Hi,
How is he doing? I have been reading your posts with interest, you sound like me in doing so much research. An informed keeper is better equipped to discuss things with "receptive" vet. A couple things...
Have you found a new vet? There is a vet named
Dr. Greek in Yorba Linda. I looked up your location and his and I think he is relatively close? Maybe an hour? Anyway, I had a little side-blotched lizard who was in a desperate situation and called him. I knew of him from chameleon keeping and that breeders out there highly recommended him. Due to the time diff (I live in New England) b/t here and there (it was night) he was not only available but was very helpful!! Check him out and see if you can get your beardie there or at least call. I understand finances, I lost a cat to lymphoma this summer after charging $3000 - and I am unemployed, but she deserved every bit of care I could give her.
As for Archimedes, I have an almost 10 year old (Feb) translucent, Darwin (Tracie knows him) who has had trouble since he was about 2 y.o. I have had him since he was 2 1/2 months out of his egg. and he is still my "baby boy." He has always been a "poor doer" which is often a sign of the adenovirus. Around 2007 he developed a slight head tremor - kind of like a bobble head toy. My vet could never quite figure it out and we assumed it is neurological. I have been hand feeding him for 7-or 8 years and every brumation I get so worried b/c he does not eat enough to gain proper weight - it gets worse every year.
The reason your post grabbed my attention was the video, this is just how Darwin moves, but he does not have any respiratory or other issues that your guy has (in that respect he has always been healthy). I have had mostly good vets except one who really did not want to hear what I knew or learned, so find someone
who will work with you.
I'd decided not to have him tested for adeno b/c even if he had it my care would be the same. However, in 2013 I sent a sample to Tracie and it came back negative. I was glad, but also frustrated b/c we still don't know what is up with him. Translucent"s don't usually live this long, nor adeno beardies ( that I know of). He "seems" to have MBD but his bloodwork always came back fine for that and he has always had proper lighting, etc.
Tracie's suggestion about the milk thistle and serrapeptase helped him last winter and I have started it again. Be sure you check with her on the actual dosing of both, not sure what Rite Aid product may have in it besides MT and the SP. I get mine from a local co-op in seed form (organic) and crush, then sift it myself, mix it with a little Karo to make it palatable. He used to drink it from a spoon, but now I sift it and add it to a mix of supplements.
I have found a great product for syringe feeding that I did not see mentioned here - they are nipple tips. First got mine from
beautifuldragons.org (great site, btw). But found them much less expensive at
www.squirrelsandmore.com. They are used by wildlife rehabbers for many small animals. They are soft and flexible so if your guy bites an end off it will not cause any problem with digestion Darwin did this once) as it will pass thru him - except maybe if it is really compromised. The flexibility also helps with getting it in his mouth w/o worry about damage to the lip and mouth.
I hope this helps you in some way. You can do a search for Darwin and find my posts (lele), not sure but some of them may also be helpful. Our history here goes back several years.
Darwin's brother died at 1 1/2 weighing about a 1/4 of the weight he should have been (I did not have him, his first mom did). Maybe Darwin would have been soon to follow, but I love my boy and will do anything for him -that is why I feel he is still with me and doubt he'd still be alive in someone else's care - except maybe yours
Please let us know how he is doing -hope it is good news!
lele & Darwin