HELP! Bearded Dragon Bleeding

[YaelD]

Dear All,

I've come home tonight to find a spot of blood in my beardies viv. I've taken her out but couldn't find the source of it.

OK another check suggests its from her mouth

She's just sitting in the heat, awake and unmoving (not unusual, but given the blood I'm concerned).

Before anyone asks, I have called my vets (closed) and their emergency service but was informed that the cover vet wasnt an exotic specialist - to be honest they didn't sound overly concerned.

I don't know what to do.

Any suggestions?

 

[YaelD]

Should add that she's been off her food recently, but she's shedding so I put it down to that.

She recently puffed out her bearded (deep black) I'd never seen it that dark - I figured that her food had been irritating her, and after their removal, she seemed fine, just tetchy.

 

[YaelD]

Anybody???

 

[lauraj1055]

I'm sorry about your beardie.. please give the correct people time to help you out.. they will answer you, sometimes it just takes a bit... Was there a lot of blood, or just a speck or 2? Did you check in her mouth to see if that's where it actually did come from? Did you check her vent, to see if there is any evidence of it coming from that area?

 

[YaelD]

sorry I'm panicking and don't know what to do. I checked her over and from what I can make out (I don't know whether to try and force her mouth open), it looks like a speck at the side of her mouth. She has been shedding and does rub her head against everything for a scratch, so she could've have drawn blood from scratching herself against a rock. Have checked her vents and all looks good there.

However, now she's gone all floppy and motionless and seems to be gasping.

Other than the above, she's a beautiful orange at the moment, with no stress marks whatsoever. when she's not gasping (she's done about 5 big gasps), she just looks like she's about to go to sleep - it is her bedtime soon.

 

[lauraj1055]

Well, the good part is, it's not coming from her vent. Do you have a dropper that you can try to open her mouth with. Just spread her lips apart on the side, and put the dropper towards her teeth, and move it to the front of her mouth, and this should get her to open it.

 

[YaelD]

No no dropper that I could use. Off to try and find similar to use. This is what I mean about her being floppy and motionless http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad347/flashdyke/_1020334.jpg

 

[ChinelleKitten]

you can try a bank/credit card to gently wiggle between her lips to get her to open up so you can check in her mouth.

 

[lauraj1055]

she's beautiful! but yes, she doesn't look well Have you ever had her checked for parasites?

 

[YaelD]

Thanks for the responses. Have been trying to get her mouth open and have a good look, but she's not willing and I fear stressing her out any further. Looks like she's settling down to sleep and I don't want to badger her any more, she's really floppy.

Can't find anywhere to take her as all the emergency veterinary services that I've called don't deal with reptiles.

I hope she's just going off to sleep and tomorrow I'll get to take her to my vet.

No, I've never had her checked for parasites and the vet's seemed happy with her ... up until today, she's been pretty healthy ... funny, lazy, stubborn, strange but always alert, colourful ... what I took to be 'healthy'.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring good news

Thanks again

 

[lauraj1055]

Well, keep us updated on her.. I hope she gets better very soon!

 

[tdharris]

Hope your dragon is doing good now... Could it be from a feeder insect? If you feed supers they may bite and draw blood I am unsure if they can but?

 

[majesticbeardie]

Could it be something in her cage like grapevine or driftwood?

 

[YaelD]

Sorry I didn't respond. She died shortly after my last message. Still can't believe it.

 

[lauraj1055]

OMG... I am so sorry!!! I wonder what happened? Bearded dragons are very well at hiding when they are sick, so by the time they show signs, whatever it is has progressed really far. How old was she? Once again I am truly sorry for your loss.