bearded dragon health issue

[zaccone]

my bearded dragon jack is almost 9 years old. i have noticed over the last year he has slowed up and it has gradually gotten worst. his eyes are closed 99% of the day he sleeps about 80% of day and sometimes does not move for 2 days. even when he is up and alert his eyes are closed. they are not crusted shut no discharge. they look normal shut and normal when i rarely see them open. i have had him pretty much on a cricket/worm/ pea diet all his life. that is all he wants to eat. over the last year his eating has slowed up, to the point where i have to feed him daily with a syringe and a product the vet gave me last week. prior to that for a month and a half i was giving him fluckers repta boost and from time to time he will eat some crickets and worms. he has not had peas in at least 3 months. he occasionally goes to the bathroom in his tank but he mostly goes when i soak him in a warm shallow tub. he still climbs from time to time and has spirts of energy in his tank and when i have him in the tub he really moves around fast. when i hold him in my hand or feed him with the syringe he is very strong and active. when i took him to the vet he said he was dehydrated and may have liver problem or kidney and said he will give him a blood test when he gets a little stronger. he also said he is getting older and could be on his way out. i asked him why his eyes are always shut and he did not seem to have an answer. i am currently putting in his eyes fluckers eye rinse. he gave me a series of shots to give to him for a week and the new food i have been giving him in the syringe. i also soak him daily. he has seemed to have gotten alittle better. i really feel a big part of the problem is that his eyes are always shut and always sleeping.i dont think he is blind.he does see his worms and crickets from time to time and once and a while eats 2 or 3 . the bottom line he just is not eating much at all on his own and that is making him weaker.i cant see me having to feed him every day with a syringe. i also noticed his beard is always black now and has gotten a little angry . he was always very gentle . obviously he has gotten this way because of all the handling poking feeding etc... he also has not been shedding much lately i keep his tank the way it was since he has been a baby so nothing has changed as far as temperture bedding lighting placement of tank etc... i wont know more until the blood test but does anyone have any suggestions,advice,comments thanks anthony [email protected]

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Well, a 9 year old dragon has had a full life.
Can you run over your tank set up with us, such as the UVB light, the basking light, the temperatures, etc, so we can try to trouble shoot in case something in the tank needs improving.
When will the blood test results come in? I can take a look at them when they come in.
Do you have any pictures of him we could see along with his tank setup?

Tracie

 

[zaccone]

thank you for reply i will try to get you some pics we keep him in a 36"long by18"wideby17"high breeder tank that is right near a big widow so he gets alot of natural sunlight. he has a basking light above a little tree he stays on on one side of tank. then i have a 3 light combination,one side has a day heat lamp closer to the basking lamp then a floresant light in middle and them a red night heat lamp on other end. one side of tank is warm side with day temp around 90 to 95 to 100 depending wat time of year.the other side of tank day temperture cool side is about 70 to 75 -80 degrees depending what time of year.nightime temperture on cool side of tank is about 60 degrees and warm side of tank nightime temp is about 70 degrees. i have some rocks in tank, a branch he can climb it is not cluttered,plenty of room he can wander. the subtrate is not sand but that hard grounded up substance(mayb walnut shell) i have been using that since he is a baby.it says it is good for bearded dragons. he does not eat it.i am sure he has accidently if some gets on food but not much.basically nothing has changed with the tank in 9 years.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Which brand of tube UVB are you using & how old is it?
The basking light should be fine as long as it is not coated with neodymium. The red lamp may tend to irritate his eyes as it is not very bright. Did you just need extra heating? Are you using a digital probe or temp gun to measure the temperatures?
If he has been on that substrate for a long time, then that should be fine. You are sure he is not impacted?
How often do you give calcium?


Tracie

 

[zaccone]

thanks tracie the flourecent bulb is exco terra repti glo 10.0 15 watt new red lamp is the same type of lamp i have always used 150 watts the temperture is read by 2 thermometers 1 on each side of tank(mayb i will get new ones) subtrate is new he is going to bathroom 3 times a week i dont think he is impacted the cacium right now he is getting from the food the vet gave me i am giving him with a syringe vet still did not giv him blood or fecal test he wants to do it when he gets a little stronger mayb next week i am giving him shots of baytril the vet gave me to give to him he is doing better and gained weight very strong but still sleeps alot and eyes closed 99% of time even when he is not sleeping but up and alert his eyes are still closed

 

[tweet0302]

Change the uvb light to reptisun 10.0 the one you have is not good for beardies

 

[zaccone]

thanks

 

[tweet0302]

sure its the rub tube one and you can get a fixture from walmart for $10 it's called under cabinet light fixture t8 and mount inside tank with industrial command tape