Emaciated Rescues
My 16yr old daughter started a reptile rescue because they are her passion and she’s absolutely amazing with them, which brings us to her being contacted on Saturday by a couple who no longer wanted a pair of ‘supposed male’ bearded dragons ( they were kept together in a 30 gallon tank no UVB or heat lamp) which turned out to be a male and female, approximately 3yrs of age. Their current weight is 239g (8.4oz) for the female and 221g (7.79oz) for the male. Both of them are covered in stuck shed and had nails that probably have never been trimmed until today.
Currently she is doing 1/2 pedilite (unflavored) 1/2 warm water soaks 3x’s daily to help with the dehydration and started them on squash baby food mixed with a vitamin and calcium supplement. During the 3rd soak today they both began drinking and took a bit of the squash baby food from a syringe.
I have a call into the two reptile vets we use, but neither can get us in until the end of next week, but put us on a waitlist incase of a cancellation. I know once beardies lose that much weight and become this dehydrated it’s a battle to ever get them well without lasting side effects. I just don’t see how these people allowed them to get to this point and didn’t realize something wasn’t right.
Is there anything else she should be doing for these beardies besides the plan she currently has laid out? Does anyone have any recommendations or advice?
Thanks
My 16yr old daughter started a reptile rescue because they are her passion and she’s absolutely amazing with them, which brings us to her being contacted on Saturday by a couple who no longer wanted a pair of ‘supposed male’ bearded dragons ( they were kept together in a 30 gallon tank no UVB or heat lamp) which turned out to be a male and female, approximately 3yrs of age. Their current weight is 239g (8.4oz) for the female and 221g (7.79oz) for the male. Both of them are covered in stuck shed and had nails that probably have never been trimmed until today.
Currently she is doing 1/2 pedilite (unflavored) 1/2 warm water soaks 3x’s daily to help with the dehydration and started them on squash baby food mixed with a vitamin and calcium supplement. During the 3rd soak today they both began drinking and took a bit of the squash baby food from a syringe.
I have a call into the two reptile vets we use, but neither can get us in until the end of next week, but put us on a waitlist incase of a cancellation. I know once beardies lose that much weight and become this dehydrated it’s a battle to ever get them well without lasting side effects. I just don’t see how these people allowed them to get to this point and didn’t realize something wasn’t right.
Is there anything else she should be doing for these beardies besides the plan she currently has laid out? Does anyone have any recommendations or advice?
Thanks