Beardie sick with upper respiratory

[Samanthaa1433]

I have just started giving my bearded dragon .05 baytril once a day bc of her upper respiratory infection. She seems extremely lethargic and is not eatting at all for the past 2 days. Has this ever happened to anyone? Also i figured I would buy some babyfood to give her through a syringe does anybody know what type of babyfood is best?

Also, she has gooey white stuff by her mouth im thinking its stomatitis. Is benadine okay to use to clean her gums because it is definately the beginning stage and I do not want it to get worse.

Thanks for you help.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Where did you get the Baytril & how much does your dragon weigh?
The Baytril is very hard on them & you will need to keep her hydrated as much as possible. Try bathing her daily, in warm water to keep her hydrated.
Is she eating anything at all right now?
Also, are you using any probiotics also for her?
You can use chicken or turkey babyfood along with squash babyfood to help her out.
The diluted betadine is fine to use on her gums, dipped in a swab, just gently clean out her mouth with the swab. How long have her gums looked like this?

Tracie

 

[Samanthaa1433]

I ordered the baytril bc I researched upper respiratory infections for bearded's and everyone seemed to use Baytril to help cure it. She isn't eatting at all shes extremely lethargic. Isnt moving or anything so thats why I am def going to reduce the amount I am giving her. I have been giving her baths once a day also. She doesn't even weigh a pound so possibly a .05 is too much. I am not using any probiotics bc the vets over here charge insane amounts just to look at a bearded dragon. Are there any I should order let me know and I will def order them I wanna help her out i've had her for about 3 years.

Her mouth doesn't look odd just gets gooey stuff and I wipe it off w/ a quetip. Its been doing that for mayb a week or two and I researched betadine might be good to use for it.

 

[Samanthaa1433]

I can't seem to find diluted betadine only betadine Solution antiseptic is there a difference?

 

[tf2185]

For the probiotic, all you have to do is go to the store and buy SOY yogurt. Probiotics are basically the live cultures that help with the good bacteria. Be sure not to get dairy because bear dies cannot digest it. Personally, my beardies love the blueberry flavored and the raspberry kind.

 

[dragonlover3]

Hi,
Sorry your little one is not feeling so great.

Tracie is experienced and knowledgeable in all things beardie so you have an excellent expert helping you!

The Betadine solution you are referring to is the right stuff. You dilute it yourself with water til it looks like weak tea.

When my rescues were fighting persistant, recurrent respiratory infections it took many vet visits and mulitple rounds of Baytril for them to recover but they were in poor, malnourished condition.

Hydration and nutrition are important.
If she isn't drinking, as suggested, daily soaks with her fully supported by your hand to prevent her head going under.
If she isn't eating you have to feed her. If she won't lick, you can use a needless syringe to feed her with. I syringe fed mine small amounts 3 times a day for weeks as they relapsed due to their poor condition and were again on Baytril.

Another probiotic you could use is acidophulis. I got it at Walmart in Pharmacy section. 100 tabs for $5.00. Crush a tab and add a pinch to one of her baby food feeding a day. One crushed tab lasts quite a while as you only need a pinch each day. Give the probiotic in the afternoon or evening if you give the Baytril in the morning. Don't give them together.

When mine were so sick with the RI my vet instructed to raise their basking temp to 103-ish and to keep them warm at night at about 80 -82. A ceramic heat emitter works well, it provides the heat but no light. Beardies need dark to sleep. The increased heat boosts their immune system but be aware the extra heat may dehydrate them so you need to be extra conscious of hydrating them.

While mine were so sick, it would tire them just to be fed, they would seem lethargic when awake, from being so sick and they napped a lot.

I hope any of this helps and I hope she recovers well!
Amanda

 

[Samanthaa1433]

Thanks for the responses tomorrow I am def going to buy the soy yogurt and baby food. Do you know how long it usually takes for the RI to heal ? And how long they usually stay on baytril for?

 

[dragonlover3]

Hi Samanthaa1433,
I can't help you with how long it will last for your beardie. Is your beardie otherwise healthy, been well care for and has had good nutrition, is not underweight, is not a rescue? That is a plus for her! And increasing her basking and night temps will boost her immune system too.

I have 4 rescues. My first 2 rescues with the most severe resp. infections were underweight, malnourished, not given a proper diet and kept in a damp basement by the jack-ass who had them first. So they were debilitated as well as sick. They had multiple vet visit, were infested heavily with worms parasites, had giardia, and the respiratory infections when I got them. They had meds for the worms, parasites and giardia which is harsh on them, making them a bit sicker, multiple rounds of Baytril which also made them a bit sicker as it too is harsh on them. The first several rounds of Baytril were 7 days. Then the last RI visit my vet decided a 10 day round was needed to try and kick the infection and it worked but 10 days is a long time because the Baytril is so harsh. That's why my vet tried several 7 day courses first. When the antibiotic would finish up, in a few day to a week later they would relapse showing respiratory symptoms again. This went on for 4 months til they finally cleared up. My third rescue came to me with a mild respiratory infection and she was seemingly healthy otherwise if a bit underweight. She had 2 vet visits and 3 rounds of antibiotic to clear it up.
Since mine were so ill and took so long to recover, it would be hard to tell you how long it would take a well taken care of beardie to recover. My only experience with RI's is with severely sick beardies. My vet, this forum, and lots of consistent care, nutritional support and love got mine to survive.
I hope your little one does well!
Amanda

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Do you have an estimated weight for her?
What is the concentration of the Baytril? Example, the mg/ml or the % stated on the bottle?
The Baytril could cause negative side effects if it is overdosed.

As instructed, you can increase the daytime temperatures for the basking a little bit. The optimal range is 95-110 with the cooler end being around 78-82. I would try keeping the tank around 80 over night, also with either a ceramic heater or a heating mat/pad on low.

The recovery rate greatly depends on the severity of the respiratory issue & the individual immune system. The non dairy soy yogurt should help her out, too. If you are giving oral fluids, be sure to go in from the side when giving fluids so she wont aspirate the liquids.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie