Respiratory Infection - Updated

Ok, so I am certain that Blazey has an RI now. For the last couple of days my SO has been home (temporarily laid off from work) and he told me that she has been making funny noises. After I heard it a few times, I noticed that it is kind of like coughing. She doesn't have any mucous coming from her nose, but she is making the sort of hacking sound more often. I noticed this on Thursday. I added an extra light fixture for more heat and bumped her temps up a bit. She obviously doesn't like it being warmer, though.

We had to go to the 'local' pet store (in the next town over) to get some crix to last til mine come Wednesday tonight. It's a Petco. But, before we left, Blaze started shaking her head around and some mucous came out. Anyways.. There is a more knowledgeable pet store there, but they don't have convenient hours for me... The 'reptile specialist' happens to be a friend of my SO's from school, and he does seem to know what he is talking about (about 80%) of the time. He said that I could go to the other pet store and get some medicine from him, tetracyclene? I'm certain I didn't spell this right. I tried to order some reptaid for her Thursday night, but the website/paypal isn't working and the guy who works the site apparently is out of town (none of my questions on here or my email have been returned.. blackberry anyone?).. Aside from taking her to the vet (which I will do if necessary, of course.. I just don't have a herp vet anywhere near here), is there anything else I can do for her?

Tank conditions:
MegaRay (bought in the last two months) 100W
Temps: apx. 103* basking, 80* cool side, but I bumped them to 109*/85*
Humidity is usually around 35% (does this need lowering? I once had her in a 55 gallon tank with literally zero humidity.. strange) it's a bit lower with the higher temps. But she rarely goes to the cool side of the tank, but she is over there most of the time since I raised them..
Her appetite/waste is normal.
hmm, anything else?

Any help would be appreciated. I'm really starting to worry about her!

I know money can be a problem, but I'd get him to a reputable herp vet. One who specializes in beardies, also PM drache613. Tracie's the one to get help for in this situation. One of the longer members of this forum just lost her beardie to an RI. I hope and pray he gets better soon.

Money's not so much the issue (but it is tight!); time is more of the issue.. I will have to take the day off to get her to the only 'herp vet' I know of, and I don't think my work will look too kindly on me taking the day off for my pet...
She seems so 'normal', though.. eating, sleeping, pooping, all of it is normal. Just coughing.. hmm.

I understand, going to the vet for us is a whole day affair. We take a 1.5 to 2 hour drive, one way, and the only time is Mon to Thursday. My husband doesn't work, but because of his health, it's better for both of us to go together.

Hello,

Your tank setup looks fine to me. Keeping the temps up overnight would be a good idea, with a ceramic heat emitter.
For now, I would try to lower the humidity as much as possible until you figure out what is going on with her.
Did you give her a bath lately & have her possibly inhale some water during a bath maybe?
I would not give tetracycline antibiotics for a Respiratory Infection. The most commonly used medication for a respiratory infection is Baytril. It needs to be determined first BEFORE any medication is given, that she does have a respiratory infection. If it is just in the early stages it is very treatable & alot of times you can use herbal remedies such as the Reptaid & Bee pollen, etc, to ward off the infection.
Also, keeping the temps a little warmer overnight & decreasing the humidity are simple things to help initially kick the infection in the butt.
Is she eating pretty well right now?

Tracie

Yes, she is eating normally, actually. She started coughing again tonight, but it has been far less than it was. I can steal the CHE off the monitor for the over night temps, but it is a 150W! I can put it on the lamp stand, which will help me regulate the temps safely, though. Normally, her temps don't go below the house temps of 72-74.

Is baytril something that I will have to get from the vet? I still haven't heard any response about the reptaid. Maybe since they haven't responded, I can convince them to rush it to me at no extra cost.. hmm.. I was just in the vitamin aisle tonight and saw bee pollen. Is that the same thing? Can I crush it up and put it in baby food or something like that?

Oh, and no, she really doesn't like her baths. She just sits there and glares at me! I try to dribble water on her nose, but she never drinks, so I only do that once or twice during her baths. If she is in shed, I pour water over her back, but otherwise, she just sets there! I don't know of any times she could have gotten water in her ears, either.

