6 Deaths...I just need help.

[chastityx]

I read this...
"In some cases the virus spreads to the brain and spinal column and can cause twitching in the toes and tail tip, arching of the head and tail (stargazing), seizures, uncontrolled rolling in the enclosure and death"
At http://www.everythingreptile.org/adenovirus--atadenovirus-in-bearded-dragons.html

It sounds almost identical to the issue we are having. I don't know if I can get the funding for a necropsy. But I'm going to look into the budget. This is really tearing me up to see these poor babies wither away.

do you think it would spread to all the babies and cause that so fast? just seems odd because i've read a few members on here have had adenovirus babies that weren't that bad off. i would definitely see about the necropsy. i'd like to know as well! it's sad for the babies but it is a learning experience for others who haven't dealt with it. i really hope the other two start feeling better.

 

[Pippyelle]

Well I went to our records (again I don't work in the department) and found we've lost 9 and have 3 in isolation. That's in 3 weeks. We have one healthy little one. But he was with another one. So hopefully he didn't catch it. If we lose one of these babies I will be getting a necropsy done. I contacted a close by university with a fantastic zoology program and they said they could do it for lower cost than we were expecting. So I'll keep this updated as I learn things! Thank you guys for all of your help so far.

 

[saiyan25]

I read this...
"In some cases the virus spreads to the brain and spinal column and can cause twitching in the toes and tail tip, arching of the head and tail (stargazing), seizures, uncontrolled rolling in the enclosure and death"
At http://www.everythingreptile.org/adenovirus--atadenovirus-in-bearded-dragons.html

It sounds almost identical to the issue we are having. I don't know if I can get the funding for a necropsy. But I'm going to look into the budget. This is really tearing me up to see these poor babies wither away.

I was actually going back to previous article of the Reptiles magazine about adenovirus. It looks like the website got the quote from Jan 2012 'Contageous & deadly' by Kevin Write, DVM, cited (sort of) at the bottom of the website. Anyway, I wish you luck.

 

[kcarello]

Hello,
I am so sorry to hear about all those babies. You need to quarantine any more dragons that you get from that breeder. Contact Tracie, drache613 on this forum. Send her a message and tell her whats going on. You can test for adeno without having to pay for a nercropsy. DO NOT use the enclocure that they are, or were in until you have thoroughly cleaned it. Steam is the best for adeno..120 to 140 degrees for 15 minutes. Bleach can be used but you must rinse it completely until there is no bleach smell left at all. Please let me know how things are going.

 

[kcarello]

Yes, in babies kept in the same enclosure it can spread very quickly.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am so sorry to hear about your dragons.
There is not much it could be other than parasites, or Adeno, most likely, just basing it on your description.
May I ask what breeder they came from?

Are you going to get a necropsy done? If you would like to get them tested, let me know.

Tracie

 

[Pippyelle]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I had the day off. But I had the remaining babies taken to a new vet that knew more about reptiles. They are doing a fecal test. If another one passes we will be doing a necropsy. I don't know where we get them.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How are they doing today?
Let us know how things are coming along. I hope none of the other ones pass on you, they are so fragile when they are that tiny!

Tracie

 

[Pippyelle]

So..two of the three babies passed today. That brings our death count to 11. My heart is crushed. The other two are still living. One is here at the store and looking healthy and alert. The other is at the vet. They sent the little ones for a necropsy. So hopefully we will know what is going on. Apparently some of our husbandry wasnt completely correct. They could only get 6 inches to the basking light. The vet I talked to said 2 inches. So I had that fixed.

I'll update you tomorrow!

 

[kcarello]

Hello,
I don't know why your vet said they need to get that close to the basking light???? They need a basking temp of 105 -110...that has nothing to do with how close they can get to it...although in order to get that temp the basking spot is usually a high spot,,,but not 2 inches from the light. They need a Reptisun 10.0 uvb bulb that they need to get within 6 - 8 inches from,,,and the light needs to be so that nothing is blocking the rays from the dragons,,therefore it is easier to mount the uvb light inside the viv. Here is a link to an article on this site that explains the lighting very well:
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=148006
I am very sorry to hear about the other babies not making it. Please let us know how things are going.

 

[Pippyelle]

Our store doesn't carry the Reptisun 10.0. We have a UVB 10.0 and I make sure the temperature is between 95-110 at the top. Again we are in a store so our enclosures are much smaller than they need.

 

[Pippyelle]

Update:

We still haven't gotten the test results back. We have recieved 6 more babies who I have isolated (including a beautiful green one I want!!) hopefully they stay happy and healthy.

Hopefully tests will be done tomorrow.

 

[kcarello]

Please keep us updated Hope the new little ones do good.