Bearded Dragon Not Eating - Just got Panacur

[drekiaa]

Hello!

I am a first time reptile owner, so this is new territory for me. My beardie is about 10 months old (got from petsmart). He hadn't been eating any crickets for maybe 3 weeks before I scheduled a vet visit, 4 weeks by the time the vet visit happened. Vet advised he physically looks great, but he did get a fecal test and tested positive for pinworms. He was given a single shot, dose? of panacur, I was not sent home with any medication. It's been about 5 days (vet visit was on Friday), and he has shown even less interest in food, period. He did eat a single mealworm, but has had next to none of his veggies (of which he was still eating some before).

He's hanging out on the cold side of his enclosure (same behavior prior to vet visit). I'm planning on buying soy yogurt to maybe get some probiotics in him, but should I be trying syringe feed him a mix of the other foods as well? The vet emailed me that it may take 1-2 weeks before he starts to eat normally, I guess I'm just freaking out. Should I wait it out? I just started weighing him yesterday, 338 grams yesterday & today, so I don't have enough data yet on weight loss...

Thanks so much from this nervous first time owner.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello!

I am a first time reptile owner, so this is new territory for me. My beardie is about 10 months old (got from petsmart). He hadn't been eating any crickets for maybe 3 weeks before I scheduled a vet visit, 4 weeks by the time the vet visit happened. Vet advised he physically looks great, but he did get a fecal test and tested positive for pinworms. He was given a single shot, dose? of panacur, I was not sent home with any medication. It's been about 5 days (vet visit was on Friday), and he has shown even less interest in food, period. He did eat a single mealworm, but has had next to none of his veggies (of which he was still eating some before).

He's hanging out on the cold side of his enclosure (same behavior prior to vet visit). I'm planning on buying soy yogurt to maybe get some probiotics in him, but should I be trying syringe feed him a mix of the other foods as well? The vet emailed me that it may take 1-2 weeks before he starts to eat normally, I guess I'm just freaking out. Should I wait it out? I just started weighing him yesterday, 338 grams yesterday & today, so I don't have enough data yet on weight loss...

Thanks so much from this nervous first time owner.

Keep feeding and keep him hydrated -- either by bathing or dropping water on his nose - meds will dry him out- as far as eating keep offering him his food salads rinsed before serving - please switch him over from crickets to dubia roaches they are a better feeder more nutritious - www.dubiaroaches.com - offer him some super worms and some horn worms - are they going to get another fecal in a few weeks - if so take the fecal in - we do not recommend enemas - too risky Beware of vets giving enemas to your dragon | Beardie ER | Bearded Dragon .org
in the mean time please go over your UVB coil or long tube fixture and how are you getting your surface basking temps? Please no coils for a UVB and no stick ons for temps -

 

[drekiaa]

Keep feeding and keep him hydrated -- either by bathing or dropping water on his nose - meds will dry him out- as far as eating keep offering him his food salads rinsed before serving - please switch him over from crickets to dubia roaches they are a better feeder more nutritious - www.dubiaroaches.com - offer him some super worms and some horn worms - are they going to get another fecal in a few weeks - if so take the fecal in - we do not recommend enemas - too risky Beware of vets giving enemas to your dragon | Beardie ER | Bearded Dragon .org
in the mean time please go over your UVB coil or long tube fixture and how are you getting your surface basking temps? Please no coils for a UVB and no stick ons for temps -

Hello!

Thank you so much for responding. I did read this when you responded, but have just been watching him since... He has become more active, and is sitting in the heat far more however he is slowly losing weight and still has no interested in any insects (crickets, roaches, mealworms - we've tried all of them). I have since cleaned his tank in full, I am getting him in the water more. We are getting a replacement UV bulb today. His basking temp is over 100, so that is good. Humidity is in proper range as well. He did poop yesterday, but only a tiny tiny bit.

Just hoping he starts to show interest in insects soon.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello!

Thank you so much for responding. I did read this when you responded, but have just been watching him since... He has become more active, and is sitting in the heat far more however he is slowly losing weight and still has no interested in any insects (crickets, roaches, mealworms - we've tried all of them). I have since cleaned his tank in full, I am getting him in the water more. We are getting a replacement UV bulb today. His basking temp is over 100, so that is good. Humidity is in proper range as well. He did poop yesterday, but only a tiny tiny bit.

