. This is George W., age 5, the biggest fish in our pond; she's been in a hospital tank since Jan 1 while this saga has played out.
. Chronic contact dermatitis (AKA: bed sores) due to bottom sitting caused by Swim Bladder Disease.
.Overhead X-rays taken in our garage by Dr. Zambrano and her husband revealed location, size and shape of swim bladders, but overhead and lateral X-rays wont reveal fluid build up. AB injection regimen (Amikacin) helped clear the belly ulcers but did not improve buoyancy.
. Dr. Rob Hildreth, who's pioneering a treatment for SBD, holds George while the fluoroscope's 'moving X-rays' display on the monitors. This combination would appear to have been an international first.
.Standard lateral X-ray of George; notice that no fluid lines can be seen in the air bladders -- as opposed to when the fish is positioned vertically.
.Flouroscopy allows the needle to be placed with the accuracy necessary to tap the fluid. During this first procedure, 60 cc's of fluid were removed and replaced with air (and a small amount of Baytril); culture of the fluid removed showed aeromonas infection inside the SB and Nuflor was proven to be the AB of choice for this strain. We were there in excess of three hours -- much of which was spent trying to figure out what to do and how to do it.
.George took a beating that visit; first she bled from the gills, then she shot a stream of blood from her vent while being carried from room to room.
.Since we had so much difficulty during the first procedure positioning (and holding) a big, wet, slippery fish in the fluoroscope's beam, I designed this rig to hold George during the next one.
.After recouping, George is back for another go at it.
.Sling works great (except we need to pad under the caudal Velcro strip next time); we were in and out in under an hour.
.The fluid was almost completely removed (80 cc's) and replaced with air and Nuflor.
Unfortunately, buoyancy still hasn't improved. Awaiting results from culture of the fluid removed during the second procedure to determine whether the infection has been knocked down. Next procedure will address whether fluid has returned. In any case, we'll probably inject more air in an attempt to improve buoyancy. Also, Doc Hildreth would like to determine whether there's a blockage in the tube leading to the anterior SB which keeps George from being able to inflate (re-inflate) it properly? And if so, to address that.