xHagiaSophia
Member
We have a five month old bearded dragon we call Arbiter. We bought him from the local pet sense when he was three months old. He has issues with his back legs and balance as well as walking on his front paws, I think it is called gorilla walking. We have changed his lighting to the reptisun 10 from the coil that came with his tank. He also has a heat lamp. He is in a 20 gallon tank right now. His temps are around 100-105 in the basking spot and 85 in the cool area. Anyway, we took him to the vet today because of his balance problems. His balance issues show up worse when he is chasing crickets. He will sometimes fall over a little or his back legs will seize up and kinda fly in the air after he chases them for a little while. He is very active though and very observant. He likes to run and play and he climbs pretty well. He is also very social, likes to be held or lay on the bed beside us, climb us, etc..He has a bugs game he also likes to "play" on my laptop. Anyway, So the vet today said he has a severe case of parasites. he said he has Giardia, Pinworms and Coccidia. He also says that Arbiter has neurological problems - the vet claims our dragons mouth is droopy- but we do not see it. And the vet said that Arbiter also has had spinal break or fracture in the past and has MBD. We were sure he has MBD and have been dusting his crickets once a day, as well as doing cal with d3 two times a week and a multi vitamin two times a week.
So anyway, the vet checked a fecal test and then gave Arbiter a calcium shot, and gave him a dose of FENBENDAZOLE. He did not do any Xrays..Arbiter is suppose to go back next week for another dose and then the vet said he will see about giving him something else for the other parasites. What concerns us is the vet seemed wrong about everything else. He said for us NOT to mist our dragon although the sheet he sent us home with says for us to mist him as we have been doing. The vet also said to use the coil rather than the reptisun 10 and to bump his temps up to 120 in the basking spot. This goes against everything we have read that says different. We are worried about the competence of the vet and want opinions? Also the vet said our dragons prognosis is so so..He may die, he may not..we have to wait and see. He will need multiple treatments to see the outcome and for us NOT to handle him or hold him anymore right now.
One last thing, he also told us that urate is NOT the urine but something else form the liver and water in Arbiters poop is the urine...As far as we know this is not correct. So it just has us wondering if we should go back to this guy, check with another vet, or get the worm meds ourselves, If he is giving accurate info or if he is using scare tactics for us to bring Arbiter back over and over again? I want Arbiter to live and be healthy so it is not an issue with him being seen or treated, but I want to make sure he is being seen by someone who knows what they are talking about and not using him to get paid.
I can get some pictures or a video of him tomorrow if needed.
Edit- here are some older pictures below..I will get new ones tomorrow if needed.
This one is from three months old:
View media item 64696View media item 64704He was shedding. He has shedded twice since we had him.
This one is from a month ago:
View media item 64695
View media item 64703
So anyway, the vet checked a fecal test and then gave Arbiter a calcium shot, and gave him a dose of FENBENDAZOLE. He did not do any Xrays..Arbiter is suppose to go back next week for another dose and then the vet said he will see about giving him something else for the other parasites. What concerns us is the vet seemed wrong about everything else. He said for us NOT to mist our dragon although the sheet he sent us home with says for us to mist him as we have been doing. The vet also said to use the coil rather than the reptisun 10 and to bump his temps up to 120 in the basking spot. This goes against everything we have read that says different. We are worried about the competence of the vet and want opinions? Also the vet said our dragons prognosis is so so..He may die, he may not..we have to wait and see. He will need multiple treatments to see the outcome and for us NOT to handle him or hold him anymore right now.
One last thing, he also told us that urate is NOT the urine but something else form the liver and water in Arbiters poop is the urine...As far as we know this is not correct. So it just has us wondering if we should go back to this guy, check with another vet, or get the worm meds ourselves, If he is giving accurate info or if he is using scare tactics for us to bring Arbiter back over and over again? I want Arbiter to live and be healthy so it is not an issue with him being seen or treated, but I want to make sure he is being seen by someone who knows what they are talking about and not using him to get paid.
I can get some pictures or a video of him tomorrow if needed.
Edit- here are some older pictures below..I will get new ones tomorrow if needed.
This one is from three months old:
View media item 64696View media item 64704He was shedding. He has shedded twice since we had him.
This one is from a month ago:
View media item 64695
View media item 64703