My bearded dragon Ariki received a positive test for the Atadenovirus. This was following a long sequence of her not eating, and being diagnosed with pneumonia. Both of those things are now believed to be additional complications to the virus. I've already reached out for some help on another forum post here before I had received the Atadenovirus diagnosis, which has more background information and a description of her cage/lighting/etc:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=258678
At the vet's advice, I'm continuing her on an antibiotic to help with the potential pneumonia or other underlying infections. I'm also going to start her on a liver supplement (for the ADV) and an oral calcium supplement (since she's not eating normally). She's also on an antacid to supposedly help with her appetite. I force feed Emeraid Omnivore currently, which was supposed to be until she regained her appetite. But her appetite is not returning in the 10 days since antibiotics / antacids began. The vet was surprised there's no change on that front, and no longer expects it to improve in the short term.
I'm aware that Bearded Dragons can survive long periods of time even with ADV, though their quality of life seems to vary drastically depending on how it effects them. But I worry that if she's not eating, this means months (years?) of forced feeding. She puts up with it reasonably well, I gently open her mouth with help from someone else, and squirt in the mixture. If a dog or a cat refuses to eat, it can represent a lot more internal suffering that you don't necessarily want to extend with long term forced feeding.
Other than the loss of appetite, she's generally pretty well. She spends time active in her cage every day and basks. She goes to bed earlier than she used to, and no longer uses her hide. So mostly from behavior she doesn't seem that sick. There was a time she was just hiding in one corner clung to the back wall, but the antibiotics seemed to make a difference for that.
Any thoughts or advice on ADV and forced feeding would be appreciated. Thank you again for those that have taken the time to respond in my previous thread.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=258678
At the vet's advice, I'm continuing her on an antibiotic to help with the potential pneumonia or other underlying infections. I'm also going to start her on a liver supplement (for the ADV) and an oral calcium supplement (since she's not eating normally). She's also on an antacid to supposedly help with her appetite. I force feed Emeraid Omnivore currently, which was supposed to be until she regained her appetite. But her appetite is not returning in the 10 days since antibiotics / antacids began. The vet was surprised there's no change on that front, and no longer expects it to improve in the short term.
I'm aware that Bearded Dragons can survive long periods of time even with ADV, though their quality of life seems to vary drastically depending on how it effects them. But I worry that if she's not eating, this means months (years?) of forced feeding. She puts up with it reasonably well, I gently open her mouth with help from someone else, and squirt in the mixture. If a dog or a cat refuses to eat, it can represent a lot more internal suffering that you don't necessarily want to extend with long term forced feeding.
Other than the loss of appetite, she's generally pretty well. She spends time active in her cage every day and basks. She goes to bed earlier than she used to, and no longer uses her hide. So mostly from behavior she doesn't seem that sick. There was a time she was just hiding in one corner clung to the back wall, but the antibiotics seemed to make a difference for that.
Any thoughts or advice on ADV and forced feeding would be appreciated. Thank you again for those that have taken the time to respond in my previous thread.
