DeweysMom
Sub-Adult Member
In my thread in the ER forum I’ve discussed recent happenings with my beardie Dewey. Long story short, on Thanksgiving morning (this past Thursday) he started having seizure like episodes, a little bit of twitching, tilting his head and shimmying backwards, and lack of appetite. His lack of appetite was going on for about a week or so before his seizure episodes. I figured maybe he was trying to get into brumation mode or maybe was just getting bored with his food. So, I ordered some hornworms (his favorite) to try to snap him out of it. That didn’t help. He’s even snubbing his nose at those. The majority of the time he seems to be ok. Good color, basking (although sometimes looking very sleepy or even asleep). Then there are the other times as mentioned above.
We had a vet visit yesterday which ruled out MBD. The only red flag found in his bloodwork is an elevated white blood cell count. The vet couldn’t find anything obvious to show what type or where an infection may be present so he sent us home with sulfatrim (antiobiotic) and metacam (pain med) to see if it helps. This morning Dewey had another seizure like episode shortly after his lights went on. I can’t even say how hard it is to watch them go through it. I ended up picking him up and putting a blanket over him which calmed him down after a little bit. Then he was normal again. I do wonder if I should pick up him when he’s having an episode like this. Is it safe for him if I do that or should I wait until he snaps out of it?
I’m at work and sneaking in more research online about health issues with beardies and found that seizures can be caused by adenovirus, but I can’t seem to find any good information regarding this disease suddenly appearing in older beardies. All I can find is hatchlings and juveniles. The reason I’m wondering if it may be adenovirus is because yesterday when I put him on the floor he looked straight up as if he was “stargazing” as I saw it referred to. That was the one and only time I’ve seen him do it. Are there other causes of stargazing? Would this disease suddenly pop up in a 4 year old dragon?
His viv set up is fine. He’s in a 4x2x2 crossfire viv with a ReptiSun 10.0 bulb about 7-8” above his basking spot. There’s no screen or glass to filter through. His basking temp ranges from 103 – 115° mattering on where he chooses to be (usually he prefers the higher end). He’s been getting liquid calcium (his calcium level is fine) and vitamins, but I’m working with Tracie already to get some more supplements to try to get him right again, but I’m trying to learn as much as I can about everything that I can as well. Any ideas?
We had a vet visit yesterday which ruled out MBD. The only red flag found in his bloodwork is an elevated white blood cell count. The vet couldn’t find anything obvious to show what type or where an infection may be present so he sent us home with sulfatrim (antiobiotic) and metacam (pain med) to see if it helps. This morning Dewey had another seizure like episode shortly after his lights went on. I can’t even say how hard it is to watch them go through it. I ended up picking him up and putting a blanket over him which calmed him down after a little bit. Then he was normal again. I do wonder if I should pick up him when he’s having an episode like this. Is it safe for him if I do that or should I wait until he snaps out of it?
I’m at work and sneaking in more research online about health issues with beardies and found that seizures can be caused by adenovirus, but I can’t seem to find any good information regarding this disease suddenly appearing in older beardies. All I can find is hatchlings and juveniles. The reason I’m wondering if it may be adenovirus is because yesterday when I put him on the floor he looked straight up as if he was “stargazing” as I saw it referred to. That was the one and only time I’ve seen him do it. Are there other causes of stargazing? Would this disease suddenly pop up in a 4 year old dragon?
His viv set up is fine. He’s in a 4x2x2 crossfire viv with a ReptiSun 10.0 bulb about 7-8” above his basking spot. There’s no screen or glass to filter through. His basking temp ranges from 103 – 115° mattering on where he chooses to be (usually he prefers the higher end). He’s been getting liquid calcium (his calcium level is fine) and vitamins, but I’m working with Tracie already to get some more supplements to try to get him right again, but I’m trying to learn as much as I can about everything that I can as well. Any ideas?