Just hoping he starts to show interest in insects soon.

What uvb are you getting? He will not eat w/ out proper uvb placement and distance is crucial? The screen on the tank will determine where it goes

 

[drekiaa]

What uvb are you getting? He will not eat w/ out proper uvb placement and distance is crucial? The screen on the tank will determine where it goes

Hey Karrie,

My fiance just came back with the new UV bulb... It's a 10.0UVB Bulb, 13 Watt, by Thrive. Will this work just fine? Position is also next to the heat lamp, so in the middle maybe slightly to the left.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hey Karrie,

My fiance just came back with the new UV bulb... It's a 10.0UVB Bulb, 13 Watt, by Thrive. Will this work just fine? Position is also next to the heat lamp, so in the middle maybe slightly to the left.

Please do not use that- they are so bad! Take it back you want this for a 40+ gallon tank 24" Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood or this one can be found at pet smart Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood and a 22" reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb - what are you using now?

 

[drekiaa]

Please do not use that- they are so bad! Take it back you want this for a 40+ gallon tank 24" Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood or this one can be found at pet smart Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood and a 22" reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb - what are you using now?

Hi Karrie,

Thanks again! We did get the Repti Sun T8, with the T8 bulb (they were out of the T5). We just installed it today.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi Karrie,

Thanks again! We did get the Repti Sun T8, with the T8 bulb (they were out of the T5). We just installed it today.

Ok so it will need to go into the tank you can use these to hang w/ 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties-- fishing line
hang directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches -- please change the bulb out in 5 months

 

[drekiaa]

Ok so it will need to go into the tank you can use these to hang w/ 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties-- fishing line
hang directly above the basking decor 6-8 inches -- please change the bulb out in 5 months

Thank you for all of the help! His lighting should be good now, but he's still not eating very much. He is staying on his warm side however the past couple of days.

Do you have any other suggestions? I'm trying to get my vet another fecal sample, but he's not cooperating at this point.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you for all of the help! His lighting should be good now, but he's still not eating very much. He is staying on his warm side however the past couple of days.

Do you have any other suggestions? I'm trying to get my vet another fecal sample, but he's not cooperating at this point.

Feed him some plain canned pumpkin w/ 2 drops if olive oil and 2 drops of honey- how long have you had him

 

[PuffsHooman]

Have you considered trying bee pollen on his salads or anything else? My beardie can't resist it!

 

[drekiaa]

Feed him some plain canned pumpkin w/ 2 drops if olive oil and 2 drops of honey- how long have you had him

I just tried to give him some pumpkin, I don't know how to force him to eat it but at the moment he does not seem interested. I've had him since November, he was a couple weeks old when I got him. I did put a little bit on his mouth, so if he opens it hopefully he's forced to lick some.

 

[KarrieRee]

I just tried to give him some pumpkin, I don't know how to force him to eat it but at the moment he does not seem interested. I've had him since November, he was a couple weeks old when I got him. I did put a little bit on his mouth, so if he opens it hopefully he's forced to lick some.

Post a pic of him and his tank/ lighting - give us a better idea of what's going on - is he losing weight? Are you keeping him hydrated? How long ago was the medication given?

 

[drekiaa]

Have you considered trying bee pollen on his salads or anything else? My beardie can't resist it!

I have not, thank you for the suggestion!!

Post a pic of him and his tank/ lighting - give us a better idea of what's going on - is he losing weight? Are you keeping him hydrated? How long ago was the medication given?

Hello! The medication was almost 3 weeks ago now. Here are the pictures. He is losing weight. His UV light has not been moved inside, but I'm hoping to do so soon.

He is moving around, no stress lines, just isn't eating.

 

[KarrieRee]

I have not, thank you for the suggestion!!

Hello! The medication was almost 3 weeks ago now. Here are the pictures. He is losing weight. His UV light has not been moved inside, but I'm hoping to do so soon.

He is moving around, no stress lines, just isn't eating.

He will not eat w/ out the uvb properly placed! If that's a T 8 the bulb needs to be completely unobstructed 6-8 inches directly over the basking decor - please get it inside the tank your dragons health is declining