4 month Beardie struggling to breathe... URI or shed?

[Bretter0725]

Hi guys,

So it seems like my 4 month old beardie has the hardest time shedding his nose, specifically his nostrils. His nostrils look so clogged up, slightly swollen and he can't breathe well. This is the second time this has happened (after undergoing shed) but now its both nostrils, not just one. So now he's really struggling to breathe.

-throat puffs up then he opens his mouth to exhale or he just holds it open ever so slightly while relaxing
-smacks his lips a lot
-in an upright position quite often
-I had him on my shoulder yesterday and there was an audible clicking sound :shock: :?
HOWEVER
-seems perky and acts like his normal self
-eating frantically in the mornings and evenings as he usually does
-I don't see any unusual mucus but then again I could not see anything cause his nostrils are so blocked from shed

His temps were around 100 and 80 but I feared an upper respiratory infection so I upped them to around 109 and 85...? I hope that was the right thing to do?! Unfortunately, I noticed this behavior on a Saturday (its now Sunday) and the vet isn't open on the weekends.

Do you guys think I need to take him to the vet asap or should I be patient cause its just the struggle of shedding? I want to help him but also don't want to make it worse if it is a URI??

 

[kingofnobbys]

He'll be fine …. you can do a lot of damage trying to physically unblock the nostrils when this happens , my Peppa (nearly 3 years old has had a blocked right nostril since her last face shed (over 6 months ago (?) ) , it worries me more it worries her.
I noticed to day that her lips and nose and eyebrows have gone grey overnight so I think a face and nose shed isn't far away , she's also been doing lots of nose rubbing when in her tank.

Chances are when the dead skin in / over the nostril is ready come off your dragon remove it by rubbing the nose on something hard and rough.

Some vets will offer to use special probe to unblock this kind of shedding problem …. beware, if they damage the internal membranes and tissues in the dragon's nasal passages , this can easily become infected and it can result in dead reptile.
This kind of procedure should only be done under a general by an experienced and skilled vet surgeon. I have a friend who lost his bluetongue as a result of an infection caused by this kind of thing turning into a systemic infection.

A 4 month old hatchling will be in shed again very soon , inside a month so this will likely self rectify when the nose sheds next . I'd leave it be and make sure he has something hard and rough to rub his nose on in his tank . Only involve the vet if he starts showing definitive signs of a RI.

 

[mollyandsav]

If it gets worse I recommend taking him to a vet. My bearded dragon got a uri and I thought it was just because he was shedding his nostrils. The fact that you said you heard audible clicking noises is what scared me a little. My beardie stared gaping a lot and made clicking noises when he breathed. If the clicking gets any worse I highly recommend you take him to a vet. If you’re really concerned that he does have a uri you can help a little by soaking him in a lukewarm bath and tilting him when he sleeps; with his head going down and the back of his body elevated. I hope he’s doing okay!!!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Do you hear the clicking noise all of the time, or just sometimes? They do have a clicking
noise when they breathe, that you can hear if you are quiet. It is their glottis opening &
closing. Do you see the nose shed clogging up the nostrils? Just give a bath here & there
to see if that helps out any heavy shedding on the head or face area.
Otherwise, he will eventually get it all shed off. If he is exhibiting signs of illness like
mucous in his mouth & nose, coughing/wheezing, loss of appetite, then definitely take him
in to see the vet in case he has a respiratory infection coming on.

Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie