Sick Pancake help

Status
Not open for further replies.
I'm new, sorry if this ain't that great.

My female bearded dragon Pancake went into convolshons/ spazams and her eyes rolled back in her head and she was not breathing when I picked her up, I managed to get her to breathe again by vigorously(like a human baby when you burp it) patting her in her back.

Here's a link to what condition she looks like, hope the link works.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UHKy6Rh6b98JNEk43

Here's how she used to be, hope the link works.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fd94GbYpvHsvtmR63

SIGH....
and my mom won't take me to take her to the vet, what a shame.

Anything I can/could do for her?

What does it look like?.??
Upper respiratory infection
Neurological
....
Parasites
Any clue...

Is she suffering
Is there any way she might live
Any humane way to put her out of her misery
Sorry for all the questions
Is it contagious I have 10 lizards all together...

I rescued them

2 bearded dragon:
~ Spike
~ Pancake

4 leopard geckos:
~ Leps
~ Blizzard
~ Spot
~ Bandit  -  R.I.P.

3 anoles:
~ Brownie   
~ Greenē / Greenie 
~ Chompy / Chomper

1 house gecko / golden gecko:
~ Scar

1 tokay gecko:
~ --------         -  R.I.P.

1 crested gecko
~ Mocha

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
I'm so sorry that you + Pancake are going through this. :( Was she doing anything before this like eating or drinking ? What exact type + brand of lights do you use ? A severe calcium deficiency or vit. B deficiency may cause seizures. Try dripping a bit of water on her snout, with a pinch of calcium powder in it.

She is in critical condition, it would be best to get her to an experienced reptile vet if you could talk your mom or another relative or older friend in to helping you.
 

PH1L0D3NDR0N

Member
Original Poster
Thank you.
Right now I'm hoping she makes it through the night.

She had some dubia roaches a couple days ago she ? them whole (identifiable still)

I think the light is a exoterra solar glow, the words are gone off of it I don't know exactly sorry. I got it from a guy off CL cregs list with the large low exoterra tank.
 

PH1L0D3NDR0N

Member
Original Poster
AHBD":3scylr09 said:
I'm so sorry that you + Pancake are going through this. :( Was she doing anything before this like eating or drinking ? What exact type + brand of lights do you use ? A severe calcium deficiency or vit. B deficiency may cause seizures. Try dripping a bit of water on her snout, with a pinch of calcium powder in it.

She is in critical condition, it would be best to get her to an experienced reptile vet if you could talk your mom or another relative or older friend in to helping you.

Thank you!??
The water and calcium power worked, she perked right up.
I don't know for how long it will work tho???
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

How is your girl doing this morning?
The Solar Glo MVB light by Exoterra are ok bulbs but not real strong. I would definitely consider
replacing it though. You could opt for the Megaray MVB which is much stronger. In combination
with the Megaray I would use a tube UVB as well, such as the Reptisun 10 or the Arcadia D3 12%
for a more even overall UVB exposure area in the tank.
She wont be able to properly absorb her calcium without a good UVB source.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
That's good ! She may be severely dehydrated so offer water a few times a day . Did she used to drink any water before ?
 

EllenD

Gray-bearded Member
I'm sorry, I.know you're young a d can't get her proper veterinary care, but yes, the black beard indicates she's either in pain or very stressed.

I agree completely with Tracie, this looks like a total lack of UVB light, resulting in a severe Calcium deficiency and MBD. SolarGlow MVB lights are not very strong at all, and usually test well below adequate for a bearded dragon. In addition, they are only good for 10 months or so, after that they stop emitting any UVB or UVA light at all, at that point they only emit heat. So if you got it second hand and the writing is worn off, there's no telling how old it is, it probably hasn't emitted any UVB or UVA light for a long time.

Without any UVB or UVA light she cannot properly digest, absorb, or process/use any nutrition she's taking in from any food or supplements she's eating at all, including Calcium and all other vitamins or minerals. Plus, the SolarGlo is not a strong enough MVB to use on top of any type of mesh tank lid, they block 40% of the UVB light, and the light is too weak to begin with.

