Beardie Will Not Eat Anything Besides Hornworms -What Should

[thatLizardGuy]

Lizardguy, I can understand your concern....will he still eat hornworms ? You wrote in one of your post that he goes right for the hornworms but not superworms. That is being a picky eater....as animallover mentioned, you could go for a fecal test, but if he's eating hornworms then he really is being picky, but he could still have parasites.

Where would Parasites come from?

He doesn't leave my Home and he has not been introduced to any other Reptiles that would carry something.

 

[Taterbug]

Parasites can bloom during times of stress or suppressed immune system. They can also be introduced by feeding contaminated food (such as insects that have been exposed to waste from lizards with parasites). Many many things can put a reptile off its food, weather, stress, husbandry problems, parasites, disease, injury....etc. Force feeding is generally stressful, and depending on what's wrong could make things worse (say an injury inside the mouth). I think you mentioned he lives with two other dragons? What size enclosure are they in?

I notice you have several threads about your guy... It might be worth finding a good vet with experience with beardies, and have him looked over. Someone might even have a recxomendation for you based on your location. Folks on here can give you suggestions or insight but it's not really a replacement for an exam by a qualified vet.

 

[thatLizardGuy]

Parasites can bloom during times of stress or suppressed immune system. They can also be introduced by feeding contaminated food (such as insects that have been exposed to waste from lizards with parasites). Many many things can put a reptile off its food, weather, stress, husbandry problems, parasites, disease, injury....etc. Force feeding is generally stressful, and depending on what's wrong could make things worse (say an injury inside the mouth). I think you mentioned he lives with two other dragons? What size enclosure are they in?

I notice you have several threads about your guy... It might be worth finding a good vet with experience with beardies, and have him looked over. Someone might even have a recxomendation for you based on your location. Folks on here can give you suggestions or insight but it's not really a replacement for an exam by a qualified vet.

They are in a 90 Gallon.

Do you know about how much Medications cost?

Everyone I talk to that says that they took a Dragon to a Vet has paid 400.00

 

[Sauzo]

I had to take Harley in for slight RI and it ran me total of around $270. That was for the office visit, checkup, blood panel, mouth culture and the vet did some lung checkup with some weird machine that was hooked up to Harley to listen to her lungs to make sure she didn't have pneumonia. Also that included the medicine, oral Baytril and probiotics. Spendy but Harley is worth every penny as she is such a sweetie.

Personally I wouldn't advise just giving medicine without a checkup as most medicines are pretty harsh for reptiles and can actually cause more problems or death if done wrong. Plus you want to make sure the medicine you are using is effective on the problem. Look for some reptile vets and call them and ask them how much their visit generally runs and stuff. They will give you a general idea of costs.

As for cost of medicine, my vet charges about $20 for a 14 day dose of Baytril but of course you need to have a file with them as a patient as I think it's illegal for vets to prescribe medicine over the phone without having seen the animal.

Oh also make sure the vet you choose knows reptiles and isn't just some dog/cat vet. They need to have the right size equipment and stuff for smaller things like reptiles vs cats and dogs. Usually its and exotic animal vet.

 

[Luv4animalz]

I had to take Harley in for slight RI and it ran me total of around $270. That was for the office visit, checkup, blood panel, mouth culture and the vet did some lung checkup with some weird machine that was hooked up to Harley to listen to her lungs to make sure she didn't have pneumonia. Also that included the medicine, oral Baytril and probiotics. Spendy but Harley is worth every penny as she is such a sweetie.

Personally I wouldn't advise just giving medicine without a checkup as most medicines are pretty harsh for reptiles and can actually cause more problems or death if done wrong. Plus you want to make sure the medicine you are using is effective on the problem. Look for some reptile vets and call them and ask them how much their visit generally runs and stuff. They will give you a general idea of costs.

As for cost of medicine, my vet charges about $20 for a 14 day dose of Baytril but of course you need to have a file with them as a patient as I think it's illegal for vets to prescribe medicine over the phone without having seen the animal.

Oh also make sure the vet you choose knows reptiles and isn't just some dog/cat vet. They need to have the right size equipment and stuff for smaller things like reptiles vs cats and dogs. Usually its and exotic animal vet.

I agree with Sauzo, I'd have him looked at by a vet who knows Reptiles before giving any medication. I am waiting to take my little guy in for an eye infections because I cannot afford a vet visit either, however my little guy is still eating well, pooping well, etc. So I feel he can wait. However, the issues your beardie is experiencing would justify more urgency than an irritated eye.

You asked my thoughts on force feeding, I honestly don't think there is anything "wrong" with force feeding, as long as you're only doing it because it is necessary. In your case, it sounds like force feeding is necessary and your only choice for getting nutrients into your Beardie, I would be weary if he is not pooping though as this may indicate a blockage. Is your little one pooping regularly? drinking water at all?

 

[thatLizardGuy]

I had to take Harley in for slight RI and it ran me total of around $270. That was for the office visit, checkup, blood panel, mouth culture and the vet did some lung checkup with some weird machine that was hooked up to Harley to listen to her lungs to make sure she didn't have pneumonia. Also that included the medicine, oral Baytril and probiotics. Spendy but Harley is worth every penny as she is such a sweetie.

Personally I wouldn't advise just giving medicine without a checkup as most medicines are pretty harsh for reptiles and can actually cause more problems or death if done wrong. Plus you want to make sure the medicine you are using is effective on the problem. Look for some reptile vets and call them and ask them how much their visit generally runs and stuff. They will give you a general idea of costs.

As for cost of medicine, my vet charges about $20 for a 14 day dose of Baytril but of course you need to have a file with them as a patient as I think it's illegal for vets to prescribe medicine over the phone without having seen the animal.

