SICK FEMALE BEARDED DRAGON 1 year old, lethargy, bloating, not eaten in 2 weeks at least, no bowel movement unless bathed , and yellow urate-smelly

[Jessicajean11]

HELP PLEASE - A few weeks ago we could not get any bugs for my 1 year old female bearded dragon, only bugs I could get was mealworms, usually she has veg 5 days a week and bugs once-twice a week veg is calcium dusted, bugs I usually feed is roaches/bsfl as staples, I only feed mealworms or crickets as a last resort. Anyway, husbandry is fine, T5 uvb two months old, 4 foot tank, basking spot at 30, with a good gradient, it’s humid in Qld where we live so I’ve been giving more outside time as all the wild ones are coming out and the weather is perfect, anyways about 3-4 weeks Ago we couldn’t get any bugs except mealworms, she started refusing veg as she hadn’t had bugs in over a week and I didn’t want to feed her mealworms or crickets, I gave in after a week and gave her a couple of mealies and crickets well a few days later lethargy started coming, bloated constantly, I’ve been giving warm baths x2daily, which here and there she poops in not sure if impaction as she has pooped a lot since bathing but she seems to be getting worse? But , urate Is very yellow. And poops smell horrendous, she’s not eating - at all, hardly moving and in a state of (sadness) she’s having natural sun time during the day, bath in the morning and at night, and I’ve tried a little bit of pure baby apple sauce and she has pooped, last little poop was urate yesterday which was very smelly,- the apple sauce got some poop out, today no poop at all, and the last few days it’s only been tiny poops/urate I believe Because she hasn’t Eaten in almost 2 weeks.. not a single lick/ bite. She hardly moves, her baths are atleast 30 minutes - an hour depending if she poops. And I’m noticing she’s always boated (like air) all day and just stiff, after a bath she seems a lot better for about 5 minutes her bloating goes, but is straight back to lethargy. 2-3 months ago she was parasite tested and came back all clear. Any ideas or other suggestions? There is not reptile vet near me at all. And I have no way of getting to it if there was. No one around knows reptiles at all. Only one that does can only do fecal parasites checks. Any suggestions? - Australia

Never had an issue before, I feel like it’s impaction but now I’m not sure with the bloating and lethargy ? Any advice appreciated and accepted.

 

[KarrieRee]

HELP PLEASE - A few weeks ago we could not get any bugs for my 1 year old female bearded dragon, only bugs I could get was mealworms, usually she has veg 5 days a week and bugs once-twice a week veg is calcium dusted, bugs I usually feed is roaches/bsfl as staples, I only feed mealworms or crickets as a last resort. Anyway, husbandry is fine, T5 uvb two months old, 4 foot tank, basking spot at 30, with a good gradient, it’s humid in Qld where we live so I’ve been giving more outside time as all the wild ones are coming out and the weather is perfect, anyways about 3-4 weeks Ago we couldn’t get any bugs except mealworms, she started refusing veg as she hadn’t had bugs in over a week and I didn’t want to feed her mealworms or crickets, I gave in after a week and gave her a couple of mealies and crickets well a few days later lethargy started coming, bloated constantly, I’ve been giving warm baths x2daily, which here and there she poops in not sure if impaction as she has pooped a lot since bathing but she seems to be getting worse? But , urate Is very yellow. And poops smell horrendous, she’s not eating - at all, hardly moving and in a state of (sadness) she’s having natural sun time during the day, bath in the morning and at night, and I’ve tried a little bit of pure baby apple sauce and she has pooped, last little poop was urate yesterday which was very smelly,- the apple sauce got some poop out, today no poop at all, and the last few days it’s only been tiny poops/urate I believe Because she hasn’t Eaten in almost 2 weeks.. not a single lick/ bite. She hardly moves, her baths are atleast 30 minutes - an hour depending if she poops. And I’m noticing she’s always boated (like air) all day and just stiff, after a bath she seems a lot better for about 5 minutes her bloating goes, but is straight back to lethargy. 2-3 months ago she was parasite tested and came back all clear. Any ideas or other suggestions? There is not reptile vet near me at all. And I have no way of getting to it if there was. No one around knows reptiles at all. Only one that does can only do fecal parasites checks. Any suggestions? - Australia

Never had an issue before, I feel like it’s impaction but now I’m not sure with the bloating and lethargy ? Any advice appreciated and accepted.

We need Tracie drache613 to respond- she's our vet tech mod
@Drache613

 

[Jessicajean11]

HELP PLEASE - A few weeks ago we could not get any bugs for my 1 year old female bearded dragon, only bugs I could get was mealworms, usually she has veg 5 days a week and bugs once-twice a week veg is calcium dusted, bugs I usually feed is roaches/bsfl as staples, I only feed mealworms or crickets as a last resort. Anyway, husbandry is fine, T5 uvb two months old, 4 foot tank, basking spot at 30, with a good gradient, it’s humid in Qld where we live so I’ve been giving more outside time as all the wild ones are coming out and the weather is perfect, anyways about 3-4 weeks Ago we couldn’t get any bugs except mealworms, she started refusing veg as she hadn’t had bugs in over a week and I didn’t want to feed her mealworms or crickets, I gave in after a week and gave her a couple of mealies and crickets well a few days later lethargy started coming, bloated constantly, I’ve been giving warm baths x2daily, which here and there she poops in not sure if impaction as she has pooped a lot since bathing but she seems to be getting worse? But , urate Is very yellow. And poops smell horrendous, she’s not eating - at all, hardly moving and in a state of (sadness) she’s having natural sun time during the day, bath in the morning and at night, and I’ve tried a little bit of pure baby apple sauce and she has pooped, last little poop was urate yesterday which was very smelly,- the apple sauce got some poop out, today no poop at all, and the last few days it’s only been tiny poops/urate I believe Because she hasn’t Eaten in almost 2 weeks.. not a single lick/ bite. She hardly moves, her baths are atleast 30 minutes - an hour depending if she poops. And I’m noticing she’s always boated (like air) all day and just stiff, after a bath she seems a lot better for about 5 minutes her bloating goes, but is straight back to lethargy. 2-3 months ago she was parasite tested and came back all clear. Any ideas or other suggestions? There is not reptile vet near me at all. And I have no way of getting to it if there was. No one around knows reptiles at all. Only one that does can only do fecal parasites checks. Any suggestions? - Australia

Never had an issue before, I feel like it’s impaction but now I’m not sure with the bloating and lethargy ? Any advice appreciated and accepted.

We need Tracie drache613 to respond- she's our vet tech mod
@Drache613

Thankyou! I’m new to this site and have no idea how to work it lol

 

[Jessicajean11]

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

You are in Queensland Australia, so it is getting warm now over there?
Which T5 light are you using, the Reptisun or the Arcadia tube?

She definitely has a little belly, are you sure she isn't carrying eggs? Has her beard been dark
at all? How many insects weekly are you giving her?
If you feel that she could be impacted, you can try some sugar free applesauce, canned pumpkin
& a few drops of olive or coconut oil daily to help out.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[Jessicajean11]

Hello,

You are in Queensland Australia, so it is getting warm now over there?
Which T5 light are you using, the Reptisun or the Arcadia tube?

She definitely has a little belly, are you sure she isn't carrying eggs? Has her beard been dark
at all? How many insects weekly are you giving her?
If you feel that she could be impacted, you can try some sugar free applesauce, canned pumpkin
& a few drops of olive or coconut oil daily to help out.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

Hey Thankyou for that! It’s the t5 Arcadia 14%

And yea it’s starting to get to 30-35 degrees, humidity high as always. But there are plenty of wilds outside lol.

Usually she only has bslf and roaches as many as she wants. And she’s fine. The issue is I couldn’t get bugs and she refused eventually her salad.. after two weeks of just salad I caved in and fed her mealworms and crickets for a few days as she had been deprived from bugs she was ravenous ! She’s always been a great salad eater but because she couldn’t have any bugs and only ate salad for two weeks she went on strike. So I thought impaction from the mealies as she had a few.

But she has poops a fair bit from the bath over the last few days, last poop was a tiny bit of urate yesterday, was very bellow and smelly. And bloating for 2 days now. She looks ok in the photos because that’s straight after a bath, and she’s been outside in her play pen for natural uvb, but half an hour after the bath she looks like crap again. No movement really it’s like slow motion.


Eggs possibly? She’s never laid any or showed any signs but she is only young, I’ve never had a dragon have eggs lol

Been putting apple sauce on her nose, she had two licks and won’t look or touch it.


She usually only has bslf/and roaches twice a week. And usually has veg daily,

I thought impaction but I’ve seen it before and I’ve never seen bloating with it?

Thanks a million.

 

[Jessicajean11]

Noticed possible tail damage too? It’s always been bent but not dark.. tail rot?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The end of the tail does look a bit damaged. You can put antibiotic ointment on the end
of the tail, to keep it from getting infected. Did you get it pinched in the lid of the tank or
did she get it stuck underneath something in her tank?
Impaction can cause some bloating, yes. Her shape looks more like eggs at this point.
You mentioned her urates were yellow?
They often lose their appetite when they are close to laying. It would be a good idea to
get an x-ray done on her to rule out eggs in case she is having some trouble.
Sometimes they will have off colored urates when they are gravid but it's usually a pink
tint. You mentioned that the urate was pretty smelly? I would keep an eye on her pretty
closely in case she does have eggs & is passing yolk possibly. They can get peritonitis from
infection if a yolk burst internally & get very ill.
Did she slowly start gaining like this? I would make a laybox if you can, using plain potting
soil & sand. Be sure it is damp/moist & firm enough to hold up if she wanted to lay & borrow
but not sopping wet.
I am glad to hear you have 2 tube bulbs, that is a good sized tank. Are you using the Arcadia
T5 brand? How far is the UVB from her? At least she does get some outdoor sunshine, that
is always so good for them.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[Jessicajean11]

