discolored urates but normal behavior

[arcayde]

hello! over the past week or so my beardies urates have been a bit discolored. end of last week it kind of had a purple color? which I can't find much on. the last few days it's been a very light pink color.
concerning for obvious reasons, but her overall attitude hasn't changed at all. she eats just fine, runs around just fine, happy and bright and smiling as I type this.
took her to the vet yesterday only to be told that it was not worth her spending the time to properly check her out, as she seems fine, the non-exotic doctor had to do her best at suggesting tests. I get its not an EMERGENCY but it really irritates me and worked up our nerves, as we have to wait until tomorrow for a vet appointment elsewhere.
I'm sure she's not in a like, dire situation, the color is very light and she's not actively struggling or sick , but in my OCD mind it's a ticking time bomb before something really bad happens.
like I said, heading to the vet tomorrow, just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about perhaps her calcium and such. I admit her uvb is in need of replacement as of recently, got one on the way already, just wondering if perhaps that is an issue? she eats mostly collard/mustard/turnip greens and dubia roaches. baskng temp around 100.

thanks!!

I can't think of anything different she's eaten.

 

[KarrieRee]

hello! over the past week or so my beardies urates have been a bit discolored. end of last week it kind of had a purple color? which I can't find much on. the last few days it's been a very light pink color.
concerning for obvious reasons, but her overall attitude hasn't changed at all. she eats just fine, runs around just fine, happy and bright and smiling as I type this.
took her to the vet yesterday only to be told that it was not worth her spending the time to properly check her out, as she seems fine, the non-exotic doctor had to do her best at suggesting tests. I get its not an EMERGENCY but it really irritates me and worked up our nerves, as we have to wait until tomorrow for a vet appointment elsewhere.
I'm sure she's not in a like, dire situation, the color is very light and she's not actively struggling or sick , but in my OCD mind it's a ticking time bomb before something really bad happens.
like I said, heading to the vet tomorrow, just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about perhaps her calcium and such. I admit her uvb is in need of replacement as of recently, got one on the way already, just wondering if perhaps that is an issue? she eats mostly collard/mustard/turnip greens and dubia roaches. baskng temp around 100.

thanks!!

I can't think of anything different she's eaten.

What are you feeding for supplements?

 

[arcayde]

What are you feeding for supplements?

she reluctantly takes calcium powder and I have some beardie buffet, she enjoys collard greens, most recently eating mustard greens and dubia roaches.

 

[arcayde]

she reluctantly takes calcium powder and I have some beardie buffet, she enjoys collard greens, most recently eating mustard greens and dubia roaches.

ahh, I probably should specified repashys beardie buffet, sorry!

 

[Sue E.]

If you can post a pic, it would be helpful! AHBD is our resident poopologist, among others lol. I cant even tell you how many dragon poop pics I have on my phone haha...if someone grabbed my phone, theyd think I have issues! But we see and post poop pics alllll the time

 

[arcayde]

If you can post a pic, it would be helpful! AHBD is our resident poopologist, among others lol. I cant even tell you how many dragon poop pics I have on my phone haha...if someone grabbed my phone, theyd think I have issues! But we see and post poop pics alllll the time

I gotcha! I took one of the poop i collected from today, planning to have the vet check it out tomorrow to see about parasites, they've been a bit runny recently

 

[arcayde]

I gotcha! I took one of the poop i collected from today, planning to have the vet check it out tomorrow to see about parasites, they've been a bit runny recently

meant to add on that she's been real picky recently with water, I assume it's due to her shedding her lips at the moment

 

[Sue E.]

I gotcha! I took one of the poop i collected from today, planning to have the vet check it out tomorrow to see about parasites, they've been a bit runny recently

@AHBD
@xp29

 

[Claudiusx]

AHBD is our resident poopologist

Oh boy.. LOL, yeah you can have that title @AHBD

Poo doesn't look too bad. Maybe a little loose.

she's not actively struggling or sick , but in my OCD mind it's a ticking time bomb before something really bad happens.

We see this a lot, and it's a bad way to go about things, no offense. A lot of times, over-worried beardie parents take their dragons to the vet and almost demand some type of treatment, causing a perfectly normal and healthy dragon to get put on harsh parasite meds or antibiotics. That's when actual issues arrise.

If you have no reason to take your dragon to a vet, don't. Verify that your husbandry is proper, and provide a healthy and varied diet.

To directly answer your question, off-colored urates are caused by over supplementation (your vet isn't going to help with that), certain food items you feed your feeder insects (once again, not a vet issue) and sometimes slight dehydration.

-Brandon

 

[arcayde]

Oh boy.. LOL, yeah you can have that title @AHBD

Poo doesn't look too bad. Maybe a little loose.


We see this a lot, and it's a bad way to go about things, no offense. A lot of times, over-worried beardie parents take their dragons to the vet and almost demand some type of treatment, causing a perfectly normal and healthy dragon to get put on harsh parasite meds or antibiotics. That's when actual issues arrise.

If you have no reason to take your dragon to a vet, don't. Verify that your husbandry is proper, and provide a healthy and varied diet.

To directly answer your question, off-colored urates are caused by over supplementation (your vet isn't going to help with that), certain food items you feed your feeder insects (once again, not a vet issue) and sometimes slight dehydration.

-Brandon

understood! I appreciate your input, no offense taken. I know I tend to overreact about it, I figured a fecal test would probably be fine as long as nothing else is an obvious concern. thank you!

 

[arcayde]

understood! I appreciate your input, no offense taken. I know I tend to overreact about it, I figured a fecal test would probably be fine as long as nothing else is an obvious concern. thank you!

oh also as for the vet stuff I mentioned, everything about it not being a dire emergency is understandable, I was just really put off by the way she had chosen to go about letting us know, considering the doctor who was there didnt have an answer to why we were suddenly turned away after being told to come in

 

[xp29]

I agree with Brandon.
Beardies are like having kids, with the first one you fret and worry about every little thing, after having a couple you relax and only sweat the serious stuff.

 

[Claudiusx]

That's understandable. Most non-exotic vets really don't know what they are doing when it comes to exotics because it's not what they typically see. It's better for a vet not comfortable with an animal to recommend someone else.

-Brandon

 

[arcayde]

I agree with Brandon.
Beardies are like having kids, with the first one you fret and worry about every little thing, after having a couple you relax and only sweat the serious stuff.

hahaha I believe this 100%, she's been my only one so far and man do I feel like a first time mom stressing over every little thing

 

[arcayde]

That's understandable. Most non-exotic vets really don't know what they are doing when it comes to exotics because it's not what they typically see. It's better for a vet not comfortable with an animal to recommend someone else.

-Brandon

oh yeah, if anything she seemed absolutely amazed by dova hahah. thank you!!