Gapping and wheezing

Hello!
I am writing this because I need some opinions about my two year old bearded dragon. So, I just woke him from brumation yesterday, and the first thing I noticed is that he has some issues. He tenses his belly and opens his mouth, pushing air from them and puffing his beard, like wheezing, and occasionally sounding like a little duck.Yes, it does remind of trying to throw up. He was immediately take to the vet specialist two hours from where I live. She said it might have something to do with his digestion not being balanced after brumation, so he was given an antibiotic and infusion. I am not completely sure, however. I suspect he might have upper respiratory infection. Is there any way to identify it more specifically? Does anyone have any tips or experience about this? His temps were checked, he was given a bath and other than this and the fact that he is refusing to eat his veggies, he is full of energy and looking good. He didn’t even loose any weight while brumating.
Feedback would be appreciated.

Salai

Hello,

Can you review your tank setup with us, such as the type/brand of UVB, the temperatures,
food given, as well as supplementation also.
Is his beard darker than normal right now? Which antibiotic was given for him?
If you see any type of discharge in his mouth or nose, that is most of the time, in indication of
a respiratory infection.
I would recommend keeping him around 78-80 or so, overnight, to help boost his immune
system. Do you know what the humidity in the tank is?
That's great he hasn't lost any weight though, during his brumation phase.

Tracie

Those are all questions we went trough with my vet. But, I have a 35,5/19,7/15,7 inches( l/h/d) tank. The UVB light is from Exoterra( reptile uvb 200, 25 w), the heat lamp is 50 w. His basking spot is 105 F and his shady spot is 75 F. He has a food and water bowl in his terrarium. There is also a root he can climb in the colder area of his tank.
About the antibiotic, I think it was marfloxin 2%...
Yes his beard is darker than normal...
I gave him some green salat, but he doesn’t want to eat it.

Salai

I would recommend you get rid of the coil UVB --- they are not a good UVB --- you need to replace it w/ this a Reptisun 10.0 TUBE - either a T 5 or a T 8 - I am assuming your tank is a 40 gallon tank - you need to get a fixture w/ a reflector --- depending on what you get for a bulb either the T 5 or T8 is going to determine distance - but I get that coil UVB replaced ASAP--does your dragon have any type of discharge coming out of his nose or mouth? and the humidity in the tank what is it?
Karrie

Hello,

Antibiotics normally make them feel dehydrated quite often & they usually have a decreased
appetite, too.
As Karrie suggested, the compact/coil UVB lights are not real strong & don't offer the correct
UVB to UVI ratio which will contribute to health issues eventually.
A lot of them don't like their greens or veggies but keep trying & maybe eventually he will start
to eat them. What supplements are you using?

Tracie

Thank you for your help and answers!
He is feeling better and is eating his veggies again!

Salai

That is good to hear -- did you get the UVB changed out and to what tube the T 8 or the T 5?
Karrie