So, I really don't like to go and reach for help like this, but I want to ask if anybody has encountered this problem with their bearded dragon before.
A couple months ago, my bearded dragon was starting to get active again (brumation) and everything seemed fine, he seemed great. He was eating, drinking (spray only of course), overall he was completely normal. A couple weeks ago me and my girlfriend noticed something different, he was black bearding, but overall, he was alert, not lethargic, but not eating. We weren't sure if this was just him being moody or slowing back down, so we left it alone. This black bearding persisted for two weeks, so we were getting concerned. My girlfriend went to give him water and noticed that his entire mouth was completely pale, which is not good at all. We immediately brought him to the vet and I paid for a fecal and a blood test.
Vet results: Extremely anemic, low red blood cell count, normal white blood cell count. Low iron, protein and calcium (I think from just not eating for three weeks).
They advised me to bring him to an emergency vet hospital for a blood transfusion, the nearest one is not only very far, but I also am not able to afford a patient stay at a hospital. I'm assuming it would be well over $1000, and I simply won't be able to do it, and I'm incredibly embarrassed to say it, and I'm also ashamed of myself for not being in a better financial situation.
We're bringing him back for an emergency visit to explore other options, but I assume they're only going to direct me to either more diagnostic procedures that I also probably wont be able to afford either.
I'm really upset, I have had my dragon for just 6 years, and he's such a sweet dragon. I feel really upset that these were the options I was given. I can't seem to find any information on anemic dragons besides horror stories, so I can't help but to feel at a complete loss.
Is there anything that anybody knows about that I can try, or suggest to the vet? She's certified exotics but looking back at the voicemail, she didn't seem alarmed, or signaled it being a death sentence.
Is there anything I can try to do, without euthanizing my pet? Something that I can at least try before I go to that conclusion? He's still alert, normal weight, just pale mouth and blackbearding. But I'm so scared of losing him. We're going to try talking to the vet again tomorrow like I said, to at least try other treatment options.
I honestly don't know how much it costs to have an extended stay at a vet hospital for a transfusion on a reptile, has anybody had to go through that?
Please, no comments on my financial situation. When I adopted my pets I was in a much better financial situation, and things have changed since then, so have my expenses, and my pet expenses. So many things has happened recently that has changed my financial situation within the past year, so please, it's really not necessary.
A couple months ago, my bearded dragon was starting to get active again (brumation) and everything seemed fine, he seemed great. He was eating, drinking (spray only of course), overall he was completely normal. A couple weeks ago me and my girlfriend noticed something different, he was black bearding, but overall, he was alert, not lethargic, but not eating. We weren't sure if this was just him being moody or slowing back down, so we left it alone. This black bearding persisted for two weeks, so we were getting concerned. My girlfriend went to give him water and noticed that his entire mouth was completely pale, which is not good at all. We immediately brought him to the vet and I paid for a fecal and a blood test.
Vet results: Extremely anemic, low red blood cell count, normal white blood cell count. Low iron, protein and calcium (I think from just not eating for three weeks).
They advised me to bring him to an emergency vet hospital for a blood transfusion, the nearest one is not only very far, but I also am not able to afford a patient stay at a hospital. I'm assuming it would be well over $1000, and I simply won't be able to do it, and I'm incredibly embarrassed to say it, and I'm also ashamed of myself for not being in a better financial situation.
We're bringing him back for an emergency visit to explore other options, but I assume they're only going to direct me to either more diagnostic procedures that I also probably wont be able to afford either.
I'm really upset, I have had my dragon for just 6 years, and he's such a sweet dragon. I feel really upset that these were the options I was given. I can't seem to find any information on anemic dragons besides horror stories, so I can't help but to feel at a complete loss.
Is there anything that anybody knows about that I can try, or suggest to the vet? She's certified exotics but looking back at the voicemail, she didn't seem alarmed, or signaled it being a death sentence.
Is there anything I can try to do, without euthanizing my pet? Something that I can at least try before I go to that conclusion? He's still alert, normal weight, just pale mouth and blackbearding. But I'm so scared of losing him. We're going to try talking to the vet again tomorrow like I said, to at least try other treatment options.
I honestly don't know how much it costs to have an extended stay at a vet hospital for a transfusion on a reptile, has anybody had to go through that?
Please, no comments on my financial situation. When I adopted my pets I was in a much better financial situation, and things have changed since then, so have my expenses, and my pet expenses. So many things has happened recently that has changed my financial situation within the past year, so please, it's really not necessary.