Bloodshot Eyes!

[lambertsl3]

Hello. I'm writing about my 1.5 year old female beardie, Wasabi. Today I noticed that her eyes are pretty bloodshot, and my boyfriend said he thinks they also may be sunken in a bit, but I can't really tell. Her eyes are normally bright and beautiful, so this is definitely out of the norm. She has been eating just fine, her salad consists of kale, yellow squash, blackberries, and carrots. She has been eating her crickets and mealworms as well. She has been very active today and in seemingly high spirits. However, I did notice that her feces today was much MUCH less than usual. I figured it was because she defecated before she ate. She is currently shedding, if that makes any difference. I gave her a bath yesterday to help with the shedding process. She is in a 40 gal tank and she has UVB, but has currently been back on her old compact coil UVB light until I get a new Zoomed bulb for her 24in UVB. She should be getting it this week. The basking side is around 87-90 degrees. Her cool side has a dark area under her loft that stays dark. About a year ago, she was diagnosed with parasites and coccidia, but was put on medications and has since been free of that. So I know that isn't what is wrong. I need to know if any beardie experts suggests me taking her to the vet tomorrow, or if you think it has anything to do with the UVB or her shedding. I've attached photos of her enclosure and some of her eyes. The purple around her mouth was from the blackberries she had just eaten.

 

[diamc]

Her eyes do look bloodshot. Would it be possible to post a picture of how her eyes looked before so we can make a comparison? They also do look a little sunken. How long have they looked like this? Are you keeping her well hydrated by bathing her and also offering oral fluids? How often do you do both of these?

Is there any particular reason why you are using the compact coil rather than the Repti-Sun strip fluorescent bulb, that's what you had been using, right? Since the compact coils have been known to cause eye issues, I would suggest that you go back to using the fluorescent tube even if it is older than 6 months old until you get your new one. What was the distance of the compact coil bulb? Had you been using the basking bulb and compact coil alongside each other?

You mentioned that the basking side temp is around 87 to 90 degrees, is that the basking surface temp? If so, that's actually too low as they need a minimum of 95 degrees in order to digest properly. Since your beardie is about 1 1/2 yrs old, I would recommend a basking temp of 100 to about 103 or so. What type of thermometer are you using and where exactly are you measuring the temps?

 

[lambertsl3]

Her eyes do look bloodshot. Would it be possible to post a picture of how her eyes looked before so we can make a comparison? They also do look a little sunken. How long have they looked like this? Are you keeping her well hydrated by bathing her and also offering oral fluids? How often do you do both of these?

Is there any particular reason why you are using the compact coil rather than the Repti-Sun strip fluorescent bulb, that's what you had been using, right? Since the compact coils have been known to cause eye issues, I would suggest that you go back to using the fluorescent tube even if it is older than 6 months old until you get your new one. What was the distance of the compact coil bulb? Had you been using the basking bulb and compact coil alongside each other?

You mentioned that the basking side temp is around 87 to 90 degrees, is that the basking surface temp? If so, that's actually too low as they need a minimum of 95 degrees in order to digest properly. Since your beardie is about 1 1/2 yrs old, I would recommend a basking temp of 100 to about 103 or so. What type of thermometer are you using and where exactly are you measuring the temps?

Sadly I don't have any recent photos of her close enough to see her eyes... I recently had a hard drive failure and lost all my photos. The only photo I can find that close is from about a year ago...

It has only looked red today, yesterday they were fine. She gets misted daily and I even let the water drip over her mouth and she will drink it. I rise her veggies before giving them to her, so they are wet. She gets a bath about once a week. The only reason I'm currently using the compact is because the strip light burned out. I have it on order and will be getting it within 2-5 days. Yes, I've been using the basking bulb and compact coil alongside each other. The 90 degrees was the basking surface temp, but that is with a really basic thermometer, not digital. I'm planning on buying a digital thermometer soon, probably Friday.

Are you thinking the eye issues may be due to the UVB?

 

[lambertsl3]

I just went to check on my beardie and noticed a drop of what appears to be blood on the floor of her tank. I've inspected her and cannot figure out where it came from. This really worries me with her having these bloodshot eyes.

 

[diamc]

Actually, yes, I am thinking that the change in her eyes might be from the compact UVB. If it was me, I would turn that UVB light off for a few days to give her eyes a rest and see if you notice any difference. Being without any UVB for a few days and even up to a wk, will not cause any problems and would actually be safer rather than using the compact one. Even though Frances Baines is updating her site regarding the best and worst UVB's on the market, I would like you to read this very important and scary info that she posted. She is the expert on UVB's and tests each & every one of them then shares the info on her site. http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm The new picture you just posted does show quite a difference in the appearance of her eyes.

