Buffy is coughing ASAP

[aprilstar412]

like 3 days ago ive heard a werid odd sound coming from buffy cages i look over and she is coughing i was like bearded dragons cough i didnt no that and i work at a pet store. so anyways what can i doo to help my poor buffy before its to late i really can afford a vet right now or else i would take her any home ideas i can do? like when i take a shower should she be in the bathroom with me . like a nebulizer or no? and the odd thing is if i turn her uvb light off she starts coughing and whn i turn it on she stop advice please thank you

 

[Claudiusx]

Honestly even though you can't afford it, buffy needs to get to a vet. Coughing is a sign of something bad happening in buffys respitory system and I would have to advise against exposing buffy to more moisture. In fact I would try to keep it pretty dry where she is. At least until you can get to a vet or someone on here with more experience with illnesses says otherwise.
Some vets will have an option where you can pay them later if they know that the animal needs treatment now. Especially if you know your vet and have been there in the past.

Do you mist your dragons cage/dragon?
How often, if at all, do you bath your dragon?
Basking temps? Measured with digital with a probe thermometer?
Diet?
Normally healthy?

good luck.

-Brandon

 

[aprilstar412]

I do not mist buffy cage at all or bath her, and she eats what she usually eats, lettus, fruit, beared dragon pelts, breaded dragon can food, crickets and a small mouse everyonce in a while. the temt. is usaully around 85 to 95. ls time i took mysnake to the vet it was like $400! and he ddnt even live there is nothing at home i can do?

 

[Claudiusx]

You need to raise the basking temperature to around 100-105 degrees. And this should be measured with either a temp gun or a digital thermometer with a probe.

Is buffy still coughing?
I wouldn't feed mice to a bearded dragon at all. There is no need to it is hard on a beardies system.
Instead of lettuce, which no nutritional value try something from here: http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

For now is it possible to stop feeding her that canned food and try some feeder insects and a good salad that the above site recomends?
Also don'to forget to get that basking temperature up to the 100's that is very important. They need a basking temperature that hot to digest food properly. Cool side of tank should be around 80 degrees.
good luck and check back in with us.
I still think your best bet is to go to the vet but I understand sometimes you just can't.

-Brandon

 

[aprilstar412]

Ok thank you i will check the website out now,
I heard it was good for them to eat mice but if its going to cause her problems then im gonna stop.also another thing i forgot to menchin she does has a heating rock but its a good one tht wont burn her. Shes been sitting on the rock and in the light. she only moves to get a drink of water. Im not a 100% sure if she is still coughing because im just so worryed if i turn her lights off that she is going to die. Also She feels kinda congested and she has her head held high and he eyes shut.
my poor baby u can tell she doesnt feel good.
=(

 

[fez09]

If she has congestion that's a possible Respiritory Imfection and unfortunately she will need to see a vet for medication...If left un-treated it could kill her. Have you noticed any drainage or liquid around her nose or mouth?

 

[aprilstar412]

Nope no snokey nose, or crusty eyes

 

[Claudiusx]

Just a note about heat rocks. Beardies can't feel heat from underneath them and need to be feeling it from above. If the heat is underneath them they will sit there for hours not knowing how hot the rock actually is and that could do damage. Its best just to have a normal rock and raise the temperature to 100-105.

Unfortunately as i already stated before. That sounds like a respiratory problem and as Katrina pointed out, really does need to be taken care of by a vet.

-Brandon

 

[aprilstar412]

o thank you for your help also another question if it is, can my other bearded dragon rex catch it? nd rex is small for his age any advvice to get hhim givver he is the size of a 6 month other about 3 inch from head t base tail with tail 6 inches.

 

[Claudiusx]

Sounds like he is undernourished. How often do you feed him, what do you feed him, what is his setup look like?

It really will be worth your time if you spend a day or so going through all the information this site has to offer. It will help out your beardies a ton and will help them live happier lives.

Post all you can about his setup, even if it doesn't sound important then we can help you from there.

-Brandon

 

[aprilstar412]

Well right now he is in a 20 gal tank, He has a long that he can go in a out off , and a heatrock which i will tke out since its not good for them he also gets a lamp and uvb uva lighting also. The food and water bowl is on the other side away from the liging. his tank is the same as buffys with heating and i feed him everyday and he always has water.
Also ive been using grind walnut shells as sand what can i change into cuz from what im hearing thats not good at all. Ive used play sand but Buffy HATES playsand. and paper will get sheded up if i put it in. any advice on flooring lol

and he cant catch the cough to can he?

 

[fez09]

YIKES, please take the walnut out ASAP, that can cause impaction! You can use paper towels until you can get some tiles or shelf liner...What type of UVB do you have and how old is it (name brand) I would also take the water dish out of the cage for the time being, that can raise the humidity. What are they fed and how many bugs do they eat per day?? Are you using calcium??

 

[Claudiusx]

Its not really a cough, its a respiratory infection, the cough is just a side affect of it it seems.

You really need to work on changing lots of things with your husbandry. Im sorry but there is lots wrong.

if anything please read through a couple of these http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/ and read through the enclosure section on the forums so you can help out your beardies.

Crushed walnut is very bad for beardies. It would be better to house them on newspaper, paper towels for the mean time (both of your beardies) Slate tile is amazing. It costs probably $7 to get enough to fill a tank and it will never have to be replaced unless you break it or something. You just wipe the tile clean after a poo and your good to go. Unlike how walnut shells/sand is basicly just like a literbox your beardie is living in.

Get your beardies basking lights and it would help if you picked up an acurite digital thermometer from walmart to check that the basking temps are in check.

Do you dust your feeders with calcium and gutload them before they are fed?

There is really so much info to cover and its really difficult to cover it all. Please read through the different sections on this forum it will help you out tons!
Good luck (sorry if im sounding harsh but it doesn't sound like the beardies are living in optimal living conditions. Im not blaming you either since you probably heard wrong from a petstore but head my advice, read and learn from this forum )

-Brandon

 

[Claudiusx]

PS listen to Katrina, she is very knowledgeable and is only trying to help you and your beardies out.

-Brandon

 

[aprilstar412]

thank you again for the all the information, Buffy is my very first bearded dragon and i just want what is best for her i hope she can make it til my pay day cuz i really dont want her to die. i am deff. taking the walnut shell out asap. where can i find the tile and does it matter what kind'?
thank you once again you two are very helpful.

BTW do you have any idea what kind of Medication Buffy would need. Like names?