11 Yr Old Dragon Not Eating Veggies

[ClydesGirl]

I have an 11-year-old dragon who has not been eating his fruit/veg for the past few weeks. He is still enthusiastically eating his wax worms and horn worms when offered, but he is leaving his salads untouched, even his raspberries which he usually gobbles up immediately. I have tried offering him different greens and fruits than his usual fare, but he doesn't even go over and investigate it. He just completely ignores anything I put in his salad bowl.

 

[KarrieRee]

I have an 11-year-old dragon who has not been eating his fruit/veg for the past few weeks. He is still enthusiastically eating his wax worms and horn worms when offered, but he is leaving his salads untouched, even his raspberries which he usually gobbles up immediately. I have tried offering him different greens and fruits than his usual fare, but he doesn't even go over and investigate it. He just completely ignores anything I put in his salad bowl.

How often are you feeding wax worms? They are very fatty and should be fed sparingly - try some super worms and horn worms - have you tried feeding BSFL on top of the salads ?

 

[ClydesGirl]

How often are you feeding wax worms? They are very fatty and should be fed sparingly - try some super worms and horn worms - have you tried feeding BSFL on top of the salads ?

I do not feed wax worms often AT ALL, but bought some when he wasn't eating just to see if he would eat those, since I know he loves them so much. It was encouraging to see how quickly and enthusiastically he ate them, but I simply cannot get him to eat his salads.

 

[KarrieRee]

I do not feed wax worms often AT ALL, but bought some when he wasn't eating just to see if he would eat those, since I know he loves them so much. It was encouraging to see how quickly and enthusiastically he ate them, but I simply cannot get him to eat his salads.

They do go off their food at times - has he ever had BSFL?

 

[ClydesGirl]

They do go off their food at times - has he ever had BSFL?

He has had phoenix worms.

 

[KarrieRee]

He has had phoenix worms.

Did he eat them? You can try putting them on top of his salads and see if he will go to the bowl - drop them in the bowl right in front of him and see if that gets his attention - what about bee pollen? another lure

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Most people at one time or another have trouble with their dragons eating greens!
Bee pollen has a tendency to add a flavor that they seem to like, or you can also try some
sugar free applesauce & drizzle a small amount on top of or in with the greens like a salad
dressing. Butternut squash is usually liked, too.

Tracie

 

[ClydesGirl]

I realized I never came back here and posted an update about Bert. His condition deteriorated. He was holding his head to the right, to where the right side of his head was always on the ground. He couldn't keep his balance to the point where I had to take all the furniture out of his viv. I was certain he was dying.

I took him to the vet and she too suspected that he was dying, but she went ahead and threw the kitchen sink at him. She put him on an oral steroid and an injectable antibiotic. It was a pretty miserable regiment that had me crying every time I needed to force-feed Bert the steroid by prising his mouth open or inject him with the antibiotic. But at the end of that ordeal, Bert was better!

His head no longer tilts to the right, he can climb around on his furniture like a champ, he still loves his hornworms, he still mostly ignores his salad, and he has lived a full additional year with no end in sight! He'll turn 13 in December.

 

[KarrieRee]

I realized I never came back here and posted an update about Bert. His condition deteriorated. He was holding his head to the right, to where the right side of his head was always on the ground. He couldn't keep his balance to the point where I had to take all the furniture out of his viv. I was certain he was dying.

I took him to the vet and she too suspected that he was dying, but she went ahead and threw the kitchen sink at him. She put him on an oral steroid and an injectable antibiotic. It was a pretty miserable regiment that had me crying every time I needed to force-feed Bert the steroid by prising his mouth open or inject him with the antibiotic. But at the end of that ordeal, Bert was better!

His head no longer tilts to the right, he can climb around on his furniture like a champ, he still loves his hornworms, he still mostly ignores his salad, and he has lived a full additional year with no end in sight! He'll turn 13 in December.

So glad to hear was it possible he had an ear infection?

 

[ClydesGirl]

So glad to hear was it possible he had an ear infection?

That is one of my suspicions for sure.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is wonderful news the vet actually helped out & for him. I'm glad that he took initiative & went ahead
& treated him. This happens often, having a type of ear infection causing dizziness & them being off
balanced some.
So, he has completely recovered now?

Tracie

 

[ClydesGirl]

Hello,

That is wonderful news the vet actually helped out & for him. I'm glad that he took initiative & went ahead
& treated him. This happens often, having a type of ear infection causing dizziness & them being off
balanced some.
So, he has completely recovered now?

Tracie

Yep, he is his normal self now. He's maybe a little less active than he used to be, but he is also pushing 13 years old, so I imagine that is to be expected.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Bless him, at 13, he is doing superb!
If only they were all so lucky to make it that long. I'm happy he is doing well right now.

Tracie