Hello,

The end of the tail does look a bit damaged. You can put antibiotic ointment on the end
of the tail, to keep it from getting infected. Did you get it pinched in the lid of the tank or
did she get it stuck underneath something in her tank?
Impaction can cause some bloating, yes. Her shape looks more like eggs at this point.
You mentioned her urates were yellow?
They often lose their appetite when they are close to laying. It would be a good idea to
get an x-ray done on her to rule out eggs in case she is having some trouble.
Sometimes they will have off colored urates when they are gravid but it's usually a pink
tint. You mentioned that the urate was pretty smelly? I would keep an eye on her pretty
closely in case she does have eggs & is passing yolk possibly. They can get peritonitis from
infection if a yolk burst internally & get very ill.
Did she slowly start gaining like this? I would make a laybox if you can, using plain potting
soil & sand. Be sure it is damp/moist & firm enough to hold up if she wanted to lay & borrow
but not sopping wet.
I am glad to hear you have 2 tube bulbs, that is a good sized tank. Are you using the Arcadia
T5 brand? How far is the UVB from her? At least she does get some outdoor sunshine, that
is always so good for them.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

Hey Thankyou! Oh eggs never even thought of eggs hardest part is no reptile vet here. T5 tube is on top of her mesh, she spends most days outside now we have good weather, t5 Arcadia 14 % is the brand- the expensive one haha.

She gradually got like this. I got her to poop again In the bath, she is still popping mealworms and it’s been 2 weeks since she had any. I took a photo for you. She isn’t actually moving, and is just bloated won’t even lick her lips. She comes more alive in the bath. Thankyou so much, I’ll add some poop photos now.

 

[Jessicajean11]

Hey Thankyou! Oh eggs never even thought of eggs hardest part is no reptile vet here. T5 tube is on top of her mesh, she spends most days outside now we have good weather, t5 Arcadia 14 % is the brand- the expensive one haha.

She gradually got like this. I got her to poop again In the bath, she is still popping mealworms and it’s been 2 weeks since she had any. I took a photo for you. She isn’t actually moving, and is just bloated won’t even lick her lips. She comes more alive in the bath. Thankyou so much, I’ll add some poop photos now.

Hey Thankyou! Oh eggs never even thought of eggs hardest part is no reptile vet here. T5 tube is on top of her mesh, she spends most days outside now we have good weather, t5 Arcadia 14 % is the brand- the expensive one haha.

She gradually got like this. I got her to poop again In the bath, she is still popping mealworms and it’s been 2 weeks since she had any. I took a photo for you. She isn’t actually moving, and is just bloated won’t even lick her lips. She comes more alive in the bath. Thankyou so much, I’ll add some poop photos now.

 

[Jessicajean11]

Just took these

 

[Jessicajean11]

And these,

 

[Jessicajean11]

I just realised, I did feel some bumps along the sides of her ? I thought they were some sort of rib? Could they be eggs? I never even thought of bloody eggs, we don’t have a male, and I changed from sand to grass as I didn’t want any impaction risk. Is there a way to help her pass them? I’ll put a sand box in, in the morning while she’s outside basking, but there’s not vet here for reptiles at all, they wouldn’t touch her, especially if she needed surgery, the closest reptile vet would be 5 hours away, and I’d have no way to get her there.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The bumps could be ribs if they are hard. Are they on the external edges of her belly?
The eggs might be visible but sometimes not. You could be able to feel them possibly
directly on her tummy.
Did you get a laybox made up for her?
Eggs can sometimes rupture so they can pass yolk. This might not be the case though,
but keep an eye on her. Has she been restless or acting as if she could be in pain? They
can lay infertile eggs even without a male present, it is pretty common.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[Jessicajean11]

Hello,

The bumps could be ribs if they are hard. Are they on the external edges of her belly?
The eggs might be visible but sometimes not. You could be able to feel them possibly
directly on her tummy.
Did you get a laybox made up for her?
Eggs can sometimes rupture so they can pass yolk. This might not be the case though,
but keep an eye on her. Has she been restless or acting as if she could be in pain? They
can lay infertile eggs even without a male present, it is pretty common.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

Hey, I can’t feel any, she’s as bloated as ever, hardly moves and very very lethargic, only time she really moves is outside in her pen I’ve been putting her out more! Gave her a deep tray with sand but she literally doesn’t move. Almost not at all, when she’s outside I put the try in there and she didn’t touch it, if I put her in it she’ll just stay in the one place, or after she’s finished in the sun she’ll slowly walk to the corner in the dark. Still giving her baths, she’s starting to look think around the eyes, she was pretty chunky before all this. Different time frames here hence why I’m replying late. I put photos up of her poop/belly/ and indoor tank. It’s super sad and I’m really heartbroken watching her starve to death possibly, I’m lucky to get her to lick her nose with the apple pure once every few days