It sounds like you might be using a round gauge (dial) type thermometer, those can actually be off as much as 20 degrees. The only 2 ways to get accurate readings are with either an infrared temperature gun or digital thermometer with long wire & probe end. Walmart has the AcuRite brand digital with probe that will give basking & cool side temp at the same time as well as the humidity level and it only costs about $12.00. I would suggest that you get a good thermometer asap so you know what the temps really are. In the meantime, it would be a good idea to bathe her at least 3 times a wk to help with her shed and her slightly sunken eyes. A 15 to 20 minute bath is very beneficial for good hydration. Here's a link to the AcuRite thermometer so that you can see what it looks like: http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instruments-Acu-Rite-Thermometer-Humidity/dp/B001BO8CUE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1329705555&sr=8-6

 

[diamc]

I just went to check on my beardie and noticed a drop of what appears to be blood on the floor of her tank. I've inspected her and cannot figure out where it came from. This really worries me with her having these bloodshot eyes.

Oh dear, does it appear to have come from her eyes? Is she still awake?

 

[lambertsl3]

I just went to check on my beardie and noticed a drop of what appears to be blood on the floor of her tank. I've inspected her and cannot figure out where it came from. This really worries me with her having these bloodshot eyes.

Oh dear, does it appear to have come from her eyes? Is she still awake?

She is still awake and fully active. She found a few crickets that were hiding from her and just had a ball going after them. It doesn't look like it's coming from her eyes, but I can't find any other part of her body where it can be coming from. It is a sticky drop, so I'm not thinking her urine has blood in it, or it would have been much more of a liquid, I would think?

Here's a photo:

http://i42.tinypic.com/212ac7q.jpg

And a couple more photos I just took of her:

(Anyone have any good advice on how to get blackberry juice off of her? We seriously wipe off her mouth multiple times a day but it stains her.)

You know, I have noticed something different about her today. She has been looking at herself through the glass and "bucking" at her reflection. Something I haven't seen her do before. Also, she keeps looking at her crickets through her glass and trying to run into the glass to get them, instead of turning around and actually seeing them behind her. I found this to be strange behavior, but just now connected it to her eye issues.

I'm really hoping that the vet is open tomorrow, because we just had a snow storm and there's a chance the roads will be too bad. :/

 

[Esther19]

Is there any chance the sticky red drop could be fruit juice?

 

[lambertsl3]

Is there any chance the sticky red drop could be fruit juice?

I wish it was, I had already cleaned out her tank a few hours ago from her berry mess. And this was on the opposite side of the tank from her food dish.

 

[lambertsl3]

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=92406

A friend found this thread for me, and I think it may be related. I'm keeping the coil UVB light off until the new ReptiSun 10.0 bulb comes in. If the roads are clear in the morning, we're taking her to the herp vet.

 

[diamc]

I think leaving the coil light off is a good idea. Also good that you're taking her to the vet to be checked just to be safe.

You mentioned that she's been running into the glass. Do you suppose that she's hit the glass hard enough to pop some blood vessels in her eyes? You might want to cover part of the tank so she can't see her reflection for now.

As far as the blueberry stains go, perhaps using a vegetable oil on a paper towel would take it off, just make sure you don't get it into her eyes.

Please let us know how you make out at the vets. Sending good thoughts your way.

 

[lambertsl3]

I think leaving the coil light off is a good idea. Also good that you're taking her to the vet to be checked just to be safe.

You mentioned that she's been running into the glass. Do you suppose that she's hit the glass hard enough to pop some blood vessels in her eyes? You might want to cover part of the tank so she can't see her reflection for now.

As far as the blueberry stains go, perhaps using a vegetable oil on a paper towel would take it off, just make sure you don't get it into her eyes.

Please let us know how you make out at the vets. Sending good thoughts your way.

Thank you for the good thoughts. I just got back from the vet and this is what she told me. She said that it is normal for a beardie to have some red in their eyes every now and then, since the blood vessel goes through their eyes. Sometimes it's more noticeable. So that didn't explain the drop of blood, so the doctor examined every part of Wasabi's body, (her mouth, toes, etc.) She believes Wasabi may have cut her mouth while she was running into the sides of the tank yesterday. I think another possibility could be she may have fallen off her loft on accident and hit her mouth. Her loft is rather new, only a few days, so she is still getting used to using the ramp. She thinks she could have either cut her mouth or possibly chipped or lost a tooth. She says the bright redness of the blood means it either came from her mouth or nose, and while it could have come out of her eyes, it's not as likely. She thinks her eyes are okay, and I even noticed a decrease in the red in her eyes just since I've thrown out the coil UVB. The doctor says she doesn't think such short-term use of the coil could have caused eye problems, but I'm not taking a chance anymore with that coil and it's in my trashcan. She is currently without UVB until at the latest, Friday.

The doc wants me to keep a watchful eye over her for a few days, and if she has anymore eye issues or blood, to bring her back for more examining and x-rays. The doctor told me she thinks Wasabi may also be constipated from some winged crickets Petco sold me a couple weeks ago (Never again, Petco.) So hopefully all that clears up and my beardie can go back to her happy healthy self.

Thanks everyone for the help, and if anything seems to continue going wrong, I'll come back and update.