Yes and know. What you have to realise is that dropsy can be the effect of many different types of infections and/or diseases with the end result of a net fluid accumulation in freshwater fish.
Before we get into a general treatment protocol for dropsy, I would like to refer you to previous posts:
•Dropsy definition
•What does it mean if my fish has dropsy?
To reiterate, dropsy is a clinical sign indicating loss of fluid balance where there is a net influx of water. This is most commonly due to damage to kidney, gills and skin, from a variety of infectious and non-infectious causes. The prognosis for survival is poor.
Here is what you must do to reach a diagnosis (rather than spend valuable time guessing by trial and error with a cocktail of drugs). Full water quality analysis and microscopic examination of skin mucus scrapes and gill biopsies to exclude any underlying disease issues (e.g. ectoparasites) are a must. Fine needle aspirates, blood tests and bacterial cultures may also help with making a diagnosis. These findings are essential to formulate a treatment regimen.
In the case where it is an uncomplicated bacterial infection, these are the steps I take:
1. Maintain all water parameters at the fish’s optimal range (especially temperature).
2. Maintain salt (NaCl) at a rate of 5g/L (to reduce osmoregulatory stress).
3. Maintain epsom salt (MgSO4) at a rate of 1g/L (to aid gut and muscular function).
4. Perform 20-30% partial water changes using aquarium water every 2 days (to reduce waste build up).
5. Add appropriate antibiotic as a course (from the aquatic veterinarian).
6. Add frusemide to the water at 0.5-3mg/L every 3 days until clinical signs subside (as a diuretic).
*Note that all these drugs are used off-label and under veterinary supervision.
Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch, MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV.
Veterinarian | Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | President-elect WAVMA |
Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
Mobile Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services for fish and other aquatic creatures.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
I have a outside pond with Koi and goldfish, one goldfish has all the signs of dropsy. Do I need to euthanize the fish for the sake of the other fish. Or can I let her be…is eating and swimming with the other fish.
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Hi Jane,
Sorry to hear.
By the time fish present with dropsy, the prognosis for the individual is poor.
If dropsy is due to a non-infectious disease such as polycystic kidney disease or internal tumors, then their tankmates would be spared. However, it the cause of dropsy is due to infectious causes such as ectoparasitism or bacterial infections, then leaving the sick fish in the pond will increase the risk of amplifying the disease-causing organisms, putting pond mates at greater risk of becoming sick.
It’s best to have your sick fish vet checked to obtain a diagnosis to know what to do next.
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