Possible RPI in baby?

Hello all. I have had my little one almost a month now and her breathing is concerning me. I noticed it last night when holding her she would poof her throat out. Never done this before. This morning after waking she started opening her mouth and poofing her throat. Research I have done points to rpi but wanted second thoughts?
I am going to grt her in to a vet anyway but also would like to know what I should ask and push for in teats? I have no problems bullying a vet to do what is needed but this is my first reptile so I dont know what to ask for. She has also been sleeping peopped yp the last two nights like in the image. This was when she woke up this morning before getting on basking spot. Appetitie and poop have been good though she isnt doing her usual second poop in the eveming when I tske her out foe out 30min bonding time.

This is a video of het this moening as she began her basking. She had been there about 30mins warming up.

https://youtu.be/Hp9lKkEMOlw

Her set up: 40 gal thrive (new petsmart brand) with dual front open doors.

T8 repstisun mounted inside about 10 inch (i can remeasure im.just omw to work atm) from basking. She can get as close as 6 inch and does on occasion with a hammock in the back.

Basking spot 102 to 110 but usually is average at 105.

Cool side 80

Overall ambient temps 84 and himidity 30 to 40%. Temps taken with probe.

Subatrate paper towels for the last week before that carpet. Changing to ceramic tile hopefully this week when I get them sanitized.

Diet: dubias and bsfl and crickets when i run low on the others. Salad in the morning collard greens and chard with some bok choy at times and various veggies and fruits to change it up.


This is how she has slept last night and the night before

This is her current set up I can get better pics after work

Hi there,

From what you described and watching the video, I don't really see any cause for concern. They do that from time to time, especially if they are about to go through a face shed. It helps loosen up the skin. Or if they just ate and they tend to store food in their throats, that would be them swallowing or moving it. But the shed is the most likely cause.

Your setup sounds just fine. You're taking the basking surface temp with the probe right?
Sleeping in weird positions is just what comes with the territory of owning a dragon. The younger ones really tend to sleep in seemingly the most uncomfortable positions. Really, nothing to worry about

Just as an FYI, you really won't be expecting an RI unless there was labored breathing, discharge from the nose, stringy thick saliva, and general lethargy. Your dragon looks very healthy, basking and holding herself up high.

What do your temps drop to at night in the tank?

-Brandon

Really? Thank you so much for the fast response! I tend to over worry but it has saved my dogs life twice so anytime I see a change in my animals I think the worst -_- She may still have shed on her eyes and face I am not sure she gets squirrely when I try to peek.

Night temps vary if I dont use my heat its 65 or lower so I have a CHE. If my heat is on it stays around 70. I cant use my hear much because of my husky so usually i turn on the CHE

Hi there,

It's perfectly fine to worry! It's always a good reminder to us to double check everything and make sure everything is ok whenever we notice a change!
It doesn't hurt to keep an eye on it, but what I'm basically saying is that the chances of it being an RI are miniscule

CHE at night would be good. Keeping temps sligihtly warmer at night is the first thing we suggest to help an RI. So, that might at least keep your mind at ease if you want to keep the CHE on for her at night

Trust us, it's better to worry and ask than to just not care.

-Brandon

You are most kind! I do the same with my dog and its saved her life this year being so in tune with her health and mannerisms. If I hadnt been so persistent something was off about her they jever would have done the ultrasound and xray that found a mass on her spleen. I promised myself with my animals I would do my best to not let them get into an emergency state (though that happens despite our beat efdorts and attention I know.)

Oh and yes my temps are with a probe sorry forgot to add that to your question ^_^ I will continue using the CHE thank you so much. I will keep a close eye on her. She hasnt had s vet check sincr i got her cause she is still having some rehome stress so that I think is adding to my amxiety. December first week hopefully I can get her fully checked

That is amazing that you were able to save your dog. Our attention is really the best thing we can give your pets. Learning how they usually act and behave is key, with dragons too!

Truth be told, you don't really need to go to the vet unless you suspect something, or want to get a fecal sample looked at. Just be careful with the fecal. Some vets will treat for parasites even if the counts are low.

