Dizzie this time! Pooping Issues

[nikkicostello89]

Hello all,

I may have mentioned this somewhere else once or twice. Dizzie has a major problem going to the bathroom. She hasn't been eating properly for the last month or so, I just cannot get her to eat on her own, she is laying in her box most days, but is not sleeping, temps are fine, she has a 4/5 month old arcadia D3+ (12%) UVB tube. Sooo, I've been giving her her food, liquid and supplements through a syringe. She's been having fruit (to help her bowel movements) and chicken babyfood, and the odd syringe of A/D food. I've also been giving her lactulose everyother day.

No poop in over a week now. The last time she went was because of an ennema (sp?) from the vet, and the time before that. The vet just suggests giving her more fibre and lactulose, she's having fruit (fibre? Surely) and lactulose, and STILL NO POO!

I'm going to have to take her to the vet again to get this poop moving, I can feel a lump in her belly, which can only be urates, because she hasn't been having any livefood, only slurry, so nothing could have impacted her.

Any suggestions?

The ennema (sp?) is costing me nearly £20 a time, and she's needing one every two weeks, because she's not going on her own at all.

I've tried upping her temps, bathing in very warm water, massages, fruit, lactulose...

Anything else...

Thanks Nikki

 

[Elora]

I guess my 2 questions would be how old is she and what substrate is she on? I cant help much but i havent heard of that kindof bulb before. Hopefully someone will come along and help out more.

 

[nikkicostello89]

Hi,

That bulb is the best you can get cept for the MVB, you can only get it in the UK...it's better than the repti-sun 10.0, and costs £10 less!

She's 18 months old, and is on newspaper! She has washed playsand in her bed, but doesn't lick, plus she only goes in there when she's asleep!

Nikki

 

[MissT]

Is it possible your uv needs replacing - Im having to replace mine every 4 months now, just to be sure - had a few issues with pooping and with vitamin/calcium absorption (I also use the arcadia 12%) and have been told by a number of people that 4 months is really all you should expect from any tube bulbs. Just an idea...

T

 

[nikkicostello89]

Your kidding! This could be because of the bulb! Jeez

Thank you!!

 

[dreshany]

Hi Nikki
i am sorry your baby is struggling again. Just a thought, but is it possible that she is egg bound? Did the vet check for this on your last visit? One thing I am learning about Perry is that he prefers to poop in cooler water, about 83-85 degrees. I have a therm that i put in the bath with him and begin his bath around 95-96 degrees and let it drop to about 83. Around 86 degrees he becomes more active, splashes, drinks and then poops. It may just be Perry's preferences but it may be worth a try. Also, have you tried the olive oil/mineral oil? it seems to work with Perry fairly well.
One time when i was getting worried about Perry not pooping I gave him a bath a sat him in there until he went. One time it took just over 1/2 hour and the other time he was in there about an hour. Maybe you could try that.
I hope Dizzie feels better soon!

 

[Jasper's Mom]

Could she be in brumation or even partial brumation? That will slow down their digestive system.

 

[nikkicostello89]

Hi Nikki
i am sorry your baby is struggling again. Just a thought, but is it possible that she is egg bound? Did the vet check for this on your last visit? One thing I am learning about Perry is that he prefers to poop in cooler water, about 83-85 degrees. I have a therm that i put in the bath with him and begin his bath around 95-96 degrees and let it drop to about 83. Around 86 degrees he becomes more active, splashes, drinks and then poops. It may just be Perry's preferences but it may be worth a try. Also, have you tried the olive oil/mineral oil? it seems to work with Perry fairly well.
One time when i was getting worried about Perry not pooping I gave him a bath a sat him in there until he went. One time it took just over 1/2 hour and the other time he was in there about an hour. Maybe you could try that.
I hope Dizzie feels better soon!

Thanks, I do often leave her in the bath until the water is cool to my touch, which is at least 20 minutes, after topping up with warm water. She's never really been a fan of pooping in the bath! But then she's never really been a fan of pooping altogether. Well the vet didn't "check" if she was egg bound, but she had a good feel, and said there was only poo.

