Extremely Ill Beardie

[StellaBella]

Just a quick update....Stella had her last iron shot yesterday and her levels are up to 14%, we recheck them in 2 weeks...she's eating well on her own now, acting more normal and even gaining her weight back! She's back up to 486 grams, I'm so grateful! She had started a shed before she got sick and now she's seeming to be finishing it bcz the areas she hadn't shed she's now shedding...another good sign she's stronger....so very thankful...and to all of you as well???.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is wonderful Stella's iron is up & she is feeling better!
Shedding is definitely a good sign for sure. She has really gained some weight back also, which
should help her health too so her immune system gets stronger.
She has come a long way! I'm happy that has improved so much now. Keep us posted on her
progress.


Tracie

 

[susanmurl]

I'm so glad your girl is getting better!! I hope she is on a happy road to recovery. Reading this thread made me wanna cry as I was sensing that I might get to the end and not have some good news but it sounds promising!! Love reading these. Thanks for never giving up! Best thing for her to happen is you!!

 

[StellaBella]

Thank you for the continued kindness and support...
Quick update...she ate for about a week and then started a shed and hasn't eaten since....almost 2 weeks again...so, I'm still having her tube fed twice a week right now...good news though...her iron is up to 20!!!! That's waaaay better than 4, woooohoooo!!! She finished a full shed...she seems more spunky...even jumping, running, and even swimming...she will drink on her own, just won't eat...I got bit a little over a week ago trying to force feed her myself so I'll just leave that up to the pros but I have to say...I was relieved to see her fighting back so hard so...whatever...it's healing up nicely already, although she took a nice chunk off the corner of my right pointer...stronger than she looks for sure!...thank you all again for the love and support....still not completely normal but waaay better...gosh hopefully she doesn't want to brumate for her first time after we get through all of this...I've not had to encounter that yet...coming up on 2 years since we got her so thinking we will be due this winter....her weight is down again due to not eating but just keep plugging away.

 

[AHBD]

Sounds great ! Except for her chomping your finger. :shock:

Can you post a few updated pics of Miss Stella ?

 

[NBGwen]

Here's hoping she starts eating on her own soon! Sounds like she is doing great!

 

[EllenD]

I'm so glad this story has a happy ending, it's amazing what a difference seeing a reptile specialist makes, especially one that is more than willing to try different things, like tube feeding! When I read your post about the last time you saw the first vet, and they pretty much said that she needed to be euthanized because they didn't know what else to do, I said to myself "Why aren't you tube feeding her? She's anemic!" Lol...

I'm sure she'll start eating on her own again, that can happen when they shed. It is strange though, her white cells were sky high, so an infection was probably the cause originally, and the antibiotics took care of the infection, but she just became so anemic from not eating... Hopefully the heart murmur is gone and her iron continues to rise, along with her weight. I'm so glad this worked out the way that it did!!!

 

[StellaBella]

I'll try to figure out how to post pics...she's down in weight again and looking bony...she still won't eat...I wish I knew why...we've run every test...but she still looks better than when we started...I've been feeding her a little reptiboost and chlorophyll I add in a touch...she's still going to the bathroom daily so her system is still processing what I am able to get into her...just wish she'd eat . She closes her eyes s she won't even look when I try t feed her...still offering daily...she just won't take it...

 

[StellaBella]

Here's two just took right now, we are sitting in the sunshine???

 

[AHBD]

Aw, she looks very pretty sitting in the sun. Be careful the black mat doesn't heat up too much.
Well she ate good for a while but is not doing so now ? How long has it been ? How much Reptaboost do you give her ?

Being as ill as she was can take a toll on their health obviously so even a " healthy " dragon can go on little hunger strikes when they're not too active. She's been very ill + so her appetite may be very hit + miss going forward. She doesn't look too bony, just a wee bit but not in an unhealthy way. Keep offering food but if she's feeling full from the Reptaboost you might cut back on that to see if she'l go for some greens. Even baby food squash + green beans would be O.K now but again it would be good for her to eat obviously. Just give it some time.

 

[StellaBella]

Thanks AHBD!!! She's such a beautiful girl..I just wish she'd eat, she was nice and chubby so this is breaking my heart. She's still active and still eliminating daily...she will drink water at least...it's been over two months now...she ate for about a week right when she first started recovering, she ate really good for a week and then a shed came along...she hasn't eaten since and seems quite ticked off when I force her and closes her eyes at any food I present..I was able to push 3 peas in but other than that it's just been the reptiboost and I mix a little organic greens powder I use in...I'm glad she's still eliminating so at least I know all of that is working and she's processing what I get in...it's just so out of character for her to not eat...thanks for the continued support...Im thankful for this community and glad to have it written down in case someone has a similar problem or if someone has any ideas...

 

[kingofnobbys]

small steps .... nothing happens fast except when they crash .... keep up what ever you are doing as it's working .

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Stella looks very pretty in the sun, a big improvement overall. It doesn't appear that she has
lost much of any weight.
I think it just takes time for them to fully recover. Definitely keep on doing everything that
you are currently doing. How much food are you getting into her, estimated?
It's a great sign that she is still active, so she must feel pretty well right now. She has made
a huge amount of progress.

Tracie

 

[StellaBella]

Well, I spoke to soon I guess...she's been drinking really well so I didn't think too much about her super watery elimination but today she's super punky...black beard again...so...I wonder if too much water with not much substance or minerals...those big syringes with the curved tip I get in a decent amount I think, about an inch worth high...it doesn't have the cc's on it...taking her back to the vet tomorrow...I'll ask for hydration and tube feeding again...I guess like some of you have said they heal so slowly...it's hard on the nerves for sure! I'm still feeling hopeful as she still doesn't look as bad as she did to start so progress is being made as slowly as it is, it's progress . She was almost 500 grams and now only around 430 so she's lost a significant amount...she was back to I think 482, around there when she started eating again...but, back down...I'll see what the vet says about that, too

 

[EllenD]

Actually she looks pretty good to me, not at all bony, her colors are very bright, and 430 isn't bad at all. She might not be "chubby", but she actually does look healthy. She's been through a lot, so it's going to take some time to get her system back to normal. Are you giving her any probiotics? How about bee pollen? Usually the two of them will make them feel better, even out their gastrointestinal tracts, and get them eating.