Beardie losing too much weight

[peatrie109]

I’m very concerned about my bearded dragons (Peatrie) weight. A couple weeks ago I noticed he looked smaller and his skin was sunken in/bones sticking out so I took him to the vet. The vet said it was impaction so they gave him fluids and told me to give him baths everyday so he would poop. He also didn’t have an appetite which the vet said was because of him being constipated.

Since then he has pooped so many times and also has drank a bunch of water. He still has zero appetite. He used to get so excited when I fed him bugs. Now I have to force feed him by opening his mouth and putting the dubia roaches in. He will chew it if I put it in his mouth, but he chews so slowly like he doesn’t want to eat it at all. I’ve also given him pumpkin.

I’ve wondered if it’s brumation because I live in PA and it’s getting cold, but he’s never gone into brumation before and he’s 6 years old. He is bright and is still moving around, he poops and drinks water, he just isn’t eating. I’ve found him in the cool side a couple times, but he’s not hiding. He also is basking.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be/have suggestions to help? I left a voicemail for my vet to get him in again.

 

[peatrie109]

I am going through the almost exact same thing right now with my Flare. Sadly looking at your pictures, they look like they could be the same dragon. The vet game me a powder called Critical Care Omnivore and a curved syringe so that I could get some food into her. I mixed up a half a TBSP with equal water and slowly fed it to her and she was able to keep it all down. My vet had this in the office, im not sure if you have a vet or something that is close and open today but you may want to call around and see if they have it. Other than that you can get it online but it isnt going to get to you until Monday or Tuesday.

Ugh I’m so sorry that you’re also going through this. Earlier today I did order that stuff on Amazon and it’ll be here tomorrow. I fed him some pumpkin a little bit again and he ate some of it. My fear is that he won’t make it until the vet appointment on Monday.

 

[peatrie109]

an enema, NO ENEMAS!!!!!!!!!!! It can do more harm than good -- I recommend the Critical Care Herbivore as mentioned above - see if the vets office has it or you can get it on line from Amazon

Beware of vets giving enemas to your dragon | Beardie ER

Just a warning about this because there are at times very bad reactions afterwards including beardie dying within a day to a week . Some vets give an enema when a dragon is going in to brumation and not pooing during this time, not recognizing that beardies rarely poo during their " sleepy "...

www.beardeddragon.org

Well thank god I didn’t take him back to get one!

 

[peatrie109]

I’m very concerned about my bearded dragons (Peatrie) weight. A couple weeks ago I noticed he looked smaller and his skin was sunken in/bones sticking out so I took him to the vet. The vet said it was impaction so they gave him fluids and told me to give him baths everyday so he would poop. He also didn’t have an appetite which the vet said was because of him being constipated.

Since then he has pooped so many times and also has drank a bunch of water. He still has zero appetite. He used to get so excited when I fed him bugs. Now I have to force feed him by opening his mouth and putting the dubia roaches in. He will chew it if I put it in his mouth, but he chews so slowly like he doesn’t want to eat it at all. I’ve also given him pumpkin.

I’ve wondered if it’s brumation because I live in PA and it’s getting cold, but he’s never gone into brumation before and he’s 6 years old. He is bright and is still moving around, he poops and drinks water, he just isn’t eating. I’ve found him in the cool side a couple times, but he’s not hiding. He also is basking.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be/have suggestions to help? I left a voicemail for my vet to get him in again.

I took Peatrie to the vet this morning and they did an X-ray. Unfortunately they found a mass on his stomach and he’s being put down right now. There wasn’t anything I could’ve done to prevent this so that at least makes me feel a little better. Thank you to everyone who responded and tried to help me. He was so special to me and I will miss him very much.

 

[KarrieRee]

I took Peatrie to the vet this morning and they did an X-ray. Unfortunately they found a mass on his stomach and he’s being put down right now. There wasn’t anything I could’ve done to prevent this so that at least makes me feel a little better. Thank you to everyone who responded and tried to help me. He was so special to me and I will miss him very much.

Wow I am so sorry --- what kind of mass did they say?

 

[peatrie109]

Wow I am so sorry --- what kind of mass did they say?

It was on his stomach. So that’s why he wasn’t eating and it explains the vomit and lethargy. They gave him and X-ray and the vet showed it to me

 

[KarrieRee]

It was on his stomach. So that’s why he wasn’t eating and it explains the vomit and lethargy. They gave him and X-ray and the vet showed it to me

That's terrible - I am sorry- it is sad when this happens- you can only do so much -

 

[AHBD]

Aw I'm so sorry that this terrible disease took your baby. That's what I thought it was from your description in the beginning. As far as I know and what's written about it there's no cure. Sending my condolences on the loss of your little friend, I know your heart is broken.

Gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) - PubMed

This article describes a newly recognized highly malignant neoplastic entity in young bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas, which readily metastasize. Ten bearded dragons with histories of anorexia (8), vomiting (3), hyperglycemia (2), and anemia (3) were...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[peatrie109]

Aw I'm so sorry that this terrible disease took your baby. That's what I thought it was from your description in the beginning. As far as I know and what's written about it there's no cure. Sending my condolences on the loss of your little friend, I know your heart is broken.

Gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) - PubMed

This article describes a newly recognized highly malignant neoplastic entity in young bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas, which readily metastasize. Ten bearded dragons with histories of anorexia (8), vomiting (3), hyperglycemia (2), and anemia (3) were...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Thank you so much. My heart is definitely broken. Coming home and seeing his empty tank is just devastating. I’m just glad he’s not in pain anymore.