Dying Baby Beardie

[cattlynnrose]

So, my mom works at petsmart as a manager. She had told me about a very small and seemingly sick baby bearded dragon. She told me that it doesnt really eat omn its own unless she force feeds it. But even that sometimes doesnt work. She told me that she is very lethargic and only seems to perk up after a bath and some cuddles. This is the smallest baby bearded dragon I have seen. It look like it was literally just born, and it wasnt. I dont know the age or anything. My mom had decided to have it euthenized because it was so sick but banfield had said that they were just too busy and we will have to wait until morning. So, knowing it was perceived to die, i didnt want it to be alone so i offered to take it home.

So here i am, desperately searching for answers as to how to feed and nurture this poor baby. She had been very limp until a minute ago where she perked up and ran down her basking log and window surfed.

What sjould I feed it and how can i possibly help her survive?

Also, it is so small and young that how can i actually tell if it is dying/sick or if it is really just very young? I am watching it right now and it seems to be interested in a cricket that i had put in there. I dont know. Consider me a very very newbie to baby bearded dragons. I have no idea what I am doing or what warning signs i should be looking for

 

[Skipper7]

This is not my information!! I "stole" it from another poster. 100% credit to Varalidaine! If you can't get the baby to eat, try a slurry like the following:

"I'm glad you seem so determined to help fix the mistake.

She might benefit from daily slurries, just to help boost everything. This is the mix I give my dragon every day:

1. 1/4 Teaspoon Pangea (any flavor. My dragon LOVES the taste of this stuff and will eat anything mixed in it). I'll be getting this one after I finish my current bag because it's made with organic insects and fruit instead of all fruit, so it suits a dragon a little more: http://www.pangeareptile.com/store/pang ... sects.html
2. 1/4 Teaspoon Repashy Grub Pie or Veggie Burger or SuperVeggie - This is to give a little extra protein and veggies instead of having an all fruit-based slurry: http://www.store.repashy.com/superveggie-4-oz-bag.html
3. One tiny scoop of Milk Thistle Seed Powder - Helps detoxify the liver, boosts-immune function, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties: http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=623
4. Tiny pinch Sugar Free Electrolyte powder (you can always follow the solution instructions on the packaging, but it makes too much for my little dragon and I was wasting a lot so I just do a teeny pinch) - Helps with keeping them hydrated and also contains water soluble B vitamins to boost energy metabolism: http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=255
5. Serrapeptase - To get the dose, take your dragons weight and divide by 1000. For example, my dragons weighs 327g, so 327/1000 =.327, and that's how many mL he gets, .327mL. Serrapeptase is one of those magic things that helps everything, but it thins mucous for respiratory infections and helps prevent bacterial infections in the lungs. It also reduces inflammation so things can heal properly and are less painful, and it digests non-living tissue and breaks down fibrin in scar tissue. : http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=399
6. 1 drop Vitamin B - boosts energy metabolism and aids in muscle and nerve function and growth. : http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=251
7. Tiny Scoop Bee Pollen - Another wonder supplement, only substance in the world that contains every element in the human body. Essentially an all-natural multi-vitamin and super drug. Also helps immune system function. He gets this added in 3 days a week. http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=272
8. Collodial Silver - I follow the directions on the package, but the place I buy from no longer sells it, so if are interested in it, I would PM Drache as she works with the stuff in helping find a cure for ADV and is great with helping figure out a dosage. Collodial Silver is one of those cure-all remedies, it's ionically very small, so it can absorb directly into the blood stream and organ tissue instead of having to pass through the gut. A lot of people will use it in a nebulizer when dragons have URI's. I use it as it has given some dragons a negative ADV test result when given on a schedule, and my dragon is ADV positive. He gets 15 days in a row, then gets the rest of the month off.
9. Probiotics - I give .25ml per 100g body weight because my dragon is recovering from medication, but healthy dragons can have just .1ml for daily use while sick ones up to .4ml for a shorter period. Probioitcs are great when dragons have things like ADV destroying their healthy cells or are on medication. It's also just a good daily thing to take, as most people could use more good gut bacteria: http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Acid.html
10. Tiny Scoop Alfalfa powder - Added in just so he always gets some good greens in him as he doesn't really like salad: http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=135
11. Filtered water mixed to achieve desired consistency. I like a little on the thin side as it's easier to get out of the syringe and drip into their mouth.
Supplies I use:
Tiny Scoop (this is what I mean for the Bee Pollen, Alfalfa, etc.): http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=327
3ml Feeding Syringe: http://www.beardeddragon.co/index.php?r ... uct_id=294"

 

[AHBD]

Poor little baby, can you post a pic or two of him as well as his set up ? A video of him would be even better. If he can run off his log that's a good sign. He may be dehydrated, so spritz him so he can drink water droplets [ but don't soak the tank ]

Skipper the info you posted has some great products in it but most people realistically can;t get all that stuff. If you could order some of it , like the Pangea diet, that could help.