Could she be in brumation or even partial brumation? That will slow down their digestive system.

I think she may be in partial brumation, but she never seems to sleep! I didn't want to start syringe feeding incase she was in partial brumation, but what with her being awake a lot, and basking happily, I thought it was about time I started! She hasn't lost weight...I suppose that just adds to the theory that she's brumating!

I'm going to get a MVB on the 12th (woooo!) To see if that will help her, I also need to get one for Fidgey because his back legs and tail are becoming more and more sensitive, and he is often lying on his belly instead of using his legs, so i think the arcadia isn't strong enough for him!

Thanks all for help, i'll let you know if she goes, or if she needs to go to the vet again, I hate taking them to the vet

Nikki

 

[Drache613]

Hello Nikki,

How old is your Arcadia bulb? As suggested, 4-5 months is the normal replacement time for tube bulbs. The Arcadia D3 12% is a great bulb, though so you could squeak 5-6 months out of it like with the Reptisun 10. How close is it to him?
Which mercury vapor bulb are you getting?
I think he is in partial brumation, though, from what it sounds like. It is that time of year.
You have gotten a fecal recently right?

Tracie

 

[nikkicostello89]

Hello Nikki,

How old is your Arcadia bulb? As suggested, 4-5 months is the normal replacement time for tube bulbs.
It is coincidentialy 4-5 months old!
The Arcadia D3 12% is a great bulb, though so you could squeak 5-6 months out of it like with the Reptisun 10. How close is it to him?
It's at the top of the cage so....18inches...but she lays on her box which is 6in off the ground at her rock which is 5in and she has a branch where she can get to approx 8inches from it (and Dizzie is a she! lol)
Which mercury vapor bulb are you getting?
I'm still unsure of this...what do you reccomend?
I think he is in partial brumation, though, from what it sounds like. It is that time of year.
You have gotten a fecal recently right?
Yes, she had pinworms, and we treated and got the all clear...but I think I need to get her tested again, IF she will go for me! She ate 3 locusts and 3 waxies today on her own!! She hasn't eaten on her own in about a month and a half...so progress there! And Fidget ate on his own today as well for the first time in over a month!! 3 locusts!!

Tracie

Do you have any extra special tips on getting her to go? What is the maximum I can have her bath temperature at?...I haven't tried olive oil or mineral oil yet, but i thought lactulose would work better anyway?!?

 

[xJaZx]

Tube UVB bulbs you want to make sure they can get 6-8" from it to be beneficial. If it is at 18" from the ground and she can only get 5-6" off the ground. She is still 12-13" away from it. Too far away.

Just saw that you said she has a branch she can get 8" away. Does she ever use it? Try to get her more exposure to the UVB. And as long as her basking temps are 95-110 so she can digest her food..

 

[scalesandtales]

Give her a few small drops of olive oil with a needleless syringe. and soak her in the tub with warmish hot water. She should go potty.

 

[nikkicostello89]

Tube UVB bulbs you want to make sure they can get 6-8" from it to be beneficial. If it is at 18" from the ground and she can only get 5-6" off the ground. She is still 12-13" away from it. Too far away.

Just saw that you said she has a branch she can get 8" away. Does she ever use it?
She uses it nearly all day, it may be closer than 8in away...but definately not farther away
Try to get her more exposure to the UVB. And as long as her basking temps are 95-110 so she can digest her food..
Her temperatures never dip below 99, I ensure that at all times with a thermostat, with all of my beardies.

Thanks for your input.

Give her a few small drops of olive oil with a needleless syringe. and soak her in the tub with warmish hot water. She should go potty.

Apart from the olive oil, I have tried every trick that I know...I have been giving her lactulose, which is a constipation relief on prescription from the vet, this hasn't worked. I am going to try the olive oil tomorrow.

Thanks for your input.

Nikki...

 

[scalesandtales]

this is pretty much a no fail trick I did it and my Twitch pooped 5 hours later.

 

[nikkicostello89]

Oil and banana and bath....No poo....