Help bearded dragon gasping and gapping

[bussdebo]

Hello,

The mustard greens are fine for a greens staple. How often do you give the mustard greens?
I can do some research on that for you also, regarding mustard greens & arthritis. Which medication
is she on for arthritis?
Let us know how things go at the vets, hopefully she doesn't have a respiratory infection. Please keep
us posted on how she is doing.

Tracie

Hi Tracie
My Cierra has arthritis but the meds never helped much. I got Serrepeptase from www.bug-de-lite.com. It's a great pain killer for dragons. I know you have no vet $ but can you afford some supplements? Check out the website. All products are hand mixed & organic & work. Cierra is 8 1/2 yrs old with a bent back & she can now run around the house with no pain. She'll be 9 on Dec 31! Let me know.

 

[bussdebo]

Thanks i have a vet that knows her. Shes actually the one that diagnosed her with arthritis. Im pretty stressed cause i know how fast an RI can worsen. They arent open sundays so i have to call first thing tommorow to get an appointment asap

Let your vet know it might be an RI & she's having trouble breathing. Let me know the results.

 

[Hoku]

Hey guys i still have 2 days till the vets sees my bearded dragon and shes looking pretty dehydrated. Her eyes are kinda sunken in and her skin is really wrinkly. How can i give her water if she has a RI.

 

[AHBD]

You can drip water on her snout slowly for a drink or set her in a shoe box sized plastic container of very shallow water inside of her enclosure so the heat is on her and do the dripping on her snout. Then take the container out after her soak session is over.
Meloxicam is not something you should use long term, it can cause a lot of bad side effects including stomach upset and much worse. From your first post she was very active until the R.I settled in, her lethargy set in after that and with the onset of the metacam. It's quite possible that the metacam is contrbuting to her problem.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, the metacam may be affecting her appetite & activity level. Has she been eating
very much right now?
This medication is effective but definitely harsh. So it would be a good idea to find an alternative
for pain relief for long term use.
I hope she is feeling better soon. Let us know how things are going!

Tracie

 

[Hoku]

the vet appointment is tomorrow however today she seems to be having alot of trouble breathing. she has had a black beard for the past couple days. Ive called the vet several times but they are completely booked and can't squeeze me in even as an emergency. do you guys think she can make it 1 more day? please help i have no idea what to do!!!

 

[AHBD]

Keep her as calm as possible with little or no handling, nothing much more you can do unless you find another emergency vet but not all vets know how to deal with reptiles or specifically beardies.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How are things with your girl, were you able to get her to a vet?
Please keep us posted on her, & as suggested, keep her calm & warm overnight to help boost
her immune system.

Tracie

 

[Hoku]

I got her to the vet and they said that she had some tar on her teeth and was malnourished but couldn't say exactly what it was without a bunch of invasive testing. We waited on the tests and they gave me antibiotics that will hopefully kill whatever's hurting her. They also gave me gel that would get rid of the tar on her teeth and powder food that would help her gain back her nutrients. after the antibiotics, she should be better but if not i have to take her back to do tests.

 

[KarrieRee]

I got her to the vet and they said that she had some tar on her teeth and was malnourished but couldn't say exactly what it was without a bunch of invasive testing. We waited on the tests and they gave me antibiotics that will hopefully kill whatever's hurting her. They also gave me gel that would get rid of the tar on her teeth and powder food that would help her gain back her nutrients. after the antibiotics, she should be better but if not i have to take her back to do tests.

If you have any blood work that was done please get the results and post them on here so Tracie can look at them

 

[Hoku]

Hey, its been a while. My brarded dragon is alot more lively and she has stopped foaming at the mouth. Ive been TRYING to feed her this stuff that will give her more nourishment but shes fighting me the whole way lol. Ive been feeding her with a syringe but it taking like 10 minutes to convince her to eat and then she only eats like 2.5ml. She wont eat it from a bowl either. Does anyone have any ideas.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hey, its been a while. My brarded dragon is alot more lively and she has stopped foaming at the mouth. Ive been TRYING to feed her this stuff that will give her more nourishment but shes fighting me the whole way lol. Ive been feeding her with a syringe but it taking like 10 minutes to convince her to eat and then she only eats like 2.5ml. She wont eat it from a bowl either. Does anyone have any ideas.

Try letting her lick off the spoon- and glad to hear shes on the mend -- you can add a drop of honey to the food supplement to see if that will entice her to eat it -- is she not eating on her own at all? Make sure shes hydrated dragons will not eat if they are dehydrated

 

[Hoku]

Try letting her lick off the spoon- and glad to hear shes on the mend -- you can add a drop of honey to the food supplement to see if that will entice her to eat it -- is she not eating on her own at all? Make sure shes hydrated dragons will not eat if they are dehydrated

right know she will not eat on her own. Is there a way to hydrate her other than a bath? Cause i tried last week and she... was not happy.

 

[KarrieRee]

right know she will not eat on her own. Is there a way to hydrate her other than a bath? Cause i tried last week and she... was not happy.

Make sure the supplement your feeding is soupy / or has more water content and drop water on her nose and see if she will lick - if she does keep doing it till she stops - this will help w/ the appetite and the pooping

 

[Hoku]

Is the zilla tube light ok?