Adenovirus

[ReptileAddiction]

So I have always heard about Adenovirus but never knew much about it. After doing some reading I think that my bearded dragon has it. :shock: Some breeders (Dachiu) say that they believe all dragons have it...

http://www.dachiu.com/beardeddragons/dragonadenovirus.html
http://www.dachiu.com/beardeddragons/dragonadenovirus1.html

Anyway I was reading some articles and was reading about some symptoms. The 2 that my dragon has is diarrhea and growing very very slowly. At almost a year and a half she is only about 200 grams. :shock: (yes my husbandry is fine) She is not skinny just very small. I am wondering who I can talk to about getting him tested for it. Also is it possible for her to lead an average life?

 

[snazzyglasses]

Eek, scary! Tracie (username Drache613) is actually part of an Adeno virus research project. She can hook you up with some inexpensive testing kits, and I believe a veterinarian can do a test for Adeno virus as well. There's also a lot of good info on her project's website, if you haven't seen it yet- http://www.thepats.info/ (specifically this article is super informative http://thepats-articles.freehosting.net/)

And about all bearded dragons having Adeno virus: I think that's crazy talk. If every single bearded dragon had Adeno then we probably wouldn't have very many dragons alive in captivity, lol. (I have a feeling some breeders just say that so they can't be held liable for any dragons that might test positive for the virus. Or maybe they're just lazy/cheap? A lot of testing and re-testing is required to show that a dragon is negative for the virus. :?)

Those links make it sound like Adeno virus is some fancy rare disease and it's the owner's fault if the animal "catches" it. When in fact, it's not the owner's fault if the dragon already had the virus from the breeders! It's true that not a lot is known about Adeno yet, but enough information is out there for breeders to test for it and be smart about it and keep the virus out of their colonies.

From what I understand the Adeno virus does cause dragons to be more vulnerable to diseases, so your girl may need a bit of extra care, but it's not necessarily a death sentence if that's what you're asking!

 

[ReptileAddiction]

I actually just PMed Tracie! I have no doubt she will be able to help me.

 

[snazzyglasses]

Awesome Tracie is the best!
Crossing human and beardie fingers & toes that it's a "false alarm" and your little lady doesn't have anything bad though! <3 <3
(And sorry for getting all soapbox-y about Adeno virus. I just think it's irresponsible and unfair to the animals when breeders/etc don't try to avoid diseases)

 

[ReptileAddiction]

Tracie is the best. Lol ya I really do hope it i a false alarm. Thinking about it their is a logical explanation to everything. A few months ago she had parasites that I cleared up with Panacur. I always blamed the slow growth on the bad parasites and the wrong uv she also had. The diarrhea could be blamed on not having enough protein because I ran out of crickets about a week ago and I didnt have time to order more before I leave Friday. She has always had it though it just has been worse recently. Hopefully I figure this all out. I am going to start doing my own fecal floats with a very expensive microscope that I should be getting soon.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry for the delay.
I am sorry to hear about your dragon!
Adeno is not necessarily a death sentence but it can be quite serious in some cases leading to death.
The immune system can become suppressed that they can't get over simple parasite infections very well.
If you want to test for Adeno let me know & you can sign up on my page so I can get your information & then send out a swab for you to do the test & send back to me. Then I send it out to the lab & they give quick results.

How is her appetite doing?

Tracie

 

[ReptileAddiction]

Her appetite is fine. She eats everything and anything. I actually think that it could also be coccidia. I would be SO happy if it is that and not adeno. I will know in about a month until then I will keep caring for her and loving her. I just gave her a low dose of Panacur Plus because I use it as a preventative measure every six months because the crickets she gets I am 95% sure have parasites.

Today I had to drop her off at my friends who is going to take care of her while she is away. They have over geckos, toads, and tortoises among other things so I have no doubt she will be fine. I miss her all ready