Here is a list of all known illness and disease known to occur in and effect Drac's. The list is rather broken and information will vary depending on who you ask since Zei Luians are notorious for not cataloging anything on paper about these creatures. Most ailments and how to treat them have been passed down through families or through word of mouth.
New illnesses and disease may be added from time to time.
**This List is alphabetical**
Danger level: Mild-Severe
Aliment type: Bacterial Infection
An abscess is an accumulation of pus (dead white blood cells) that forms a lump internally or externally on your Drac’s body. It occurs as a result of an infection, as the white blood cells assemble to fight off a foreign antigen, then subsequently die, becoming walled off in a capsule as the body attempts to isolate the infection. This lump is usually accompanied by inflammation and can be painful, due to the buildup of pressure. As time passes, the abscess can rupture, releasing pus.
Abscesses are most common in the hooves of Dracs but can occur under scales as well. ** See Scale Rot **
Treatment
Depending of the severity of an abscess, you may not even know its there until it ruptures. More severe ruptures can leave a Drac sore or "three legged lame". If owners suspects an abscess soaking in a poultice (soft/moist mash which is often heated and medicated) or even applying it directly by bandage can help "pull the infection out" and relieve the pressure. Once abscesses rupture the Drac experiences little to no pain and lameness normally clears.
Danger level: Minor-Mild
Aliment type: Inflammatory
Defined as the inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness. Arthritis is common in aged Drac's who have had a repeative labor life. Arthritis is most common in the knees and stifles but can occur in the wings as well depending on their lifestyle.
Treatment
Supplements and a light workout can keep arthritic Drac's happy and comfortable. When swelling of the joints occurs a cool water bath on the joint can help relieve pressure and pain. There is no said "sure" for arthritis but it is not a terminal condition. In some rare cases EXTREME arthritis can leave Dracs crippled in which case euthanasia is often suggested for the animals welfare.
Danger level: Mild-Severe
Aliment type: Dietary
The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. The most common cause of "colic" in Dracs is the blockage or difficulty of passing ingested bones from prey animals. Typically, Dracs don't ingest the bones of their prey but sometimes do when eating too quickly. These blockages sometimes just cause symptoms like painful abdomen, irritability and constipation but in severe causes can completely block the intestinal system.
Treatment
Light blockages caused by small bones usually pass on their own. Walking your Drac until they experience a bowl movement is the best course of treatment if a blockage is suspected. For more severe cases where a large fragment is stuck surgery is the only option to relieve the Drac.
Danger level: Mild-Severe
Aliment type: Viral
Drac's who suffer from the flu tend to have an abnormally high body temperature and nasal discharge, which is usually clear in color. Pneumonia is also a frequent secondary infection for Drac's with this condition, as their immune systems are compromised. This secondary infection can be deadly in foals. In severe cases the Drac may develop heart and liver complications. Other signs include:
Dry deep cough
Inability to control Fire Expulsion
Occasionally muscle pain, with reluctance to move
Occasionally enlarged lymph nodes
Treatment
There is no treatment to kill the virus itself, so management of the virus revolves around supportive care. Rest is of the utmost importance; at least six weeks is recommended in order to allow the damaged tissues from the illness to fully heal. It is also important that infected Drac's be kept in clean and well-ventilated areas. There is some evidence that the dust found in stables can affect Drac's suffering or recovering influenza.
If a secondary infection occurs due to the flu, additional procedures will be taken to help continue healing but also treat these new issues..
Danger level: Mild-Severe
Aliment type: Bacterial
Also referred to as infectious stomatitis, Mouth Rot is a very common disorder that can affect domesticated and wild Dracs. This ailment occurs when a Drac undergoes extended periods of stress, resulting in a weakened immune system and an imbalance of the natural bacteria found in the mouth of Dracs. Symptoms include: red or inflamed gums, loss of teeth, loss of appetite, pus from the mouth and/or drainage from the nose and mouth.
Treatment
The most common practice to remove the infection requires an antiseptic mouth wash several times a week for several weeks. In severe cases where large amounts of tissue has died, surgery is required to remove the dead flesh. If left uncheck this infection CAN spread into the intestinal tract and lungs of the drac leading to pneumonia and, sometimes, death. When a mouth wash isn't enough antibiotics are often prescribed while washing of the infected areas continued.
