8 year old bearded dragon not eating

[Gaby0128]

Hello,

How are you spacing out her meals, every few hours? Are you dripping the food onto the end of her nose & letting her lick the food off of her nose?
What is the consistency of the food, is it thin or medium thickness? Be careful when giving food so that she doesn't aspirate.
I'm glad to hear you are getting food & fluids into her. So, you are giving a total of 7 to 8MLS of food/fluids daily? How did she seem to handle that?

Tracie

Hi Tracie so I give her 3ML of the Repta Formula and I make sure it’s a thick consistency. I put it to her mouth and gently go back and forth and wait for her to open. I give her that at 10am after I turn on her lights for about 30 minutes. Then around 2pm I give her 3ML of veggie gerber, Then at 6-7pm I give her 3ML of the repta formula again. I also have her favorite butter lettuce and fresh water in the enclosure. But she hasn’t gone for it. I have also been taking her outside to get some fresh air and natural sunlight.

 

[Gaby0128]

Hello! I got the new light, I am attaching the set up pic. Let me know if it’s good.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The tank setup looks good. What is the distance of the tube bulb from her?
How is she doing with that amount of food so far? Be sure it isn't too thick so she doesn't choke
but if she is taking it in on her own just go slow with her so she can swallow it more easily.
Has she been sitting under the light so far?

Tracie

 

[Gaby0128]

The distance to her and the bulb is about 1/2 a foot. I need help. I have been feeding her 3 times a day, 3ML of the formula. But I was concerned because she was not pooping. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday she started pooping but very little and her tummy was really big. So yesterday I only have her one feeding because her stomach seemed extremely big. This morning I found she did poop again a little but there is also throw up in the back of her enclosure. She has not taken live worms in like over a week and that is what she threw up. Should I be concerned and what do you all recommend I do next. Her energy seems good she enjoys getting out of her enclosure and she does walk around the room quite a bit. Do I keep force feeding her? Do o bring the feedings down? Should I give her something to help her poop? Baths have not been working anymore… please help.

 

[Gaby0128]

Hello,

How are you spacing out her meals, every few hours? Are you dripping the food onto the end of her nose & letting her lick the food off of her nose?
What is the consistency of the food, is it thin or medium thickness? Be careful when giving food so that she doesn't aspirate.
I'm glad to hear you are getting food & fluids into her. So, you are giving a total of 7 to 8MLS of food/fluids daily? How did she seem to handle that?

Tracie

The distance to her and the bulb is about 1/2 a foot. I need help. I have been feeding her 3 times a day, 3ML of the formula. But I was concerned because she was not pooping. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday she started pooping but very little and her tummy was really big. So yesterday I only have her one feeding because her stomach seemed extremely big. This morning I found she did poop again a little but there is also throw up in the back of her enclosure. She has not taken live worms in like over a week and that is what she threw up. Should I be concerned and what do you all recommend I do next. Her energy seems good she enjoys getting out of her enclosure and she does walk around the room quite a bit. Do I keep force feeding her? Do I bring the feedings down? Should I give her something to help her poop? Baths have not been working anymore… please help.

 

[KarrieRee]

The distance to her and the bulb is about 1/2 a foot. I need help. I have been feeding her 3 times a day, 3ML of the formula. But I was concerned because she was not pooping. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday she started pooping but very little and her tummy was really big. So yesterday I only have her one feeding because her stomach seemed extremely big. This morning I found she did poop again a little but there is also throw up in the back of her enclosure. She has not taken live worms in like over a week and that is what she threw up. Should I be concerned and what do you all recommend I do next. Her energy seems good she enjoys getting out of her enclosure and she does walk around the room quite a bit. Do I keep force feeding her? Do I bring the feedings down? Should I give her something to help her poop? Baths have not been working anymore… please help.

Feed her some plain canned pumpkin- also make sure she is hydrated - the screen on the tank is a wide hole type or more of a fine mesh? I cant really tell from the picture -- this is going to make a difference in pooping and appetite

 

[Gaby0128]

Feed her some plain canned pumpkin- also make sure she is hydrated - the screen on the tank is a wide hole type or more of a fine mesh? I cant really tell from the picture -- this is going to make a difference in pooping and appetite

Okay I will get some today. It’s fine mesh. I’m trying to do everything right. Never in my life did I think I would be doing any of this… She is my son’s, my ex-husband gave her to him without my permission. We moved, my son went to college and of course he could not take her. I know absolutely nothing about reptiles, so I’m so thankful to you all.

 

[KarrieRee]

Okay I will get some today. It’s fine mesh. I’m trying to do everything right. Never in my life did I think I would be doing any of this… She is my son’s, my ex-husband gave her to him without my permission. We moved, my son went to college and of course he could not take her. I know absolutely nothing about reptiles, so I’m so thankful to you all.

It looks like a wide hole can you get another pic from above please-- I want to make sure

 

[Gaby0128]

Feed her some plain canned pumpkin- also make sure she is hydrated - the screen on the tank is a wide hole type or more of a fine mesh? I cant really tell from the picture -- this is going to make a difference in pooping and appetite

I gave her some pedialyte with water this morning, but I just noticed she threw it up too…

 

[Gaby0128]

It looks like a wide hole can you get another pic from above please-- I want to make sure

 

[KarrieRee]

I would say it looks like a wide hole type -- try the 8-10 inches and watch her behavior

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is she doing tonight?
You can cut down on the frequency of feedings, as it might
be too much for her. I am not sure why she is throwing up
unless she isn't digesting very well.
Are you feeding her too close to her bedtime?

Tracie

 

[Gaby0128]

Hello,
I am happy to say that Zoey is doing so much better. I stopped the 3 feedings and only did one feeding per day. I guess she really needed to throw up, as I think the mealworms made her sick. I almost thought we were losing her, but all of a sudden her energy levels were back up, her eyes weren’t sunken in and she seemed excited again at the sight of food. She even ate all her greens on her own for the last 3 days. 3 days ago we were hand feeding her crickets because she wasn’t able to get them on her own, but these last 2 days she has been hunting them down and grabbing them herself. She seems more alert and even comes to the glass as soon as she sees me. I am buying her 10 crickets at a time every other day to see how she does. I think the new UVB light did wonders for her.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello,
I am happy to say that Zoey is doing so much better. I stopped the 3 feedings and only did one feeding per day. I guess she really needed to throw up, as I think the mealworms made her sick. I almost thought we were losing her, but all of a sudden her energy levels were back up, her eyes weren’t sunken in and she seemed excited again at the sight of food. She even ate all her greens on her own for the last 3 days. 3 days ago we were hand feeding her crickets because she wasn’t able to get them on her own, but these last 2 days she has been hunting them down and grabbing them herself. She seems more alert and even comes to the glass as soon as she sees me. I am buying her 10 crickets at a time every other day to see how she does. I think the new UVB light did wonders for her.

I am happy to hear -- the UVB has definitely helped-- good UVB will spark a appetite

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

We are all pulling for Zoey! It does sound like the mealworms for some reason, really upset her system.
She must have felt really bad but at least it passed out
of her system & she is feeling better now!
That's wonderful she has started eating her greens, too.
As Karrie stated, the UVB lighting can make a night & day
difference.

Tracie