Either way, don't ever hesitate to ask or trust your gut when it comes to your pets!

-Brandon

Oh yes I have learned much about trusting my gut with my fluffer. So I dont need a health check for a baseline on my dragon? Like with a yearly check up or anything? Honeatly she has done well with her rehome minus a bit of stress but I would rather avoid unnecessary travel if I dont need to with the nibblet.

That is really really good to know on the parasites. I have been shadowing alot here looking up things learning all I can about what to look for with health concerns ^_^ every post has been full of good information and new things to learn its alot but so so useful.

Sorry for another reply here but Pumpkin is still doing this. I got a closer video while we were hanging out on the couch. Sorry it seems weird for her. She pooped while out smaller than normal but nothing off about it. If ita just shed how long does she do this? Can I help at all?
It wouldnt be like a cricket or bsfl swallowed wrong or something would it? I give her proper sized ones.

https://youtu.be/sZt9nCCymZs

Hi there, if she does this continually for days then it is the start of an R.I. They can have an R.I without mucous + discharge, but of course that would be more advanced. Try to nip it in the bud by keeping her in the tank with the heat for most of the time [ limit time out of the tank ] , no soaking in a bath and keep the temps. at about 82 overnight.

Ok thank you so very much. It bothered me she was still doing it. It started yeaterday as far as I could tell. I will keep an eye on her over the next several days. I appreciate the advice!

You're welcome. She should be O.K, young + healthy as she looks.

Update today sorry I know its only been a couple days( 3 days since she began this) Her beard? Has been like this all day so far. I have looked at a ton of blackbeard photos and was wondering if it is a sign of her increasingly not feeling well?

And she has been sleeping in her basking hide off and on all day. Which is very abnormal BUT our temps have been dropping into the 20s so idk if that has any relation? Her appetite is still voracious she acts like I starve her, but after eating she seems to have labored breathing clearly forgging and then gasping in air like the videos. Its the worst after she eats. I am getting pretry worried and really think I may take her in on Monday if she ia the same

Are the temps. in the tank staying warm enough, including 80F at night ? Her beard doesn't look too bad but is her breathing like in the video all the time or just for a while after eating ? It's really good that she has such an appetite though.

Thank you very much ^_^ so why would she be keeping her beard like that? Usually its only like that in the mornings with her body warming up. Today its been all day and temps have been stable. Even have my baseboards on for room temperature to help with tank temp stability.

She does frog breath almost constantly. The opening mouth gasp is now always after she eats. Yesterday I was encouraged because I watched her most the day and she frogged constantly but no open mouth and only a few big balloon frogs. (Sorry no idea what to call it lol) I thought we were on the mend. Today back to big frog beard and mouth opening. Now if she pulls in air and flattens herself she frogs a small bit but isnt straining to breath like when she is standing. Idk if that sounds weird?

Tank temp with probes has been sitting at 80 on both sides at night. Day side is 105 basking. Poop is good though and not rancid. Good urate. Im just. Like I know how stressful traveling is and the vet I have.chosen is a good 30mins drive I dont want to make a wrong decision and make it worse by taking her on trip like that. I did go out and get a boat load of hand warmers incase that decision happened.

One other thing I noticed today is her tail is pale. Like a shed is coming. But she literally just finished a shed last week. Is it normal to start a shed so soon? I know they shed alot as little ones from growth but that fast?

Oh yes, they shed VERY frequently as babies. And like I said, if it's constant and doesn't go away in 4-5 days you could go in for a check up. Be sure the vet is really a reptile specialist . If you DO take him, just warm the car a bit and put your little guy in a plastic shoe box if you can get one [ easy to find at Walmart or Dollar store ] Be careful with the handwarmers, they can reach 150 F !! Open one up, shake it and wrap it loosely in newspaper after 10 minutes + seal with a couple pieces of tape. Don't let your dragon come in contact with it unless it's wrapped. Put a small hand towel in the container + the heat pack under it. In a warm car never use more than 2 heatpacks for your baby.