If a Drac has suffered long enough, fluid therapy is sometimes accompanies regular medicines to avoid dehydration.
Danger level: Mild
Aliment type: Parasite
Intestinal parasites are common in Dracs and seldom too serious. In most cases these parasites leave Drac's thin and underweight as they steal the nutrients from their intestinal tracts. In more out of hand cases a build up of worms can lead to colic and intestinal blocks. Drac's with a large build up like this often behave as though they have colic and seldom have bowl movements.
Treatment
Dewormer is a simple cure for these pesty parasites. Given orally, the paste often kills the worms within 24-48 hrs of consumption. In cases where the build up is stopping the Drac from having bowl movements surgery may be required to remove the blockage.
Danger level: Mild-Severe
Aliment type: Dietary
Result of platinum ingested by the Drac becoming trapped in the fire pathway of their esophagus. Chucks of the rare metal can cause scratching and irritation but cause a bigger problem is stuck long term. When attempted to breath fire the piece will remained lodged and still ignite when the Drac breathes out the free flame. This platinum will continue to burn and scald the inside of the throat unless spit out or dislodged. Generally speaking, most pieces are small and can be easily spit out by the Drac but these dangerous, harmful situations have been documented in the past.
Treatment
If a serious case is suspected, the Drac in question should be cut off from all platinum until the piece can be dislodged. If it can not be done by the Drac, a human hand may be needed to reach down the throat of the Drac and remove the piece. The procedure isn't dangerous so much for the Drac, but the human as Zei Lu doesn't have a safe way to put a Drac under Anesthesia. This problem has been reported more by Dracs on earth than it has in Zei Lu in general, at least these extreme ones.
Danger level: Severe
Aliment type: Viral
A Viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain. Early symptoms can include fever and behavioral changes. These symptoms are often followed by: violent movements, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion, hyper-reactiveity to external stimuli and the urge to tear into anything they can get their teeth into. The third is the paralytic stage and is caused by damage to motor neurons. A lack of coordination is seen, owing to rear limb paralysis and drooling and difficulty swallowing is caused by paralysis of facial and throat muscles. Death is usually caused by respiratory arrest if left untreated.
Treatment
There is no treatment for a Drac infected with Rabies. In Zei Lu most farms try their best to keep carriers of the disease away from their farms. On Earth vaccines have proven to be effective in preventing infection of the virus.
Wild dracs who are suspected to have contracted rabies are promptly put down before infection can spread.
Danger level: Mild
Aliment type: Bacterial
Scale rot is a condition where infectious bacteria begin to grow underneath the leg scales of Dracs. Irritating and often VERY itchy, Drac's who suffer from this aliment can often be seen biting and scratching at their scales. In extreme cases they may even rip their scales off before their next shedding cycle.
This is a fairly common problem in Zei lu as the gaps under the scales stay warm and moist, providing a great place to incubate bacteria. Regular cleaning of their scales can prevent this problem from occurring in the first place.
Treatment
A simple herbal poultice or soap bath can often solve this problem. In the case of more resistant infections medication may need to be given in addition to the cleansing bathes and the reapplication of poultice.
Danger level: Severe
Aliment type: Varying
"Stargazing Syndrome" refers to an unusual body position resulting in either a disease or injury that inhibits the normal function of the central nervous system (i.e., the brain and spinal cord). This, in turn, causes the affected Drac to twist their heads and necks and look upwards towards the sky. Stargazing is not a disease in and of itself, but is a symptom of other disorders.
A stargazer’s bizarre posture is certainly its most noticeable symptom, but depending on the underlying cause, other problems may also be evident, including:
Difficulty moving
Disorientation
Depression
Tremors
Seizures
Vomiting and disinterest in food
Weight loss
Scale shedding issues
Treatment
Antibiotics can often return a Drac who suffers from a bacterial infection to normal but when an injury, viral infection or genetic factor is at play the effected Drac is often put to sleep or dies within days of showing symptoms.