Oxymiocysu
Member
On November 15 I brought my 7.5 year old bearded dragon, Pancake, to the vet after noticing she was looking dehydrated, bloated, and generally unwell with little appetite. Weeks before she was glass surfing and digging, exhibiting egg laying behavior but didn't lay after a month, so I was concerned she may be egg bound. The vet did an xray, ultrasound, and bloodwork, and determined that she did have follicles present but she also had some inflammation, constipation, and free fluid. Her bloodwork came back normal, so we put her on baytril (0.2ml/day for 14 days) and meloxodyl (0.03ml/day for 5 days, then every other day until further directed) for the free fluid and inflammation in case there's something going on. Additionally, calcium gluconate (0.4ml/d for 14 days, then 0.4ml every other for 14d, then 0.4ml twice a week until further directed) to give her a calcium boost in case she does decide to produce eggs.
She ran the entire course of baytril without issues and started behaving much better. She was looking more hydrated, somewhat less bloated, and her energy and appetite were returning.
Yesterday (Dec 4) I brought her back in to the vet for a recheck with another xray and ultrasound. The vet noted the labs looked like they were improving, but noted the free fluid was still present and was concerning because it didn't look entirely clear. I can't remember exactly how she explained it, but she expressed concern over it. She recommend we start her on another course of antibiotics, this time smz-tmp (0.3ml/day for 2 days, then every other day for 2 weeks). I believe she switched antibiotics because we were at a different location that didn't have the baytril, or maybe because the baytril didn't yield results. She's still on the meloxodyl and calcium.
Yesterday when I gave her the smz-tmp I noticed shortly after she got a black beard and have observed the same behavior today. Pancake very rarely black beards, only when she's gone outside and gotten scared, so this is concerning to me. Edit- her beard stays dark for multiple hours after giving the smz-tmp, it doesn't lighten quickly.
From what I've read, smz-tmp is hard on the body so I ordered nutribac (will arrive on Tuesday). I've been giving her water (1-2mls by syringe) by mouth after her medicine to both help wash down the medicine and also help keep her hydrated as well as keeping her enclosure a little more humid and offering her soaks. I'm looking into getting a CHE to keep her overnight temps toasty (they don't drop below 65 as is, but to give her a boost). I have reptiboost on hand as well as chicken and squash baby food in case she loses her appetite again.
I'm looking for other supportive measures to help my girl out, as well as second opinions on what this could be. Attached are her xrays from both visits.
She ran the entire course of baytril without issues and started behaving much better. She was looking more hydrated, somewhat less bloated, and her energy and appetite were returning.
Yesterday (Dec 4) I brought her back in to the vet for a recheck with another xray and ultrasound. The vet noted the labs looked like they were improving, but noted the free fluid was still present and was concerning because it didn't look entirely clear. I can't remember exactly how she explained it, but she expressed concern over it. She recommend we start her on another course of antibiotics, this time smz-tmp (0.3ml/day for 2 days, then every other day for 2 weeks). I believe she switched antibiotics because we were at a different location that didn't have the baytril, or maybe because the baytril didn't yield results. She's still on the meloxodyl and calcium.
Yesterday when I gave her the smz-tmp I noticed shortly after she got a black beard and have observed the same behavior today. Pancake very rarely black beards, only when she's gone outside and gotten scared, so this is concerning to me. Edit- her beard stays dark for multiple hours after giving the smz-tmp, it doesn't lighten quickly.
From what I've read, smz-tmp is hard on the body so I ordered nutribac (will arrive on Tuesday). I've been giving her water (1-2mls by syringe) by mouth after her medicine to both help wash down the medicine and also help keep her hydrated as well as keeping her enclosure a little more humid and offering her soaks. I'm looking into getting a CHE to keep her overnight temps toasty (they don't drop below 65 as is, but to give her a boost). I have reptiboost on hand as well as chicken and squash baby food in case she loses her appetite again.
I'm looking for other supportive measures to help my girl out, as well as second opinions on what this could be. Attached are her xrays from both visits.
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