First time beardes dragon owner, and first time posting on this forum.
The past few weeks my dragon, Ziggy, has been very sick. It started with her going into shed when she started to have a decrease in appetite. With this, I didn't think much of it as it was a full body shed and she typically slowed down during these moments.
Fast forward 2 weeks (July 2). My husband and I went on a family vacation for 1 week and left her at boarding; it's a pet store that specializes in bearded dragons.
When I came back and saw her (July 10), I was horrified at what I saw: she was dull in color, skin and bones, and looked very dehydrated. They informed me that she didn't eat much, and all they had to say was, "Oh yeah, she does look a bit skinny, you can see the bones on her tail", and then they recommended I bask her in the sun more.... Needless to say I scheduled an appointment that day. And here is where my nightmare of vet visits begins....
My home vet couldn't see her until the following weekend (1 week), and insisted I take her to an exotic pet hospital that was 1 hour away. I took their advice and got her an appointment the day afterwards. The hospital they sent me too is a PAIN to get an appointment for (it's literally call, wait on the phone for 10-15 minutes, and hope that they can see you that day), and if you do get an appointment it's all walk in, and they have you wait usually about 4-5 hours before seeing your pet. So to secure an appointment, I literally need to call as soon as possible (either 7 am or 8pm, any later their slots fill up) and keep calling until I can speak with a representative to give me the 'green light' to make the hour drive to the hospital, and then wait for 4-5 hours before they can see Ziggy.
When a doctor finally did see her (2am July 11), she was diagnosed with low calcium and dehydration, and they gave her fluids. They asked about her background and husbandry (to which the doctor said I did everything mostly right, just that I needed to give her more water via baths more often... apparently they drink water through their anus... and they don't get adequate water through food alone), and they took a stool sample to tested for parasites (this came back negative). At that time I couldn't get a blood diagnostic or xray, and said I could try the following week with my home vet, instead (since I already had an appointment booked). They seem to think this was fine, until then they gave me critical (to syringe feed her), antibiotics (which I had to inject her with a shot every 2 days), and calcium supplement. They also told me to syringe feed and give baths daily. I've done this everyday (at present, it's 8/6). I did a follow up visit with my home vet (which they won't even let me enter the vet at this time dueto covid) and told me there's nothing they can do but give her fluids. They told me they wouldn't do an xray or diagnostics, and insisted I go back to the hospital an hour away.... easier said than done... I've never felt so abandoned by a vet before and in the meanwhile my baby is getting weaker and weaker.
I haven't been able to successfully get the 'green light' to bring Ziggy back to the hospital for another visit, and I even tried calling another vet but the doctor isn't taking anymore patients because he's retiring.
No one will see her.
Her fat pads and eyes are sunken. She is weak and can barely move. She will not eat, any food must be forced with syringe feeding. I changed her bulb to a mercury bulb, but this seems to dry her out more, so I left it off and keep her tank at 85F (she's seems more comfortable with this way). She's severely lethargic, but poops regularly (albeit they are very small now). The last days she has pooped blood. What's odd is that no matter how much water I give her, or how many baths I give her, or how much I feed her, she doesn't gain weight and seems dehydrated.
At this point I'm just trying to make her comfortable, I'm just so frustrated. I'm the only one that takes care of her, and it's getting harder to balance a job, family, vet visits, traveling/researching vets, and administering food, baths and medications to her when she just seems to be getting worse every day.
Please, I'm so desperate and sad for her. I don't want her to suffer anymore. Gosh though, she's such a little trooper.
I need some advice.