Care of sick dragon question

[Krisymof2]

Well I'm pretty sure I'm going to bring home the sick dragon from Petsupermarket, the one I talk about in this thread...http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=97401

So I thought I would ask my questions before hand so I'm not all rushed when I do get her home...I know she needs to go get x-rays and a fecal done from the vet, but besides that what would be the best diet, etc for her?

I have all kinds of products (Jumpstart, Reptiaid, Panacur, & Beautiful dragons Mulyivitamin w/ Probiotics) I'm just not sure what would be the best to give her and how ofter. My thoughts were to feed her some Jumpstart with chicken babyfood at least once a day, and the Multi w/ probiotics at least once a day (but not both at the same feeding).

Then I've seen alot of people on here use Reptiaid, is this product going to be better than something the vet might give me that could possibly cause kidney or liver damage?


Thanks in advance. I just want to make sure that if I go through all this to get her that I do everything I can to make her better.

 

[Krisymof2]

Anyone?

 

[K9KidsLove]

Hi...I am glad you are able to adopt that dragon.

Don't use any Panacur til she has had a fecal to see if she needs it.

Once you get her a MVB or a ReptiSun 10 (NOT ReptiGlo) fluorescent bulb and get her temps right, and get her hydrated, she might perk up. If you need to get a new bulb, http://www.PetMountain.com seems to have the best prices. You can get fixtures cheaper in Home Depot or Walmart than at a pet store.

Regular household bulbs are just as good as the specialty expensivet bulbs.

How long is she from nose to tip of tail?
Do they know how old she is?
What size tank is she going into? She needs a minimum of 40 gallon breeder tank. It is wider than the regular tanks. It is better than a 55 gallon which isn't wide enough.
She only needs the vitamins once a day, once or twice a week. And she needs the calcium 5 days a week for one feeding if she is still young. If she is an adult, she only needs it 2 or 3 times a week.

When you get the chicken babyfood, get some squash or green beans to go with it. You can mix the Jumpstart with it to syringe to her.

Let us know how she adjusts to her new home
Good luck
Patsy

 

[Krisymof2]

I don't know if they are going to lower the price of her yet, but if they do then I'm bringing her home.

I'm still looking for a tank/cage, but as of right now I have a 10gal for her that will be better than her current environment.

I just ordered the bulbs from Pet mountain yesterday, figured if I don't get her than I will just have some back-ups.

I'm not sure how old she is and I know they don't know either, but she is about 18-19" long. She just laid eggs (infertile) so that might give an indication to her age.

The reason I was asking about extra supplements is because she just laid eggs last sunday and she has not been eating (according to them, although they wouldn't let me feed her chicken babyfood either), and when I go see her she barely lifts her head or opens her eyes when I hold her. So I was thinking she probably needs some additional supplements.

***Also when I pick her up, her arms just curl inward and when I try to place her on my chest she doesn't move her arms to hold on, they are just folded in (correct me if I'm worng but isn't this a sign of hypocalcemia??). ***

 

[MALIBUSMOM]

10 gallons will be good for her crickets.it will be NOT bigger enough for a adult beardie.You can get a large rubbermaid container at walmart for about $ 20.00.

 

[Krisymof2]

I know that a 10gal is NOT big enough for an adult. I was going to use it temporarily until I could find something bigger just to get her in a better environment. I linked the first thread that describes what is going on.

I have beardies and they all have their own 4x2x2 viv's but I CAN'T afford another cage like that right now. But I feel like if I don't get her out of the pet store she is going to DIE. Please read the original thread.

 

[MALIBUSMOM]

Sorry...i was simply stating a 10 gall. is not efficiant housing for an adult.A 10 gal.is 20" long if she is 15" I don't
see how she would even live there temporarely.

 

[NegativeCreep]

Yes, a rubbermade container would be fine to use temporarily; in fact, better than a 10 gallon tank.

If you are concerned about MBD, then you should invest in a Mercury Vapor Bulb like the MegaRay or T-Rex. These provide the absolute best UVB exposure (not even the ReptiSun 10.0's are as good). Look into getting some liquid calcium with is better absorbed by the body. Even without the threat of MBD, she just laid eggs, so she needs calcium and UVB badly. The eggs deplete her calcium.

I would avoid dosing her with any meds until you can get a vet to look at her (even the reptaid).

 

[K9KidsLove]

Hi...You are right...it sounds like maybe hypocalcemia and dehydration. However, because she is in such bad shape you really need to get her a rubbermaid type tote instead of even using a 10 gal for temporary. Walmart has some adequate sized ones for less than $20. She probably doesn't have the proper UVB and heat either. I realize you want to get her out of a bad situation, but she can't get well if she isn't put into the correct situation. You can't make her a basking side & a cool side in a 10 gal tank.

Your intentions are honorable, but you may be out a good amount of money and have a dead dragon if you can't get her set up right. Good that you are getting a good bulb...ReptiSun10 or MVB?
Let us know what happens
Good luck
Patsy

 

[Krisymof2]

I actually have MVB's in my current viv's. I was planning on taking one out and putting in the ReptiSun 10 with my healthy dragon until I can afford to get another MVB, because I figure she needs the MVB more.

I'm still looking for a cage. If I have to I will use a rubbermaid from walmart. I was offered a free 15gal long from a friend and the 20gal long from the reptile store are $40 which I CAN afford, but I will see what happens.

The corperate office didn't call me back today like they were supposed to, of course they are closed. So I will see what happens on Monday. I called and spoke with the manager today, and he told me that, "she is fine, she was out running around" he also said that had not taken her to the vet and they weren't going to because, "She is fine". So I went and checked on her myself, she did look a slight bit better, at least sitting on her log, but that doesn't mean anything.

 

[NegativeCreep]

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense about trading the MVBs for the reptisun. I would do the same thing..
Unfortunately since they are so powerful, you have to get her into a large enough tank to use the MVB - at least 40L.

I didn't look to see what area you are from (and it may not have said), but check craigslist for the nearest metro area to you. There are always good deals to be had (except for in Tulsa! :lol: ) on reptile cages and such. Maybe someone on here would have a good lead on a cheap cage for you.. who knows. Just don't stop looking.

Its not surprise that the petstore is acting the way they are, but the sad fact of the matter is that once they sell the current BD, they will probably get another one - and treat it the same way...