extremely ill juvenile

[chelle4450]

My beardie Thorn is about 3 months old. About 10 days ago his appetite started to decline. He was eating next to nothing, sleeping all day, having tremors and losing weight very quickly. He had also stopped growing. I have another juvenile that is a few weeks younger that has now outgrown him.

Until he started to get sick we had his CFL UV bulb outside of his tank shining through a very heavy mesh top. When he began to show signs of what I now have determined to be MBD (lethargic, anorexic, tremors) we moved the UV lamp inside his tank.

He showed little improvement. The tremors stopped, but he was still losing weight. I took him to a vet that specializes in exotics. I have very limited income, and this was almost impossible to budget. I explained to the vet that I had a very tight budget. I love my little guy, and would do anything to help him, but there was no money. As it was, I was already using money that was budgeted for my power bill.

He prescribed Calcium Glubionate 0.05cc once a day, and Harrison Recovery Formula 0.10 twice a day. He also recommended a fecal test. I explained that I could only afford either the meds, or the fecal test, but not both. He prioritized, and determined that the meds were most important.

I bought Thorn a reptisun 10.0 UV light, and have been giving him the meds prescribed for 5 days now. He seemed to be improving at first. He would even eat a cricket or two. Today I woke up and he was limp. When I picked him up, he would walk a little, but he is not using his right arm at all. When I lay him down on his hammock, he goes limp again, like he doesn't have the energy to stand.

I am curious if anyone else had used this Harrison Recovery Formula? He is only prescribed 0.10cc twice a day. That doesn't really seem like enough if he's not eating at all. I would appreciate any suggestions on something I can do for him that requires little money. I'm terrified that I'm going to lose him. If that happens it would devistate our family.

 

[CooperDragon]

Poor little guy. It does sound like calcium deficiency due to lighting. I agree with the vet that calcium supplementation is important along with proper UVB exposure. Do you have the ReptiSun 10 tube? Is it a T8 or T5? Since you are in Florida, I suggest bringing him outside during the day to get natural sunlight. Offering natural sunlight every day will be the most beneficial for him - better than any artificial lighting. Even an hour or so daily will help, but more is better if you can. Keep him hydrated and keep offering the calcium and nutrition supplement from your vet. Along with sunlight and proper lighting hopefully he'll be able to bounce back.

 

[AHBD]

Poor little guy. I agree with Cooper that sunshine, hydration and calcium should benefit him. Be careful not to put him out in a tank though, it can heat up quickly to lethal temps. Since he's weak, just set him in the grass, not on concrete.

I've never heard of Harrison's formula....you might give him a little more if he'll willingly eat it. You can try baby food squash , green bean and chicken as well. If he'l eat crickets be SURE they are smaller than the space between his eyes, otherwise it can cause impaction in his condition. Best wishes to little Thorn !

 

[chelle4450]

Now I am using the reptisun 10.0 T8 tube. He seemed to be improving slightly for a few days, but not putting on any weight. The amount of formula ordered was so small, it just seems like it couldn't possibly be enough. I increased it in my own for the last couple days. Yesterday morning I woke up to find him limp and not using his right arm. He was holding it backwards in a strange way that made me concerned he might have a fracture or dislocation. When he did walk, he didn't use his arm at all. I called the vet, and he said all he could do is blood work and x-ray which would run me about $300. That is just not an option for me right now. I asked if I could increase the formula and he said no, which makes me wonder if I may have given him too much, and given him dime kind of vitamin toxicity. I stopped the increase.

He is still sleeping this morning. I'll update on his condition later today. I will also take him outside today. Thanks for all the advise and support. BTW you may see me alternate referring to Thorn as him and her. This is because the vet informed me that the pet store was probably wrong when they told me he was female. I'm trying to get used to referring to him as male. Lol

 

[AHBD]

The limp arm would not be from vitamin toxicity, bloodwork wouldn't be helpful [ plus is very hard to do on a baby/juvenile ] The arm would be a associated with calcium deficiency/MBD and probably a sprain from the hammock. He may start using it if/when he begins to feel better. Can you post pics of Thorn, as well as his tank set up ? Take out anything that is high for climbing and get rid of the hammock. That is the likely cause of his arm injury, getting snagged on the hammock in his weak condition.

It's great that you got the Reptisun bulb....hopefully he'll improve over time.

 

[CooperDragon]

I agree with AHBD. Also, the T8 tube should sit about 6'' above the basking area for best results and if you have any clear plastic in front of the bulb it should be removed as that will intercept all of the UVB. I would continue to provide plenty of time outside in the sun as well because that's so beneficial for them (all dragons).

 

[chelle4450]

I didn't even think of the fact that it may be a sprain. I've been so focused on the bones, forgetting that Ca deficiency affects the soft tissue as well. He more than likely sprained it trying to get away from me. He absolutely detest his syringe feedings. I know he needs them, but I feel so bad. He was the more timid of the two dragons we purchased in august. I've spent two months trying to get him to trust, and not fear me. Just when he was beginning to enjoy being held, this happens. Now the end of his tail turns black within seconds of me picking him up. I guess if all goes well, we will have a lifetime to develop that trust again.

As far as the pics go, this site won't allow me to upload files from my mobile. I should be in my PC later, I'll try to remember to do so then. Also, I'll take his hammock out, and move his tree over so he can bask on that instead. He would probably be less likely to snag that. He does have to be up high. His tank is 18" high, so he needs to be raised far to be close enough to the light. His hammock sits about 6" under the light, his tree is approximately the same height.