Hello,
I agree, many times too many medications, etc are given for something that could be easily fixed
with home remedies & some tweaking of husbandry issues.
Let us know how things are going!
Tracie
She is constantly dehydrated
How are you determining that she is dehydrated?
-Brandon
Wrinkly skin (not visible in pic), sunken face (visible in pic),
Common myths. Wrinkly skin, sunken face (eyes), droopy eyelids, are not methods able to determine hydration status.I sort of thought that was implicit,
Common myths. Wrinkly skin, sunken face (eyes), droopy eyelids, are not methods able to determine hydration status.
Outside of a vet doing bloodwork (which it sounds like your vet didn't do... if they did, please post the results) the only way to check hydration at home is by watching the bowel movements and urates. Typically, if the BM's are moist, the dragon is NOT dehydrated.
Sunken eyes are genetic, and/or caused by a loss of fat stores in the body. Can you do a full body picture from overhead so we can better assess the fat stores at the base of the tail and the base of the head?
Loss of fat stores typically indicate organ failure (or damage) if not caused by lack of appetite and eating.
No one here is anti-vet, but many of us on here have seen hundreds upon hundreds of dragons that just needed a slight husbandry adjustment (or some reassuring words to not worry to the owner) that end up going to vets and getting prescribed medications and injections that are totally not necessary. Often times causing more harm than good. I'd be cautious with your vets advice based on what i've seen so far in this thread.
Next time your dragon poos, post a picture of it for us please.
-Brandon
Thanks! What is the thinking behind the fruit juice? I've stayed away from things are that sugary. Her name is NariSorry to hear that she has ADV, she doesn't look thin or dehydrated but her face shows the strain, she looks very tired. Treatment for the parasites was an extra unfortunate blow to her, was she on meds very long ? It sounds like you've been caring for her the best way and very attentive to her. You might try non citrus pure fruit juice at times added to her water to see if she likes it or a small amount of raw honey. BTW , what is her name ?
Hello,
You can use it in small amounts. How much food is she eating, are you giving food via syringe or is she eating on her own?
Be sure she is getting adequate vegetation at least several times weekly.
How do her fat pads look are they puffy or do they appear sunken down?
Tracie
That's possible, but the urate would still be able to give some indication of hydration status even with runny stools. After you take a picture of her next BM, examine that urate. Squish it.. it should be firm but soft. If it is, hydration levels are likely fine. Hard and chalky would be more indicative of dehydration. Pay attention to the color of the urate too. If its a little off white thats fine, but if it's colored that's typically a sign of oversupplementation.I suspect she is just passing it without absorbing a lot of it, but I am not sure. I think it's tough to know anything about her hydration in her body by looking at the poops because of this - we don't know if it's actually being absorbed.
They definitely get used to things being a certain way. It's actually VERY COMMON for a dragon that is hand fed/syringe fed, to become lazy in that sense. We actually typically have to coach people on how to get their dragons back to eating on their own after an illness that caused syringe feedings. It's not because they forgot (which implies they are dumb) but because they are smart... they'd prefer their food be squeezed right into their mouth as opposed to "hunting" for it. Like I said, very common and a funny insight into how their brains and personalities workI can tell that she is hungry - she eats the food we syringe feed her, and gives us signals when she has had enough. It really does seem like they "forget how to eat" - they get used to things being a certain way.
More pics attached. Maybe tough to see in the pictures, but the base of her tail does look bony and you can see her spine. To me, that's underweight.
She is about 330 grams at one year old
That's possible, but the urate would still be able to give some indication of hydration status even with runny stools. After you take a picture of her next BM, examine that urate. Squish it.. it should be firm but soft. If it is, hydration levels are likely fine. Hard and chalky would be more indicative of dehydration. Pay attention to the color of the urate too. If its a little off white thats fine, but if it's colored that's typically a sign of oversupplementation.
They definitely get used to things being a certain way. It's actually VERY COMMON for a dragon that is hand fed/syringe fed, to become lazy in that sense. We actually typically have to coach people on how to get their dragons back to eating on their own after an illness that caused syringe feedings. It's not because they forgot (which implies they are dumb) but because they are smart... they'd prefer their food be squeezed right into their mouth as opposed to "hunting" for it. Like I said, very common and a funny insight into how their brains and personalities work
I'm not seeing the extra pictures. 330 grams is within the realm of normal for a one year old IMO. What's more important is how her weight has been trending. IF you haven't, start weighing her weekly just to verify it's not dropping.
-Brandon
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