I suggest either ordering her a proper long (at least 22") T5 strength UVB tube and a matching T5-rated tube fixture on Amazon.com (cheapest place by far, you'll spend right around $50 shipped for both) and then removing the SolarGlo MVB from whatever fixture you have it in and then getting a regular Halogen indoor flood bulb from Lowes, Tractor Supply, or Home Depot, probably 100 watts if her tank is a 40-gallon Breeder Tank, if smaller then go down in wattage to a 75 watt Halogen indoor flood bulb (they only cost between $5-$10 at most, Tractor Supply sells 2-packs for $9), and using 2 separate lights from now on, the long tube for her UVB/UVA light and then the regular, halogen indoor flood bulb for her heat. Both lights need to be on for at least 14 hours every single day.

The 22" Reptisun 10.0 T5HO UVB tube is the UVB tube I'm speaking of on Amazon.com, it costs $23 if ordered there, and it's strong enough to sit on top of the mesh lid, and only needs to be within at least 11" of her Basking Spot/Platform. Also, the T5 UVB tubes only need to be replaced once every year. Then a matching 24" tube fixture that is rated for a T5 strength UVB tube and includes a metal reflector inside it costs about $28 as a package deal on Amazon.com, so around $50 shipped for both, which is by far the best deal you'll find anywhere.

Just an FYI, you cannot use any compact or coil UVB bulbs for a bearded dragon, they are all far too weak, and if obstructed by a mesh lid they will not emit any UVB light to her at all. They also cause eye and neurological issues, and this might also be part of her current problem, as an old SolarGlo MVB that is only emitting plain light may be causing her distress at this point too. Also, most all of the UVB tubes that you'll find in most pet shops (any Petco or PetSmart stores for sure) are only the much weaker T8 strength UVB tubes, which are too weak to help her at this point. Also, they are much more expensive than buying the proper T5 strength UVB tube and fixture on Amazon anyway. The T8 UVB tubes cannot sit on top of the mesh lid, must be replaced every 6 months (so you save money that way too if you buy the much stronger T5 UVB tube), and must be mounted not only underneath the mesh lid but must also be no further away from the basking spot than 6". They aren't worth the hassle nor the extra cost, that's why I recommend ordering the 22" Reptisun 10.0 T5HO for $23...In comparison, the shorter, weaker 18" Reptisun 10.0 T8 UVB tube at any Petco or PetSmart costs $37.99 for only the UVB tube without a fixture!!!

Also, just to make sure you don't end up buying her a brand of UVB tube that will make her much worse, please avoid the UVB light brands All Living Things (PetSmart's house-trained), Zilla (Petco's house-trained), and ReptileOne. These all are manufactured in the same Chinese factory and as a byproduct of the manufacturing process, they all emit harmful light rays that cause eye damage, blindness, and neurological issues, in addition to being far too weak. At the point she is at she needs a very strong, intense, high-quality T5 strength UVB tube 14 hours a day to try to start reversing the damage. Without this immediately, she's going to lose her appetite completely, stop moving, and most likely pass away. But I don't think that she's a lost cause at all, and do not suggest just euthanizing her.

By the way, please do not try to euthanize her at home, when I read your question "Is there a humane way to put her out of her misery" I got sick to my stomach, the answer is no. First of all all she needs is a T5 UVB tube and a fixture for it, around $50 or so shipped from Amazon.com and I think she'll start recovering very quickly, along with force feeding fluids, nutrition like slurries made from healthy greens and veggies and that include a pinch of Calcium and Multivitamin powders, and 3 proper temperature zones inside her tank. So euthanizing her is not necessary yet. Secondly, if it comes to that then you must take her to a vet to have her humanely put to sleep, you cannot do it at home. Anything you could do at home would be painful and traumatic for both you and her.

The last option here is to surrender her to a reputable reptile rescue, and this is what you'll need to do if your mom is unwilling to order a proper T5 UVB tube and fixture for her, along with a 75-100 watt bright white basking bulb or halogen indoor flood bulb to put right alongside the T5 UVB tube. I have worked at a Certified Reptile and Bird Rescue in Pennsylvania for many years, and if you are unable to get her the proper equipment she needs to get well, I can certainly find the closest, reputable reptile rescue to you if I know where you live. We have a very large, strong network across the country, and I'm more than willing to locate the rescue for you and get them to save their required donation for surrender for you to take her there. They can not only get her the proper lighting, equipment, and dietary requirements she needs to get well, but they would also take her to their Reptile Specialist Vet immediately for care as well. I know that would be a hard decision, but without the things she needs ASAP she's going to die, so obviously surrendering her is the better option. I'm just throwing that out there for you just in case.
 

PH1L0D3NDR0N

Member
Original Poster
AHBD":aoi5gg96 said:
That's good ! She may be severely dehydrated so offer water a few times a day . Did she used to drink any water before ?

Not from a dish. I had a mouse a while back, 1 of there water bottles always ended up dripping so I use that to drip water on her noes.

Oh, also a water bottle that I poked a hole in the top
 

PH1L0D3NDR0N

Member
Original Poster
Hope link works
https://photos.app.goo.gl/o2Ch8suCWNQcZlmT2

This is Pancake in Spikes cage a Natural Terrarium Large/Low
90 x 45 x 30 cm / 36” x 18” x 12” (WxDxH) ~egh I'm lazy I copy and paste a lot I hate typing.

Also pix of his UVB type lamp hood (what-ya-ma-call-it) and bulb.

Spike bobs and black beards at her sometimes not all the time.
He also bobs and black beards at me.

I rescued him he was skin and bones when I got him he would have been dead if I didn't rescue him he was malnourished, he had no heat or UVB on him When I got him he was pitiful but now he's my baby boy.
? ?Spike ?Pancake
My babies
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

That particular tube is ok, but not really strong enough for a bearded dragon. You are using it
for your other dragon? I would highly recommend that one being upgraded to at least a Reptisun
10 tube bulb or he may end up developing metabolic bone disease also. If you use that bulb, you
can place it at a 6-8 inch distance mounted underneath of a screen top with a reflector built into
the fixture.
How is Pancake doing today?

Tracie
 

PH1L0D3NDR0N

Member
Original Poster
Drache613":3of5atyv said:
Hello,

That particular tube is ok, but not really strong enough for a bearded dragon. You are using it
for your other dragon? I would highly recommend that one being upgraded to at least a Reptisun
10 tube bulb or he may end up developing metabolic bone disease also. If you use that bulb, you
can place it at a 6-8 inch distance mounted underneath of a screen top with a reflector built into
the fixture.
How is Pancake doing today?

Tracie
She's ok still sleeping
I'll try to talk my mom into getting the better light/s
Thank you
 

AHBD

BD.org Sicko
Is that a current picture of Pancake ? You have nice cozy set ups for them, shows you really care. :) And that's fantastic that you rescued Spike, you did a great job getting him healthy.


Have you offered Pancake more water + calcium ? Some adult dragons will drink every day if they're dehydrated until they become hydrated, others will drink a lot one day + then go for a few days or a week. And yes, the best method is by dripping the water on the snout, most beardies won't drink from a dish but if you put a dish under their head while dripping water on their snout they sometimes lower their head to drink that way. Either way, dripping or spraying the water on the snout , with or without a dish, is fine.

BTW, is that Reptisun bulb older than 6 months or is it new ? If it's new it's still a good bulb, mount it inside the tank under the screen by using fishing line or wire to attach it through the mesh. Here's what I mean :
https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/30028/full
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

How is Pancake doing today?
Were you able to get some fluids into her today? I hope she gets to feeling better.
Let us know how things are coming along with her. I'm glad that you were able to get
Spike so healthy, great job. :D

Tracie
 

PH1L0D3NDR0N

Member
Original Poster
There doing great
She drank a tad of water today
I'm pretty handy with wire, I used a piece of wire on each side to hold it.
 

PH1L0D3NDR0N

Member
Original Poster
Here's a link of all there tanks
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HpcpZCW7l2moL64t1

Natural Terrarium Large/Low
90 x 45 x 30 cm / 36” x 18” x 12” (WxDxH)
Spike and Pancake

Natural Terrarium Small/Low
45 x 45 x 30 cm / 18” x 18” x 12” (WxDxH)
Leps
Blizzard
Spot

Natural Terrarium Medium/X-Tall
60 x 45 x 90 cm / 24” x 18” x 36” (WxDxH)
Mocha
Scar
Chompy

Natural Terrarium Mini/Tall
30 x 30 x 45 cm / 12” x 12” x 18” (WxDxH)
Greenie
Brownie



Here's a link to my pipecleaner animal things I made
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SPWQS4jfDVOwuiQ72
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Members online

Latest resources

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,899
Messages
1,255,680
Members
75,965
Latest member
williamyoung
Top Bottom