calderwell zoo in Scotland have axolotls. I know that's a long way but maybe they could help with over the phone advice?

Well I've provided some places to contact if you want to try them.

Honestly though, yes it is irresponsible keeping an animal as a pet without knowing where to take it if it fell ill. You've got an equal duty of care to it whether it's an axolotl or a dog IMO

Is there anything in the tank that could have caused impaction sand, snails etc?

If you don't have access to specialist help then I'd have it euthanised because there's obviously something seriously wrong with it and it's probably suffering. Get something easier to care for next time. Please don't just leave it. Any vet will euthanise it.

Did you mean Calderglen at East Kilbride. Its a lovely wee park. Telephone 01355 236644. Open until 4pm today.

Are the places you are contacting saying they don't provide advice on xylotols or do the not know what is wrong?

I’m glad you found it useful.

Here’s another tip- next time, don’t get an animal unless you have the ability to care for it. That includes being able to access a suitable vet.

I know Bristol aquarium keep them. If south Wales, asking them wtf they do with poorly ones might be worth trying...

Caudata.org have a good online forum where you can ask for help, they have a Facebook page as well

I do care? That's why my last ditch efforts is to post on mumsnet. My 'duty' is if there are actual veterinarians that will look at the poor thing? I've tried google/reddit/youtube/twitter along side EVERY aquatic shop in 100 mile radius.

I'm desperate ok.

But your right.....shouldn't of had it in the fucking place. Let them all die out eh!

@OliveTapenade oh thank you! Can you find a suitable vet? I'm desperate. Thanks

Several people have posted vets that can help? Presumably those vets couldn't help?

Everyone I've contacted today have either been too far away or said 'they'll get back to me' .

Did have a lovely response though from a pp suggestion saying a possible treatment so I'm currently trying that.

Is that OK with you hun? I know I should not of had this random creature in the first place! Shame on me!!!!

Tbf you probably should have sourced a vet before you got it. Or at least as soon as you'd got it. 🤷‍♀️ Hun.

Why are you being so snippy? Maybe people assume that if someone keeps a rare exotic animal, they will have sourced some expert support for it. Where did you obtain the animal? Could they not help? Hope you find something that works.

Slimbridge wildfowl and wetlands centre (Gloucestershire so not too far from wales) have them. Maybe contact them for advice/vet recommendation?