In the meantime, take a small cricket ....and they need to be TINY, no longer than the space between his eyes so as not to cause impaction....squish it until the guts come out a bit and rub it lightly on his snout. Hopefully he;ll eat a few at a time. You say he was eyeing a cricket ? That sounds promising, too. So if you can, post a pic of the size of the cricket as well. Here's how to post pics :
https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ Then use the XIMG to attach pics to your post

 

[cattlynnrose]

I will post pictures and a video i just took. He is also rubbing his head on his log and i have heard that that is a sign of shedding? He also just pooped. And, petsmart gave the the equipment and tank he was in at the store,so i havent changed anything that he was kept in at the store. They also put medium crickets in there, somehow expedcting him to eat them, so i had cut one in half to fit his size to see if hed eat that. He licked his lips but still hasnt eaten it. He also just pooped.

 

[AHBD]

Yes, rubbing his head could possibly mean that he's ready to shed. And pics + a video would be great.
You can also offer baby food green beans, squash and chicken with no additives. Be very careful even if you cut the cricket in half....the head, the legs and where the legs attach can all be too hard for him to digest. Just pinch the soft abdomen off and rub that lightly on his snout. If it's just laying on the ground he may not show interest but if you do like I mentioned and rub it on his snout it may spark his appetite.

 

[cattlynnrose]

The video i took won't upload. it is almost 2 minutes long, which could be the problem?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Poor thing, that is really nice of you to take him home. At first glance, he doesn't look too bad at the moment.
All of the feeding suggestions are terrific. You can also try some chicken or turkey baby food too. Just use a plastic dropper or syringe, or just dab some on his nose to see if he likes the taste.
What type of lighting are you using? Do you have a bright white basking light for him?
He will need temperatures maintained at a range of 95-110 for a baby, with a cooler end around 78-82. We recommend using a digital probe or temp gun to accurately measure temperatures.
He will also need a good UVB source, too. The two best tube UVB lights are either the Reptisun 10 or the Arcadia D3 12%.
We will help you with getting it all set up for him.
Is that a reptile carpet for substrate?
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[AHBD]

Proper lighting is very important like Drache said. Poor little guy, they are fragile when sick at that size....he's about the size of a 1 month old but clearly quite ill. Do you know exactly what your mom was force feeding it ? And be careful, baths are probably just stressful, that's why you see him move around. He's mustering up energy to feebly try to get out. Never keep him out after a soak, they are very cold and do not warm up unless in the heat of the tank. Skip the baths unless he's actually drinking, but offer water on his snout or spray him lightly in the cage with a very shallow plastic lid [ like from a yogurt cup or cool whip lid under his head to catch the drops.

He may not survive this but all you can do is try.

 

[nathb1]

Hi,

I am not expert but will tell you that my spouse came home with a baby dragon from petsmart (7 grams)! and she looked as bad as yours , sometime i thought she wouldnt make it. It took three week for her to eat , i fed it baby squash in the beginning because she refused all of what I tried to give her . AHBD gave me a good trick to cripple the crickets (I give her 1/4 size the other were too big and she is scared of them and she began to eat, thank god for this forum!

Frankie is now very active, alert and gaining weight!
'So with the right lighting and correct food and great advice it is not a hopeless case!
Good Luck !

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Please keep us posted on your little baby. We are all pulling for her.


Tracie

 

[cattlynnrose]

Sorry i havent gotten back! I am sick and also very tired, as I have been up with her for hours of the night. I bought some green bean baby food, squash baby food, and chicken babyfood. She seems to take to the green bean better.
She is eating a little at a time with the baby food and drinking some water. She is a tiny bit more active.. but still very still and limp sometimes. She also has weird spurts of what i assume to be energy? She wakes up and then runs towards the glass and surfs, but also rubs her head against everything. Then she stops, closes her eyes, and lays her head down.

I cant tell if shes making progress, or if im expecting progress too soon.

She has carpeting for substrate, and her temp is around 100-110.

 

[kyleena29]

Just want to make sure, are you giving it calcium 5x week once daily and vitamin 2x week once daily?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is your baby doing this evening?
That's good she seems to like the baby food then. I hope you are able to get enough into her to help out.
It may take several weeks for her to start feeling quite a bit better. Continue to assist feed her & keep her at optimal temperatures to help boost her immune system.
Let us know how she is doing. I hope she is feeling more energetic soon!

Tracie