Beardie Coughing/Wheezing?

Hey all,

Hope everyone is staying safe. My bearded dragon Liz normally eats collard greens, but due to COVID-19 we have been relying on grocery deliveries and I have to be a bit more flexible. I was giving her some dandelion which she normally likes, but I was running low so I put some cilantro in her tank.I have no idea if she ate it or not but suddenly she starts acting strange and is crawling around her tank and making this weird sound, like she is gasping for air. I didn't know what to do. She was doing it regularly for a few minutes but then stopped. I had assumed that maybe she had choked on her cilantro but was okay now. Then like 30-40 mins later she did it again a few times. She hasn't done it in around 20 minutes now and is breathing normally and basking under her light.

Does this sound like a respiratory infection, or possibly food stuck in her throat? She has been doing fine otherwise and I haven't noticed any other symptoms than this. I have a vet appointment on Friday which is two days from now, but if things progress I will take her in to the ER tomorrow. It's especially difficult right now with the virus, because my fiance and I were self isolating, but if she does have an infection I want to treat it ASAP. Thanks everyone.

Please post a pic of her and her tank -- it is weird that she would do this after eating something different it may not be connected at all --
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at the top of the message box then click on the pics it should post --- this sounds like something Tracie or AHBD is gonna haft to address
Karrie

KarrieRee":11rnitd6 said:

Please post a pic of her and her tank -- it is weird that she would do this after eating something different it may not be connected at all --
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at the top of the message box then click on the pics it should post --- this sounds like something Tracie or AHBD is gonna haft to address
Karrie

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Hi Karrie! Thank you for getting back to me. I uploaded both pictures to the link you sent--are you able to view them? One is a picture of her on her lounging with us on her little couch; the other is a picture of her in her tank. Her tank is 40 gallons, 102 degrees F on the basking spot and 86 degrees F on the cool side. She has a new reptile carpet that we just put in yesterday. I know her tank looks pretty empty; the reason why is because she has MBD (since before we adopted her) and she has issues climbing. She used to have trouble getting around in general but she's gotten a lot better.

Anyways, I should mention that since my post three hours ago she has acted completely normal and has not made that weird noise. My fiance fed her a bunch of roaches which she ate and had no problems with. I don't know if it's relevant at all but she just got finished with shedding a lot on her face. Part of me is thinking I should cancel her appointment. Normally I would still take her in just in case, but we are trying to avoid going out (my fiance is immunocompromised) and I don't want to risk anything. Unfortunately there aren't any options for a phone or video appointment for us (the only place that does one around here saw her a year and a week ago, and they said she would have had to be seen by them within a year. We just missed it sadly.).

Ok well keep an eye on her and its good it went away -- I had to laugh :lol: at the pic of her laying on the couch---- that is cute--- I am posting a website for nutrition
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the thing about the kale its a good staple feeder -- if you need anymore websites for insects or worms just ask I can post some
Karrie

KarrieRee":11ohmi9f said:

Ok well keep an eye on her and its good it went away -- I had to laugh :lol: at the pic of her laying on the couch---- that is cute--- I am posting a website for nutrition
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the thing about the kale its a good staple feeder -- if you need anymore websites for insects or worms just ask I can post some
Karrie

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Haha, my fiance had that couch custom made for her. She is a very spoiled beardie! Anyways, right now I think I want to keep her appointment. I have a ride to the vet and it is a no contact appointment so my chance of getting exposed to coronavirus is hopefully very low. And thank you for sending that link, I will be sure to take a look now!

One question though; do you know how a respiratory infection is diagnosed exactly? I'm wondering if the vet would even be able to diagnose her if she's not making that sound anymore. My fiance is convinced she was just choking a little on a piece of cilantro, but I guess we'll see.

Well that could be -- RI's usually have mucous coming out of the nose or mouth or both - wheezing a lot - or all the time - maybe breathing a little harder -- Respiratory tract infections may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Affected lizards may sneeze, or have discharge from their eyes or nose, bubbles from the mouth or nose, unnaturally rapid or shallow breathing, open-mouthed breathing, decreased appetite, and lethargy. That is some signs to look for
Karrie

KarrieRee":3g01e89j said:

Well that could be -- RI's usually have mucous coming out of the nose or mouth or both - wheezing a lot - or all the time - maybe breathing a little harder -- Respiratory tract infections may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Affected lizards may sneeze, or have discharge from their eyes or nose, bubbles from the mouth or nose, unnaturally rapid or shallow breathing, open-mouthed breathing, decreased appetite, and lethargy. That is some signs to look for
Karrie

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Ok, that is good to know. Yes I was wondering if this were a respiratory infection why she would have stopped completely. The sound she was making sounded more like gagging or coughing, but I suppose it could have been a sneeze? I'll have to look up videos of bearded dragons sneezing. Definitely no mucous though. I remember one time a long time ago I noticed a bubble in her mouth while eating roaches but I didn't think anything of it, and I have not noticed that since. Her breathing also seems normal now. I'll definitely be on the look out for those signs just in case.

Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate it.