Beardie fight and critical condition.

[Tribsaint]

Ok I need some help, I'm super sad... I bought my son two bearded dragons for Christmas, I did a lot of research before hand, read a lot. Nothing advice not to keep them together in fact a lot of sites made it sound like two as long as it wasn't to males would enjoyed each other.

Over the last six months one bearded has grown to be at least 4 time the size of the other. Both still seemed to be in good health and even often lay together. I talked to local pet store guys (not a chain) and they thought it sounded normal.

I had been taking the big one out at feeding give the little guy a chance to bulk up (I give them cricket but always keep a bowl of pellets and part out)
Well a couple of weeks ago the big one "got" the little one. I isolated them for a while with a smaller clear container (all they did was lay next to each other). After the little guy was better I put back in the cage (24in x 24 x 24).

Big mistake and I'm really kicking myself, the big one I'm pretty sure tried to eat the little one. His tail is bite in half (still hanging) both eyes are closed (maybe gone, osr swollen and/or blinded) jaw was blood a looked crooked (may cause tongue was swollen). My son is understandably upset.

I need advice on nursing the little guy I had her laying a little water some food. I'm not taking a 30 dollar lizard to the vet. But I want to care of it the best I can. She is in really rough shape I am not sure she'll make it.

Any advice and or help is much appreciated.

 

[Esther19]

I do hope you have had a change of heart and are on the way to vet. If not, I recommend the following:

1) Separate her from the other dragon permanently
2) Stop the bleeding of the tail using pressure. Wash it in Betadine solution diluted to the look of weak tea.
Apply a Neosporin or polysporin cream and bandage it gently. I assume the little one will not be moving for
a while.
3) Offer her some water by dribbling a bit over her lips.
4) Wrap her in something soft and keep her warm.

If she survives the night we will need pictures of the head to assess the damage.
I am super sad, too. For the poor dragon, and for your son.
Please reconsider taking your $30 dragon to the vet. She should be seen immediately, even if it is only to end her life humanely.

 

[Gail]

I am thoroughly disgusted by the attitude that a $30 pet isn't worth medical treatment, that is a horrible thing to teach your son.
It sounds like her jaw could be broken and tails are prone to getting infected. If you don't want to have her treated, at least take her in and have her euthanized.

 

[Tribsaint]

Thanks for all the help and advice however it is moot. We lost wicket she has passed. My son is very sad (I'm pretty bummed too). Now I have to work towards convincing my son that yoshi is just an animal and not a murder.

 

[Tribsaint]

I am thoroughly disgusted by the attitude that a $30 pet isn't worth medical treatment, that is a horrible thing to teach your son.

Your right, I'm not much of an animal person but I did not/do not like/want them to suffer.

 

[Esther19]

It is unfortunate that you did not visit this forum when doing your research. We would have told you how dangerous it is to house dragons together. You can divert your son's feelings that Yoshi is a murderer by taking responsibility for not getting all the facts, and explain that you were given bad information. Yoshi was just being his dragon self. You can both spend some time here going through the care sheets and forums to make sure Yoshi is getting proper care. Some good can still come out of this. I would also encourage you to establish a jar or box for saving for future vet visits to which you can both can contribute.

Please convey to your son my sincere condolences on Wicket's passing. Is he planning a funeral? Since you are not an "animal person" I would advise you not to get your son any more pets.

 

[Fubar1337]

I am so sorry to hear about Wicked. Beardies, from birth, are basically programmed to live alone. I have been digging my teeth into researching their habits lately, as we just bought two beardies from petsmart. We plan to separate them within a few weeks (as soon as we can afford another full habitat). When they hatch, ive been told then run as far away from the other beardies, in order to live life in solitude. Everyone on here (as ive recently found out) is more than happy/willing to devulge all their information to help all owners with their beardies, so never be shy to ask questions or seek advice in the future. I wish you luck in your future.

 

[Oniko]

I am thoroughly disgusted by the attitude that a $30 pet isn't worth medical treatment, that is a horrible thing to teach your son.
It sounds like her jaw could be broken and tails are prone to getting infected. If you don't want to have her treated, at least take her in and have her euthanized.

This.

I didn't realize that the price of a pet decided the treatment it is going to get.

I'm not going to rag on you too much, but seriously, don't get another pet unless you get one with the intention of being it's sole provider, keeper and parent for the rest of it's life. It met a horrible end and you should have taken it right to the vet immediately.

I can't be polite after reading that.

 

[miggie778899]

Even if your Bearded Dragon was only $30.00 you should really take it to the vet. If you don't treat the cuts properly it will almost certainly get infected and cause further damage to the tail and jaw.
It's worth the money to save your sons beautiful bearded dragon.

And please split up the bearded dragons for good. I hope the bearded dragon survives

 

[Esther19]

His dragon passed shortly after the injury.