8 year old bearded dragon losing weight fast- RIP Nokia.

[PeekABoo]

So Nokia is 8 plus years and I have recently rehomed her with my mom.

I just checked her temps and the hot side was 105 and cold was 95. I have adjusted this now. She has a repti sun 8.0 tube for UVB and it is new as the last one stopped working after the move about a month or so ago.

In the past weeks her appetite has decreased she has been eating minimal amounts of salad and the odd worm, but she didn't appear to be losing weight. The worms were supplemented with calcium and vitamins(repashy brand). Before she moved I gave her repti-cal

In the last week her body fat has rapidly decreased, she looks and feels skinny. She is not showing any signs of stress, but is lethargic, although she is still active at some points in the day.

She has been getting daily baths and has small poops.
The reptile vet here only works Thursdays.

I am going to deworm her as a precaution, but I'm puzzled because she shows no stress marks and has been consistently bright coloured.

Until the vet I have my mom feeding Nokia baby food mixed with vitamins and calcium and continuing to bathe her.
I was hoping someone might have other ideas.

Is this what an aging beardie is like? TIA

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am sorry your girl is not doing well right now.
Do you mean you are using a Reptisun 10 tube bulb, correct & not an 8, or is it a Reptiglo 8 tube bulb instead? How close is the light to her, is there screen or plastic in between her & the light?
What type of thermometer are you using, a digital probe or temp gun to measure the temperatures?
The basking temperatures for basking need to be in a range of 95-105 or at least a 95-100 anyway, but the cool end only needs to be around 78-82. If it was 95 in the cooler end, she may have gotten overheated, but how long was it at 95 on the cool end?
Has she ever laid infertile eggs? That probably isn't what is going on, but is a possibility.
Her beard isn't black right now?
At 8 years of age, she should still have a good amount of time left!
How often do you give calcium?
Until you can get a fecal done on her, if she is dehydrated I would hold off on deworming until you know for sure she has worms/parasites. Meds can be hard on their system if they are dehydrated. I would continue with baby food feedings & baths for now. Can you get the vet to do a fecal for you?
Has she ever brumated before? I would hesitate to say brumation if she is losing weight & fat fairly rapidly.
Do you have pictures of her?

Tracie

 

[PeekABoo]

Good questions.

Sorry yes her old bulb was repti sun 10.0 her knew one is a reptiglo 8.0. There is a screen between her and the bulb and it is 10" from her.

Her cage was too hot for a couple weeks and the cold side has been reduced from 95f to 84f and the hot side is 103f

We used a probe to get the tempuratures. I have an infrared I think it will take it over today and check the temps again.

She has laid infertile eggs, she never did exhibit her egg laying behaviours this year. She never had her increased appetite, she never gained any weight, she did dig a bit, but she is in play sand and has always enjoyed her digging. She usually eats up to 25 worms a day when she is preparing to lay.

She has never brumated but has always slowed down at this time of year.

Her colour is bright yellow but her beard and belly are completely white.

She used to get calcium whenever she ate worms, which was usually about 3 times a week she hasn't been big on the bugs. When she stopped eating worms my mom tried sprinkling the salad but Nokia would not eat her salad like that.

The vet may do a fecal, but she is the only exotic vet here and she has never been super helpful. I will definitely try, and can't get the deworming meds without talking to her first anyways.

I'm really hoping these temp changes help her appetite I did get her to eat a Phoenix worm yesterday.

I have had several beardie but have never run into this, now that I think of it, her cage is the only setup where the UVB is outside the cage, it would not be easy to put it inside, but I could get rid of the screen and wall mount the lights if my mom was willing.

Thanks, Melissa

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I hate to say but the Reptiglo 8 tube bulb is dramatically weaker than the Reptisun 10 tube bulb & even less effective with the screen between it. The Reptisun 10 is the superior bulb, so you may want to consider changing out the bulb again, soon if you can. You can use the 3M Command hooks to mount the light underneath of the screen, or cut a hole in the screen to allow the UVB to go through more effectively.
I am glad to hear that her beard isn't black though, but since she is losing weight, my first thought is worms or parasites causing rapid weight loss.
Great, those temperatures are much better now. She may have been getting too hot with the overall ambient temperatures since the cool side was basically what the basking spot temperatures were.
If she isn't getting enough calcium, you can try liquid calcium if she will take oral liquids from a dropper or syringe.
I definitely wouldn't let her fully brumate right now though, until you figure out what the cause of weight loss is from.
That is good then she doesn't seem to be having any digging behavior right now so hopefully it isn't egg related. Do you have any pictures of her we could see?

Tracie

 

[PeekABoo]

I usually go with the reptisun they just can't be bought in stores around here and the light replacement was unexpected. I think I will order the reptisun and remount her light. It will be a bit before I can get the light though.

I have a better understanding of what happened, two weeks ago she was in a much cooler part of the house, they moved her cage to a much warmer room and never checked the temps. That's when she started losing weight.

Since the change to the proper temps she has had interest in baby food and today ate 4 Phoenix worms. The baby food was mixed with calcium. Her belly looks much better as it has plumped up a bit after eating and she has perked up herself.

I am home now and never thought of taking pictures. I will try to get one when I check in her tomorrow. It is nice to see an improvement already.

She is pooping regularly as well and the bowel movements look normal.

Thank you,
It really helps to talk it over,
Melissa

 

[PeekABoo]

She has a tumour and was put to sleep today. Poor girl. I feel so bad for my mom too. She had her just long enough to get attached.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Melissa....just wanted to say how sorry I am about poor Nokia. All my sympathy to you and your family.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that Nokia had a tumor & had to be put down. That is so devastating for you & for your mom also. I had hoped that she was going to be improving for you.

I am sorry for your loss.

Tracie

 

[PeekABoo]

Thanks,

And thank you for trying help Tracie. I appreciate it.

 

[PeekABoo]

Thanks,

And thank you for trying help Tracie. I appreciate it.

She lived a good life and was a rescue many years ago. I wish it would have been something that could get better.