My beardie, Jeff, began eating less about 2-3 months ago. He went from eating on his own, to being nudged, to having food placed directly in his mouth. When it became harder to get him to take food by hand, I took him to the vet. He also had some gasping and clicking noises and would hold food in the back of his throat. The vet suggested we start with a vitamin D supplement. The vet didn't seem to do any kind of physical exam outside of looking at him. I knew vitamin D wasn't the primary issue but tried anyway. He just got worse. Within a little over a week he wouldn't eat insects at all. All his food was via syringe. Eventually he was more and more against taking syringe feedings. He started pooping during each feeding. He moved around more but looked uncomfortable. He went to the vet yesterday again and they said he looks so bad there's no way he can recover and he needs to be put down. She guessed it is either stomach cancer or renal failure. she measured his glucose and it was 375. He is barely taking anything, even a syringe, and has lost a lot of weight. He's tired and his beard is black. However, he is warm and has good color. Up until he visited the vet, he was moving a lot (still don't necessarily take that as good but he clearly has strength). The vet suggested we euthanize him but his presentation, other than clearly not feeling well, seems so good to me (warm, nice bright scales) seems ok snd I wonder if there's treatment. Stomach cancer is not treatable, but renal failure is. However, I'm not sure if treating him for renal failure would help. What are your thoughts/experiences? Should I bother testing him for kidney disease? I don't like the idea of euthanization and want to know if I can make him more comfortable so he can have a peaceful, natural death-----or GET BETTER! However he's not eating, gasping a lot, black beard, very sleepy/lethargic. Back is becoming hunched and tail getting darker, strange spots on head. Back, tail, and head new in the last 2 months.
BACKGROUND: rescued from abandoned apartment w/ no lamps or food 3.5 years ago. Approx age estimated (by me) to be 5-6 years old.
Husbandry: 100w UBV, 100w UVA. Felt substrate. Big water bowl. Mostly fed super worms with blueberries, cilantro, other fruits and veggies occasionally. Temps not measured. Poops every 3-7 days. (I started feeding him more doubts roaches in the summer, around same times symptoms started). I know his diet was not ideal but he refused to eat much from the jump. Very finicky.
BACKGROUND: rescued from abandoned apartment w/ no lamps or food 3.5 years ago. Approx age estimated (by me) to be 5-6 years old.
Husbandry: 100w UBV, 100w UVA. Felt substrate. Big water bowl. Mostly fed super worms with blueberries, cilantro, other fruits and veggies occasionally. Temps not measured. Poops every 3-7 days. (I started feeding him more doubts roaches in the summer, around same times symptoms started). I know his diet was not ideal but he refused to eat much from the jump. Very finicky.