I took my 2 year old femal bearded dragon (477g) to the vet for lethargy and lack of appetite last Thursday. Vet thought she might be oostasis. Blood work results came back supporting theory of egg production according to vet. Fecal showed Giardia and was prescribed metronidazole (250mg/5ml) to be given that day and then 10 days later. Was sent home with critical care insect/omnivore to graduate up to 9ml via syringe feeding. Stormy has shown no improvement and went back for recheck today. Was x-rayed and ultrasounded showing no eggs and small portion of food in stomach. Joints look great with no swelling. Vet gave an enema and encouraged baths for hydration and continued critical care feeding. Mixed pumpkin purée with critical care feed and gave bath. Produced bowel movement in bath which matches up with x-ray images (as much as one can tell).
I am attaching pics and blood results as I’m not sure what they indicate because UA is high, as is calcium. It could be a host of factors that has brought about stress triggering current behavior and lowering immune system? She is storm sensitive and the recent hurricane systems sent her to the cool end of her cage (kind of like WTH is going on?). There has been a lot of rain and cloudy days than normal (east coast - maryland). I was gone for a couple of weeks in August and then again at the beginning of October so though she is ok with my husband caring for her she prefers me (sounds silly but it just is). I did a complete and deep cage clean out in July (this always irks her as I don’t seem to put it back exactly right). It has been unusually dry early so not surprised by dehydration although never saw it in her skin? She is past when she normally starts to brumate. So she is tucked under her stairs but not sleeping, alert eyed but not moving except maybe a couple of inches forward and then will push up and look around. Will only bask if I soak her and put her on the warm side and then for at most an hour and she goes back over to cool side will refuse to eat - not even hornworms or pumpkin purée. She hasn’t black bearded and though I can tell she is not amused she isn’t angry or irritated. Just hurmph a grumpy....much like me with winter approaching. She is able to walk just fine when I’ve taken her out of her cage on the few warm days we have had to get her natural sunlight. So I’m not sure what to do but I’m worried about my girl. My gut says she needs to have her digestive tract empty, hydrated and parasite free and then let her brumate in peace but that doesn’t follow what the vet has instructed. Any advice?
I like her vet though I’m not sure if I agree with her advice given tonight. I was instructed to put a reptile heat pad under her tank on the cool end and keep a heat lamp going at night on her warm end. (Our house is set at 72 for evening). I’m not to let her brumate as there is no point in bearded dragons in captivity (not sure how to keep Stormy from doing that - she does her own thing)? I’m not sure how to exactly to get a bearded dragon to do anything it doesn’t want to do.....like stay under her basking lamp and eat. Please help - I’ve grown quite attached to her and want to the best thing for her.
Slate tiles for flooring
Reptisun 10 T5 HO UVB light (cool side is roughly 72 ambient room temp and 105 directly under basking lamp tested with infrared gun)
Basking lamp zoo med reptibasking lamp 50 watt (usually basks with mouth open)
Fed variet of greens - favorite are collard, cactus, dandelion, mustard, endive and escarole
Protein, Dubai roaches, crickets, hornworms, wax worms, butter worms, repti-worms (fed in a different large tote - not in reptile house)
Herpite calcium (with vitamin D) and vitamin with beta carotene (vet recommends switching to repashy with retinol).
Generally 30 to 60 minutes a day of natural sunlight when available and warm enough (Aprilish to Octoberish?)
Stormy yesterday
Stormy today (normal brumation spot is next to where she is hiding)
Stormys Poop Tonight (orange because of the pumpkin I think- not bloody)
Stormys lab work
Stormys enclosure
I am attaching pics and blood results as I’m not sure what they indicate because UA is high, as is calcium. It could be a host of factors that has brought about stress triggering current behavior and lowering immune system? She is storm sensitive and the recent hurricane systems sent her to the cool end of her cage (kind of like WTH is going on?). There has been a lot of rain and cloudy days than normal (east coast - maryland). I was gone for a couple of weeks in August and then again at the beginning of October so though she is ok with my husband caring for her she prefers me (sounds silly but it just is). I did a complete and deep cage clean out in July (this always irks her as I don’t seem to put it back exactly right). It has been unusually dry early so not surprised by dehydration although never saw it in her skin? She is past when she normally starts to brumate. So she is tucked under her stairs but not sleeping, alert eyed but not moving except maybe a couple of inches forward and then will push up and look around. Will only bask if I soak her and put her on the warm side and then for at most an hour and she goes back over to cool side will refuse to eat - not even hornworms or pumpkin purée. She hasn’t black bearded and though I can tell she is not amused she isn’t angry or irritated. Just hurmph a grumpy....much like me with winter approaching. She is able to walk just fine when I’ve taken her out of her cage on the few warm days we have had to get her natural sunlight. So I’m not sure what to do but I’m worried about my girl. My gut says she needs to have her digestive tract empty, hydrated and parasite free and then let her brumate in peace but that doesn’t follow what the vet has instructed. Any advice?
I like her vet though I’m not sure if I agree with her advice given tonight. I was instructed to put a reptile heat pad under her tank on the cool end and keep a heat lamp going at night on her warm end. (Our house is set at 72 for evening). I’m not to let her brumate as there is no point in bearded dragons in captivity (not sure how to keep Stormy from doing that - she does her own thing)? I’m not sure how to exactly to get a bearded dragon to do anything it doesn’t want to do.....like stay under her basking lamp and eat. Please help - I’ve grown quite attached to her and want to the best thing for her.
Slate tiles for flooring
Reptisun 10 T5 HO UVB light (cool side is roughly 72 ambient room temp and 105 directly under basking lamp tested with infrared gun)
Basking lamp zoo med reptibasking lamp 50 watt (usually basks with mouth open)
Fed variet of greens - favorite are collard, cactus, dandelion, mustard, endive and escarole
Protein, Dubai roaches, crickets, hornworms, wax worms, butter worms, repti-worms (fed in a different large tote - not in reptile house)
Herpite calcium (with vitamin D) and vitamin with beta carotene (vet recommends switching to repashy with retinol).
Generally 30 to 60 minutes a day of natural sunlight when available and warm enough (Aprilish to Octoberish?)
Stormy yesterday