I'm going to try to get off early tomorrow to take her to the 'real' pet store. If anything, I think he can weigh her for me.. I will have to take a whole day off to get her to the vet, and that won't be until Wednesday, at best.. Hopefully we can nip this in bud quickly!

Thanks for getting back to me!

Hello,

Yeah the 150watt CHE is pretty hot, huh? Just a little bit of extra warmth will help, maybe to boost the tank to 80 just to help her immune system. Yes, the bee pollen in the supplement isle can be used. You can get capsules to where you can just untwist the capsule & put a little bit in with her food, no problem.
The Baytril is available through prescription from your vet. Hopefully she wont have to go on any meds, & the Reptaid & Bee pollen will help her immensely. It does sound like the start of one though with her coughing.
So she hates her baths huh? Well, not all dragons like baths.
Good luck. I hope she gets to feeling better soon. Keep me posted on her.

Tracie

I've been trying to get the reptaid since Thursday, so we will probably be a week into this by the time I can get any.. I will get some bee pollen tomorrow. And, I will steal the CHE from the monitor, but I will hang it with plenty of room! Hopefully we won't have to put her on meds from the vet..
Thanks Tracie

i would definitely take all tracies advice on board
even so i would get her to a vet just in case, ive recently had a corn snake suffer pneumonia borderline septicemia because of an RI, he showed absolutely no signs whatsoever of an RI thats why i didnt notice it till very late stages and the signs were severe, i was beyond devastation i thought he wasa gonner, all the same though he was a fighter and is still with us recovering. hope your little one picks up really soon.

Pleaides":fc964 said:

i would definitely take all tracies advice on board
even so i would get her to a vet just in case, ive recently had a corn snake suffer pneumonia borderline septicemia because of an RI, he showed absolutely no signs whatsoever of an RI thats why i didnt notice it till very late stages and the signs were severe, i was beyond devastation i thought he wasa gonner, all the same though he was a fighter and is still with us recovering. hope your little one picks up really soon.

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I trust Tracie's advice, and certainly will follow it. I made contact with Cham NW today and he said he shipped my bottle today, and I am going to get the bee pollen and start that immediately this evening.

How much bee pollen should I give her? I guess I will try mixing it with some baby food, because she doesn't eat a lot of salad yet.

I've been keeping the temps up as best and safely as I can. She obviously doesn't like it! I have even resorted to keeping the house at 75 (ugh!) to help!

im sorry im not sure about the bee pollen but i really hope your lil beardie perks up and feels better.
keep us posted!

Did you get yours in the mail? Mine was a no show. How is Blazey doing today?

NegativeCreep":0fd50 said:

I trust Tracie's advice, and certainly will follow it. I made contact with Cham NW today and he said he shipped my bottle today, and I am going to get the bee pollen and start that immediately this evening.

How much bee pollen should I give her? I guess I will try mixing it with some baby food, because she doesn't eat a lot of salad yet.

I've been keeping the temps up as best and safely as I can. She obviously doesn't like it! I have even resorted to keeping the house at 75 (ugh!) to help!

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If you use the Reptaid, please give your dragon a probiotic. I have asked Cham NW about how much Pau d'arco is in it and he can't tell me. I have used this herb, it's the only one in that formula that has antibiotic properties. It is very strong and what I have is pure Pau d'arco known as Avipow. It states on my container that it is not for long term use and it says it's most effective when used with an probiotic. It is as strong as Baytril and Baytril is known to cure RI's.

I hope your beardie gets to feeling better.

Baytril has not done to much for Chito, next resort and way cheaper. Reptaid. And if it works and is safe like it seems to be. Than hope it cures all of our dragons or gives them that little boost that they need to bask happily. And not to get side track here but isn't that Avipow bird medicine.

LittleRob":388e5 said:

Baytril has not done to much for Chito, next resort and way cheaper. Reptaid. And if it works and is safe like it seems to be. Than hope it cures all of our dragons or gives them that little boost that they need to bask happily. And not to get side track here but isn't that Avipow bird medicine.

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Avipow is 100% Pau d'arco. Used to kill aspergillus. Aspergillus in reptiles is almost always fatal. Bird meds are pretty compatible with reptiles. Benebac is a bird and reptile probiotic. :wink: Baytril is another drug that they use for birds also.

To much Pau d'arco in the formula will cause new issues down the road. I would rather error on the cautious side than take chances.