Blood in Urate/Poop!

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

Just when I thought Kadaj was getting better, things seems to have worsened! The 3days I was gone, he went from active, great appetite and healthy to not eating or pooping. He passed hard looking urates with a tiny speck of blood. I was worried but hoped it would pass. The next day, same thing. Today looked like 2 normal poops dried on his rock that I cleaned off. I had been force feeding him worried about him getting very sick not eating in days. I fed him three very small pieces of his greens and 3 tiny crickets. He pooped in his bath and here came out tiny undigested pieces of salad! After bath, he put his butt in his water dish and let out more poo, a green turd and a bit bigger speck of blood! I am very scared right now, what could he happening to him and why?? He doesnt skitter and dig around his tank as usual but he seems to still swim and claw around at bath time as well as alert and explorative during outdoor time. Yes, the basking spot does range from 105-110 cool side 80-90 degrees and has one of the best uvb tubes.

Also, one weird thing is he still does appear dehydrated despite his sink baths and water dish soaks. All of this is so frustrating and scary!!!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Are you using a digital probe or temp gun to measure his temps?
The cool end needs to be a little lower, it could be dehydrating him.
Have you gotten a fecal done yet on him? The blood could be straining, etc when going to the bathroom.
The urates are hard so that can cause straining, would cause blood sometimes.
Parasites or worms can also cause blood, too.
How old is Kadaj?

Tracie

 

[KarenInCA]

Poor guy. With humans, when we get diaharea, or anything like that, it dehydrates us. Have you also tried using pedialyte when bathing him, or gatorade? Some say that helps a lot and I know, at the very least, it can't hurt.

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

Thank you so much for answering. Sorry my reply is a bit late, been so busy.

I use a digital probe to measure temps and a dial hygrometer.
He appears to be more hydrated now since he started lapping up water and soaking in his dish. Apparently he was bunged up since he let a huge poo this morning when Justin bathed him but he still refuses to eat anything. He will close his eyes when crickets go near him and flick them off when they crawl. I dont know if he still had blood flecks in his huge poo this morning but he keeps losing weight and wont even touch greens. Humidity is roughly 30% he is a little more active now.

I will try getting some gatorade or pedialyte for his bath. Kadaj is 3 months old and will be 4 months early June. I have had him 25 days. 17 of those days, he was a voracious eater and had a good potty schedule going. He was also extremely active and curious. Its 6 more days at least until I get him to a vet.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I would get a fecal done to be sure he doesn't have worms or parasites.
What type of substrate are you using?
Have you tried pedialyte or gatorade to help with hydration yet? If he wont eat & is losing weight, I recommend getting either some chicken or turkey baby food along with some squash baby or sweet potato baby food, too.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

Hi Tracie,

I am going to get a fecal done as soon as Justin and I get money early June. l will see if my aunt will get some pedialyte or gatorade today. Th end of the month is the hardest time.

Not sure if I can get baby food but I can make a slurry out of Kadaj's greens, mangoes, and chicken in a blender or dissolve beardie pellets in water till the right consistency.

He is on plain paper as substrate.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That sounds fine, it will be nutritious for him. Did he like it?
How is he doing today, any improvements?
That is great you have Kadaj on paper for substrate instead of a loose substrate.
Keep us posted on him.

Tracie

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

I did manage to get Pedialyte and a syringe thingy at the pharmacy. He LOVED his pedialyte and water bath, even drinking some! I think its because I got the mango flavor.

As for the slurry I made, it was evening by the time I got done working for my aunt and my mom did not want anyone thawing out and cooking chicken. So in the blender, I added: His greens, mangoes, peas, applesauce, a tiny bit of bearded dragon pellet mush and the tiniest sprinkle of: Herpivite and Repti-Calcium. I am going to attempt to cook the chicken today and run it through the blender with water to get some more protein in him.

His attitude towards the homemade baby food is how he usually acts towards food now: utter refusal and giving me the beardie death glare. So I had to gently pry his little jaws open while Justin gently squirted it in his mouth. Ohhh he is driving me crazy with worry

5 more days of worry at the least until he goes to the vet to be fixed. Him losing weight is also scaring me to death.

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

Update: I walked 1-2 miles to get him some baby food. Did he like it? Of course not!!
He sems to hate all food no matter what it is. He probably hates me too for force feeding him. But I cannot let him starve to death either especially with him losing weight.

Baby Food I got him: (all Beechnut brand) Butternut squash, Sweet Potato, Turkey,
Apple & Blueberry, Banana Raspberry and Pear mix.

 

[KarenInCA]

You're a good dragon mommy. <3

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

Awww thank you <3 I try to be as good of a dragon mommy as I can. Its amazing how one tiny lizard can wreck me with so much worry. Losing my precious baby Shai years ago destroyed me. I pray Kadaj will be okay.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh I am glad that he loved his mango pedialyte fluids!
You walked to get him some baby food?
Yes, it is absolutely amazing how they can turn your life inside out & you love them so much that you can't imagine your life without them.
Kadaj is in good hands with you. The baby food items are fine, I hope he liked them just a little bit though.
He didn't like the slurry you made him before?
It's hard when you have to get them to open their mouth, but it is for his own good to get some nutrition into him.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

Hi Tracie,

Yes hes definitely stole my heart. I did not have a ride so yeah I walked to get his food. Bad news: I found another blood speck in his urate/poo yesterday. Also his lower lip is bruised in the very front because he fights so hard against being fed. It upsets me so much. I try not force feeding him unless he refuses to lick it off his snout. Even then he wont eat enough and it takes 45 mins to get him to lick his mouth 3x. Then his Exo-Terra bulb cant be used now and all I got is energy saver bulbs Thank goodness day after tomorrow is pay day.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

It can be very difficult to get them to take food from a syringe or dropper. Is he interested in food at all right now?
Sorry, but when was his last fecal? If you mentioned it I apologize. He is going to the vet soon right?
Is he able to have any basking heat right now? I hope you can get a new light soon. How are his colors looking?
That is awesome you walked to get him food, wow, so sweet.

Tracie

 

[KadajsMommynDaddy]

Hi Tracie,

He shows no interest in food, sometimes even giving horrible angry looks if he sees food or anyone eating. Poor baby

I have had him only a month now, so this will be the first chance I get to have a fecal done on him. His vet appointment is scheduled for Thursday at 5pm @ Banfield Animal Hospital. The reptile vet wont be in till Thurs. and doing surgery till late afternoon. Then she can see me. For the most part, he's a happy yellow looking color. I have been using a combination of sunlight, warm baths, body heat, and energy saver bulbs to try to keep him warm as possible. After his vet appointment, we will shop around for another bulb and better fixture.

Hearing about how the baby died after getting an injection to put fluids into them, I am worried if the vet wants to do similar to Kadaj. Is 4 months old enough to get fluids in the colelomic cavity?