Emaciated Rescues

Emaciated Rescues

My 16yr old daughter started a reptile rescue because they are her passion and she’s absolutely amazing with them, which brings us to her being contacted on Saturday by a couple who no longer wanted a pair of ‘supposed male’ bearded dragons ( they were kept together in a 30 gallon tank no UVB or heat lamp) which turned out to be a male and female, approximately 3yrs of age. Their current weight is 239g (8.4oz) for the female and 221g (7.79oz) for the male. Both of them are covered in stuck shed and had nails that probably have never been trimmed until today.

Currently she is doing 1/2 pedilite (unflavored) 1/2 warm water soaks 3x’s daily to help with the dehydration and started them on squash baby food mixed with a vitamin and calcium supplement. During the 3rd soak today they both began drinking and took a bit of the squash baby food from a syringe.

I have a call into the two reptile vets we use, but neither can get us in until the end of next week, but put us on a waitlist incase of a cancellation. I know once beardies lose that much weight and become this dehydrated it’s a battle to ever get them well without lasting side effects. I just don’t see how these people allowed them to get to this point and didn’t realize something wasn’t right.

Is there anything else she should be doing for these beardies besides the plan she currently has laid out? Does anyone have any recommendations or advice?

Thanks

Hello,

That is terrific your daughter has taken interest in helping reptiles, how awesome for her. She
will undoubtedly see a lot of unfortunate dragons with a lot of issues. It will be an emotional roller
coaster ride at times but it can be very rewarding.
Do you have pictures of them, possibly, just so we can see their physical condition? I would be
concerned as to whether or not the female could be carrying eggs or if either one of them might
have calcium problems.
Do you know if they were kept on sand or some other type of loose substrate?
What type of lighting do you plan on using for them?
She can continue the baths, & the baby food feedings with vitamins & calcium. I am assuming
that they will be housed separately, too? Since they underweight & probably dehydrated I
would focus on fluids & on making greens slurries to help the kidneys. Slowly introduce the
bugs & protein.
For now, she could keep them a little warmer over night, to help boost their immune systems.
Just keep the temperatures in the area of around 78-80 but use a ceramic heat emitter or a
heating pad set on low.
Let us know how they are doing.

Tracie

Those owners clearly had no idea what they were doing. Your daughter is amazing for starting a reptile rescue, and it sounds like she doing everything right. My Bearded Dragon Norbert was dehydrated, so I misted him twice a day out side of the tank until his skin would be pinched and it would snap back. I don’t know if it will work for them, but it’s worth a shot. I’d love to see updates.

Hello,

How are things coming along with your rescues today, any improvements so far?
Keep us posted on them both.

Tracie