Hi there. I have a bearded dragon, I've had him since I was ten years old, and i got him as a baby. In august, it will be 9 years since he's been around and since I've adopted him. I think his age is important to note.
Anyways, onto the problems. He sleeps, practically 24/7. He doesn't move much and he seems to struggle to keep his eyes open. When he does move, he drags himself, and it's extremely distressing to watch. He can no longer eat or drink by himself. Hes so, so skinny. His fat pads are non-existent and extremely sunk in. He shakes a little bit. I was also told he may have gout, a little while back before he started to go downhill.
He was himself just a year ago, fat and happy. Not moving much, but able to move enough to get around, and eat and drink by himself. He was even climbing. Then, one day, he fell off the couch. He landed on his side. Ever since then he seems to have just gotten slower and worse until the symptoms i described above.
My question is, is this reversible? Can I bring him back to being himself? Or is it too late... or is it just old age? I have been crying every night the past month because I keep thinking about him, I feel like it's my fault. I feel like him falling of the couch caused it, and if I would have watched him better I could have prevented this from happening. Other people have told me it's just old age. I don't know.
For care, I have the proper UV, tank temps, and a heat lamp for night time. The admins at bearded dragon inc have helped me a lot. But i was too scared to post this on their facebook group. I apologize that this is all over the place, I'm just so upset that my little bud is feeling so awful. It's hard to see an animal (especially since he's my first pet) i've had for nearly half of my lifetime going downhill. I love him so much and I just want to do what's best...
EDIT: I FORGOT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT!! he has a pea sized lump on his side near his leg, and there's a large mass in his stomach. the vet didn't want to do any xrays because he feared it would be too hard on him. could this also be a cause?
image to show lump, then image to show how skinny he has gotten
Anyways, onto the problems. He sleeps, practically 24/7. He doesn't move much and he seems to struggle to keep his eyes open. When he does move, he drags himself, and it's extremely distressing to watch. He can no longer eat or drink by himself. Hes so, so skinny. His fat pads are non-existent and extremely sunk in. He shakes a little bit. I was also told he may have gout, a little while back before he started to go downhill.
He was himself just a year ago, fat and happy. Not moving much, but able to move enough to get around, and eat and drink by himself. He was even climbing. Then, one day, he fell off the couch. He landed on his side. Ever since then he seems to have just gotten slower and worse until the symptoms i described above.
My question is, is this reversible? Can I bring him back to being himself? Or is it too late... or is it just old age? I have been crying every night the past month because I keep thinking about him, I feel like it's my fault. I feel like him falling of the couch caused it, and if I would have watched him better I could have prevented this from happening. Other people have told me it's just old age. I don't know.
For care, I have the proper UV, tank temps, and a heat lamp for night time. The admins at bearded dragon inc have helped me a lot. But i was too scared to post this on their facebook group. I apologize that this is all over the place, I'm just so upset that my little bud is feeling so awful. It's hard to see an animal (especially since he's my first pet) i've had for nearly half of my lifetime going downhill. I love him so much and I just want to do what's best...
EDIT: I FORGOT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT!! he has a pea sized lump on his side near his leg, and there's a large mass in his stomach. the vet didn't want to do any xrays because he feared it would be too hard on him. could this also be a cause?
image to show lump, then image to show how skinny he has gotten