Heart murmur and pneumonia

ibqueenbee · Oct 1, 2020

My lovely rescue girl Alice is at the vet right now. She is around one year old, but unsure of exact age.
She's been lethargic and not eating for six days, which is totally unlike her. She's also been a darker color than usual. I knew something wasn't right...
X-rays show that her lungs are very filled with fluid and the vet says that she has a heart murmur, which she's never seen in a bearded dragon. I left Alice there while the vet does some research about possible treatments. I wondered if anyone here has any information that might be helpful.

Drache613 · Oct 2, 2020

Hello,

Oh wow, I am so sorry to hear about Alice. There have been some cases here on the
forum in which a bearded dragon had some heart issues.
It is most likely linked to genetic predisposition/inbreeding. As far as the pneumonia, I
would highly recommend trying to do nebulization treatments on her, to ensure that the
medication is delivered fully into the lungs to help clear everything out. They do not have
cilia in their lungs like mammals & humans so they are unable to clear out debris & fluid
very well, leaving them prone to respiratory ailments like pneumonia.
Are you keeping her a little warmer overnight, to help boost her system?
When do you anticipate getting her back home?

Tracie

ibqueenbee · Oct 2, 2020

Hi Tracie,

Thanks so much for responding to my message.
I did bring Alice home yesterday with various medicines, she got a diuretic and meds for her heart. She is also doing a series of 5 antibiotic shots.
She has a 100w nighttime lamp. Should I add a second lamp? Not sure how else I could increase it.
They didn't say anything about using a nebulizer but I'll ask them when she goes in later today. The vet did call me earlier to say she talked with a specialist and they feel that she may have congestive heart failure and suggested possibly doing an echo.

Have you heard any success stories? The very few I've found online sadly didn't have happy endings.

Drache613 · Oct 3, 2020

Hello,

Oh dear, that is very sad. Is Alice a specialized morph?
I am glad you got to bring her home then. I don't think you need to add more heating
for overnight. Just be sure it doesn't get over 80 or so in her tank.
Which meds did the vet give her for her heart?
Were they able to talk to you about a nebulizer possibly? Hopefully she doesn't have
congestive heart failure. That is not real common in reptiles, but, it does happen. I
have seen a few who had some with heart issues that did live several years into older
age. All you can do is treat symptoms, since there isn't really a cure for heart failure. A
lot of the symptoms though can be managed so it is minimal effect on her quality of life.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

Heart murmur and pneumonia

ibqueenbee

New member

Drache613

BD.org Sicko

ibqueenbee

New member

Drache613

BD.org Sicko

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