Coughing up fluid?

[jacqui778]

I'm generally curious why Gem is doing this....

Last night, Gem started to cough. She had happy colors, no stress marks, but her beard was puffed up. She began to cough, and when she would cough, fluid would leak out of her mouth (water/saliva). I could see bubbles in the back of her throat, like there was more water back there.

Why on earth is she doing this? My first guess was, maybe there's fluid in her lungs or something.
Anywho.... shall I do the questions?

How old is your dragon? App. 1.8 yrs.
How long have you had your dragon? Since July 09
How long is your dragon? 17in
What is the sex of your dragon? Female
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 55gal
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? Tile
Do you use UVB lights? Yep
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? Fluor.
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)? ReptiSun 10.0
How old is your UVB bulb? New
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? 6in.
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? Yes-- Dayglo 150watt
What are the basking temps? 97*F
What is the cool side temp? 85*F
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? Digi+Probe
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? Middle of rock
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? Nope
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. Crickets, superworms, collard greens, lettuce (when we are sharing a salad, so as a snack), butternut squash
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? Afternoon (around 3) salad avaliabe all day
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? Pet store does, she eats them immediately
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? Yes, Repti-Vite 2x-wk, .3cc's of liquid calcium everyday (still recovering from severe MBD)Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? Yep.
Do you bath your dragon? How often? Yep, everyday.
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? No. Her veggies are wet, though. Dunno if that applies.
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon? No.
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? Yes, all clean.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

I would take her to the vet ASAP!! It sounds like she could have a RI !!! Best of luck to you!!

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hi Jacqui.... Poor girl... it does sound as if Gem could have a respiratory infection
You might want to take her in and have her checked out.
It probably would be a good idea also to get Gem's basking temps up a bit... maybe to 100 degrees.

How long has she been like this?

 

[jacqui778]

Hi Jacqui.... Poor girl... it does sound as if Gem could have a respiratory infection
You might want to take her in and have her checked out.
It probably would be a good idea also to get Gem's basking temps up a bit... maybe to 100 degrees.

How long has she been like this?

She's only done it twice now, both at nighttime. Hasn't done it since. Thursday and Friday night.

I've been PMing Tracie, and we're pondering if maybe Gem had something go down the wrong way, or maybe she's just throwing a tantrum of some sort. I'm wondering if maybe she just absorbed too much water one night. She won't let me look in her mouth. There's no mucus or discharge. I'll get an opinion from my friend's mother, who is Gem's vet, on whether or not I should bring her in.

What should I do for her?

Jacqui

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jacqui,

I thought I would weigh in on your thread too, if that is ok with you.
What you can do now, is just in case she may have a respiratory issue starting, try to keep her tank a little warmer at night, say, around 80 or so, just to help boost her immune system a little bit. Keep her humidity down in the tank to under 30% right now, as well.
I agree, perhaps increase the basking to around 100, or 102 around there if she will tolerate that. It might help zap whatever issue might be cropping up without any other intervention.
Your setup is great. How is the liquid calcium helping her out?

Tracie

 

[jacqui778]

Hello Tracie! Of course you may join! :mrgreen:

I will get on raising her night temp. I have a question-- is there any device for changing the direction a light socket faces? Gem's light bulb is sideways. :| If I could make it to face downward, I could get her a CHE. And I wouldn't need such high-wattage bulbs!

The liquid calcium has been doing wonders for her! I got a 4oz bottle, so I'm good for awhile. She doesn't much like taking her medicine, but I do it in the morning when she's sleepy and doesn't notice/care. Then I coo over her ("AWWW, you're SUCH a good girl, Miss Gem! SUCH a good girl!" ) and put her in her viv. :laughing6:

Another Q: Should I let her brumate this year? She's beginning to show the signs of it; but if she still has health issues, should I let her sleep all winter?

Jacqui

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Jacqui,

What type of fixture do you have Gem's light in? If it is a permanent fixture... you could always try getting a clamp lamp(ceramic fitting) for the CHE.

I would personally not let her brumate if she is dealing with health issues... I'm sure Tracie would agree with that also.
You could let her do somewhat of a semi-brumation, by allowing her to sleep on and off through the day as she pleases. For the most part though treat her like you always do with lights, feeding and bathing. This is pretty much what Rex does. Just sleeps alot, but every other aspect of life is still the same.
With Gem trying to get over MBD and needing the liquid calcium... she should probably still get her uvb and calcium. I would just hate to see her go backwards when you have done so much to get her where she is. Just my 2 cents!

 

[jacqui778]

Jacqui,

What type of fixture do you have Gem's light in? If it is a permanent fixture... you could always try getting a clamp lamp(ceramic fitting) for the CHE.

I would personally not let her brumate if she is dealing with health issues... I'm sure Tracie would agree with that also.
You could let her do somewhat of a semi-brumation, by allowing her to sleep on and off through the day as she pleases. For the most part though treat her like you always do with lights, feeding and bathing. This is pretty much what Rex does. Just sleeps alot, but every other aspect of life is still the same.
With Gem trying to get over MBD and needing the liquid calcium... she should probably still get her uvb and calcium. I would just hate to see her go backwards when you have done so much to get her where she is. Just my 2 cents!

Yes, the fixture is a permanent socket in her viv hood. I've contemplated taking it off and putting a clamp lamp, but then it just looks silly with the top open and sliding glass doors on the side. Plus the cat would get in (not that he doesn't get in anyway, he knows how to open the doors). Maybe I could prop up the hood with pieces of wood and clamp on the lamp there....? I'll toy around with ideas and see what I come up with. This viv was a problem when Reggie inhabited it, too. Dang thing.

Semi-brumation is what she's in now. I haven't changed anything, just given her a hide and a fleece blankie. Sometimes, when I come home, she's up and basking-- other times, she's under the blanket napping. I've been slowing down on the feeding, as she isn't as eager, but I'll attempt to pick up again if you all agree it would be better. I guess a semi-brumation was something I'd intended to do for her all along. :dontknow:

So far, she's been fine, along the lines of coughing. She has been getting testy though. :roll: Moreso than usual, I mean. She's currently sleeping with her head on her rock and the rest of her wrapped in her blankie. Why does she avoid being comfortable at all costs?!

Jacqui