Oh also make sure the vet you choose knows reptiles and isn't just some dog/cat vet. They need to have the right size equipment and stuff for smaller things like reptiles vs cats and dogs. Usually its and exotic animal vet.

But what if He doesn't Poop?

It seems that everyone that goes to the Vet gets a Fecal.

Is it pointless to go to a Vet without getting a Fecal Test or No?

 

[thatLizardGuy]

I had to take Harley in for slight RI and it ran me total of around $270. That was for the office visit, checkup, blood panel, mouth culture and the vet did some lung checkup with some weird machine that was hooked up to Harley to listen to her lungs to make sure she didn't have pneumonia. Also that included the medicine, oral Baytril and probiotics. Spendy but Harley is worth every penny as she is such a sweetie.

Personally I wouldn't advise just giving medicine without a checkup as most medicines are pretty harsh for reptiles and can actually cause more problems or death if done wrong. Plus you want to make sure the medicine you are using is effective on the problem. Look for some reptile vets and call them and ask them how much their visit generally runs and stuff. They will give you a general idea of costs.

As for cost of medicine, my vet charges about $20 for a 14 day dose of Baytril but of course you need to have a file with them as a patient as I think it's illegal for vets to prescribe medicine over the phone without having seen the animal.

Oh also make sure the vet you choose knows reptiles and isn't just some dog/cat vet. They need to have the right size equipment and stuff for smaller things like reptiles vs cats and dogs. Usually its and exotic animal vet.

I agree with Sauzo, I'd have him looked at by a vet who knows Reptiles before giving any medication. I am waiting to take my little guy in for an eye infections because I cannot afford a vet visit either, however my little guy is still eating well, pooping well, etc. So I feel he can wait. However, the issues your beardie is experiencing would justify more urgency than an irritated eye.

You asked my thoughts on force feeding, I honestly don't think there is anything "wrong" with force feeding, as long as you're only doing it because it is necessary. In your case, it sounds like force feeding is necessary and your only choice for getting nutrients into your Beardie, I would be weary if he is not pooping though as this may indicate a blockage. Is your little one pooping regularly? drinking water at all?

He (like my Females) will Drink Water that I give them from a Medicine Dropper but it is usually not every day.

I give him Water too when I Force Feed Him.

I Shoot it into His Mouth After Force Feeding Hornworms, Super Worms, and Greens so he can Wash it all Down.

 

[Sauzo]

I didn't get a fecal done simply because I've had Harley for about 2 years since she was a 6 week old baby and have never had any issues with her poop or weight loss or other things that are associated with parasites. Her problem was slight RI so that's why I had a mouth culture done to find out exactly what type of bug it was, whether it was bacterial or viral as certain antibiotics work better on certain types of bugs. I also had the full blood panel done since I have never had that done on her and she is such a brat for eating. She loves worms and dubias but doesn't like veggies so I wanted to make sure her liver and stuff was ok. Thus why I had the blood panel done. It turns out she is within specs of all her stuff except her protein is on the high side of acceptable but the vet figured that was because she really only likes to eat bugs. Also the vet figures that is why she is so fat also, she weighed 695g and is around 17 inches long.

As for the fecal, the vet gave me the fecal container and said if I need a fecal, I can collect a fresh one and put in the sealable container and drop it off to them.

With your beardie not wanting to eat anything, i would start to worry if he starts losing lots of weight. It is that time of year or at the end of it for brumation so that could add to why yours wont eat. Harley isn't eating that much either but she is usually eating a couple pieces of collard greens or a couple dubias or was eating about 6 horn worms a day till i cut her off of those. And she isn't losing weight so im not too worried.

As for force feeding, you need to find out what is causing yours to not want to eat. I mean if he wont even eat his favorite food and you need to force feed him, then something is wrong. Not eating a day or 2 or 3 isn't going to hurt a beardie at all but months on months and losing lots of weight is a problem. Personally if i were you, i would at least get a fecal done as parasites can make them not want to eat. Is his poop really stinky? Runny? Abnormal looking? Those are bad signs too. I mean not your normal poop stink, i mean room clearing stink :lol: But like i said, i would get a fecal at least done and probably a blood panel. Fecals are pretty cheap. Blood panel for me ran $93 but that is one of the best ways to see exactly what is going on. Combine that with a fecal and you would get a good idea of whats going on.

As for weights, the not eating male seems abit light. The biggest thing like i said, is if they start losing lots of weight. Then i would worry. But regardless, i would be worrying now as its been a couple months since hes eaten anything?

Oh also, i wouldn't force water down your beardies as they could aspirate it and that could create an RI. You should only drop water on their nose and let them lick it off. When Harley was on Baytril, i had to feed to syringe feed her baby food mixed with probiotics daily and even dripping that on the end of her nose and letting her lick it off, she would get it going down the wrong pipe usually once daily and cough. If you have to force feed anything, i would do something like baby food mixed with probiotics as those will help her tummy and sometimes perk their appetite plus you aren't trying to force solids down their throats.

Also a vet can coax a poop out of a beardie. Harley was so scared at the vets she pooped the biggest poop i ever saw from her all over the nurses shoes, the floor and all over the exam towel and table. She then proceeded to jump to me and run up my front and hide under my neck and peer out at the nurse and doctor. She is really shy. I felt so bad for her.

 

[Taterbug]

You guys have really great get rates, wow

In my area a visit is about 35-40, and most diagnostics are about 100-160 (X-rays 150, blood panel 150, respretory swab +culture 120, fecal 45) the vet should give you a quote for the diagnostics they think are needed, and why. They shuld also explain what the cost is for - different vets charge different rates for many reasons. Many vets will offer credit payment options.

90 might still be on the small side for three adults.