We lost our Taz this week to GNT.
He was a 10 month old 380gram boy when we noticed something was wrong.
It started with gradual loss of appetite, then he started to show signs of stress, (dark beard). This was over a 2 week period, then all of a sudden, he got bulging eyes. We took him to the vet, vet did blood work, which she sent to a lab in Ohio which she said was the most complete work up. She put Taz on an antibiotic until results were returned, weekend delayed it a couple of days. Tuesday, I had given him his soak, and gave then anti biotic, which partway through he stopped fighting me. I thought he just gave in and decide to accept the meds. Horror overtook me as he went limp, he went in container as I walked out my door dialing the vet. We are lucky we have a great exotic vet a couple miles away. She and a tech met me in the lobby, as I opened the container Taz was much better, vet did a quick check, and gave him back to me as she went to attend to her patient she was working on. Taz just chilled on my chest like he always did, he was still very black beard, but was in no immediate danger. Vet came back to me in less than 10 mins, tablet in hand. As she went over the labs, there was some slight end of ranges,, but nothing earth shattering,,, until,,,, glucose level was 480.
I thought, "ok I have a diabetic dragon" then she broke the news dragons dont get diabetes. This, with loss of appetite, bulging eyes, and indication of some kidney issues, lead her to suspect GNT. (Basically a tumor in his stomach, over a rapidly spreading cancer) She said it is not common, (she had seen less than 10 cases in 10 years) but was most common in adolescents. She told me she could try surgery, but results were at best,, questionable. She would try if we wanted. I asked her professional and personal recommendation. She said if it were her pet she'd put him down. This is where my girlfriend walked in. We decided NOT to make him suffer. We had him put to sleep. I have NEVER left a pet alone when ths decision was made. Dogs, cats, ferrets are quick, first shot they just go to sleep, then the vet gives the shot that stops life. With a beardie, although not painful, it was a 10 minute process, she warned us it was slow, but no way we were leaving Taz alone. He passed peacefully. I tried to hold it together, luckily the office had closed while we were in back.
The vet told us we had caught it early, as usually she saw glucose levels well above 1000 by the time the animals got to her.
Sorry to run on, just if mysteriously your dragon stops eating, shows stress signs, has bulging eyes, and starts vomiting ( Taz had only vomited that day) have your vet check for GNT, stomach tumors.
Thanks for listening.
He was a 10 month old 380gram boy when we noticed something was wrong.
It started with gradual loss of appetite, then he started to show signs of stress, (dark beard). This was over a 2 week period, then all of a sudden, he got bulging eyes. We took him to the vet, vet did blood work, which she sent to a lab in Ohio which she said was the most complete work up. She put Taz on an antibiotic until results were returned, weekend delayed it a couple of days. Tuesday, I had given him his soak, and gave then anti biotic, which partway through he stopped fighting me. I thought he just gave in and decide to accept the meds. Horror overtook me as he went limp, he went in container as I walked out my door dialing the vet. We are lucky we have a great exotic vet a couple miles away. She and a tech met me in the lobby, as I opened the container Taz was much better, vet did a quick check, and gave him back to me as she went to attend to her patient she was working on. Taz just chilled on my chest like he always did, he was still very black beard, but was in no immediate danger. Vet came back to me in less than 10 mins, tablet in hand. As she went over the labs, there was some slight end of ranges,, but nothing earth shattering,,, until,,,, glucose level was 480.
I thought, "ok I have a diabetic dragon" then she broke the news dragons dont get diabetes. This, with loss of appetite, bulging eyes, and indication of some kidney issues, lead her to suspect GNT. (Basically a tumor in his stomach, over a rapidly spreading cancer) She said it is not common, (she had seen less than 10 cases in 10 years) but was most common in adolescents. She told me she could try surgery, but results were at best,, questionable. She would try if we wanted. I asked her professional and personal recommendation. She said if it were her pet she'd put him down. This is where my girlfriend walked in. We decided NOT to make him suffer. We had him put to sleep. I have NEVER left a pet alone when ths decision was made. Dogs, cats, ferrets are quick, first shot they just go to sleep, then the vet gives the shot that stops life. With a beardie, although not painful, it was a 10 minute process, she warned us it was slow, but no way we were leaving Taz alone. He passed peacefully. I tried to hold it together, luckily the office had closed while we were in back.
The vet told us we had caught it early, as usually she saw glucose levels well above 1000 by the time the animals got to her.
Sorry to run on, just if mysteriously your dragon stops eating, shows stress signs, has bulging eyes, and starts vomiting ( Taz had only vomited that day) have your vet check for GNT, stomach tumors.
Thanks for listening.
