Help!! The lizard is dying

[northstar]

Hello. I am hoping some of you here will help me. This is my 1st visit to your site. I am very upset and searching for answers

The story of the lizard is a long one but I will try and make it short
The Bearded dragon is not mine but it seems I am the only one concerned about her and willing to do something to help
The people who care for her have had her for 8 or 9 months I'd guess. She is tiny and I don't think she has ever been healthy or well cared for. She was a 'classroom pet'

I met her yesterday. She was as flat as a piece of paper, hardly breathing and not moving. She hadn't eaten in days I was told. Within moments I came to find out that he cage was WAY too cold, hovering around 85* for a top temp. Also, she only had a regular 60 watt lightbulb as her source of light!!! The 'owner' didn't know she needed full spectrum light. From what I was told, the bulb they got with the tank blew out months back and was replaced with a standard bulb. She's been without UV light for a long time

I immediately ran to get her a reptile bulb. I also took the lizard from the tank and heated it some with a hair dryer to bring the temp up to 95* (I was afraid of taking it over 100* so quickly)

Anyway, I'm sure she has bone disease. She can't lift herself up. After heating the tank she did start to squirm though and lifted her head off the rock. She puffed up a little and was breathing easier. Her mouth was not open so I don't think she was too hot. I know so little though

I called to check on her today. The tank was back to only 90* and she wasn't moving or eating

WHAT CAN I DO!
I feel absolutely AWFUL that this lizard is suffering so and not getting care. I suggested a vet visit. They didn't want to spend the money. I suggested an emergency craigslist post offering the lizard to someone who'd be willing to get it vet care.....they didn't want the bother

I fear she only has a day or two left in her without immediate care
Can I force feed her calcium? Baby food?
Is she beyond help? Could it be that her legs are broken and the poor thing will be better off if she passes?

I would take her to the vet myself but I have $50 to my name. Literally. I would however buy the calcium if it would be of help and house her and feed her

If anyone has ANY advice, please speak up
Thanks in advance

 

[Embee]

This beardie sounds in a very bad way. I'm am so sorry.

First and foremost, can you please tell me which UVB light you purchased? There are WAY TOO MANY out there that cause problems for beardies, and we don't want to make a bad situation worse.

Also, you say there is a 60w household light bulb for heat. Depending on the size of tank, this can actually be quite sufficient for heat/UVA so long as it's a bright white bulb (of course, still need to address the UVB [above]). What is the size of the tank, and what are you using to gauge temps? If you're using a dial type thermometer, then you need to know that the temps you're getting are probably much lower than what is going on directly under the basking bulb. IOW, if just that "side" of the tank is registering in the 80's, then the basking surface (directly under the bulb) is likely to be more in the upper 90's. If the ambient temps are in the 90's then the basking temps are probably above 100, so you may actually be ok there. I wouldn't add anymore heat until you know for sure. Are you using a dial thermometer? If so, you need to know that dials can be up to 20 degrees off. In order to accurately gauge basking temps you need a digital probe thermometer or alternatively, a temp gun. You can find an inexpensive digital with probe at WalMart for about $12. It's made by "Accurite". When taking the basking temps, place probe directly onto the basking surface, under the light and leave for 45 minutes BEFORE reading temp.

For now, keep her warm. During the day, the heat bulb is sufficient provided it's giving you good temps, which ideally should be brought up to 105-110, albeit gradually. Excellent catch by the way, as a gradual process is safer. For nighttime, a ceramic heat emitter is best, but if you don't have access to one at present you can use a pocket hand warmer wrapped in a towel, placed next to beardie. Alternatively, you can make a "rice sock." Fill a sock with rice and tie. Microwave for a few minutes until very warm, wrap in a towel, and place next to beardie.

For feeding, you can try some jarred chicken baby good, mixed with a little water. Place a bit on her nose, see if she'll lick. It might be necessary to feed with syringe, but do try this first.

You will also want to make sure that she stays well hydrated during this time. Being that she is so lethargic, you'll have to be extremely careful. A daily soak, 15-20 minutes in baby warm water, up to shoulders. If she can't raise her head, you'll need gently keep her head above the water line.

This is what I can offer you in the short term. I'm going to leave word for a moderator after I leave the thread here, and she will likely get into the thread tomorrow sometime with more detailed advice with regard to treatment, feeding, calcium and the rest.

The best to you, and hang in there. I'm rooting for the dear dragon you're doing your best to save.

Em

 

[Embee]

I have placed a PM to Tracie (Drache613/moderator) for you.

Please keep us posted on your dear dragon. It is so good of you to want to help.

Hang in there,
Em

 

[northstar]

This beardie sounds in a very bad way. I'm am so sorry.

First and foremost, can you please tell me which UVB light you purchased? There are WAY TOO MANY out there that cause problems for beardies, and we don't want to make a bad situation worse.

I will have to check. It was called a Lizard lamp or Lizard bulb. It was all I could find at such an hour of the night. Walmart was the only store open. It claimed to be a full spectrum bulb especially for lizards. The top was slightly blueish

As of now, she ONLY has this one bulb. The 60watt household bulb was replaced by this one. I don't think they have another housing fixture to set up a 2nd bulb for heat.

The tank is on the small side. My guess would be 15 gallon? I say that once owning a 29 gallon tank for fish. This is roughly half the size

They have a sticky thermometer on the side of the tank. It seemed so inaccurate. It read from 80* - 85* before I brought up the temp in the tank. I have a digital oven thermometer with a probe. Would that work better for now?

The rice sock......that I could do! If it is warm to my touch, would that be a good gauge for comfort for the beardie?
I don't want to burn the poor girl. Since she can't move she'd have no way of getting out of danger

I will try the baby food trick. She had no interest in the crickets or worms in her cage. After some reading though, I'm wondering if the crickets were too large for her to bother with. They were certainly bigger than her mouth. Maybe thats why she wasn't eating?

Will the bath also hydrate her some? That I will try as well

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I will be checking in on the lizard shortly. If she is still alive I will ask them if I can take her home with me and then start trying to nurse her back to health asap!

 

[spurlee01]

Right now crickets would probably be too hard on her system. I would stick with the baby food. As for the rice sock, you will want to make it pretty hot then wrap it in a towel. You should feel the warm through the towel (but you're exactly right- you don't want it to burn her).
Good luck- we are all pulling for this dragon. And thank you for stepping in to take care of her when the ones truly responsible wouldn't
Sara

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is the first thing that I was going to suggest is to confiscate the dragon from them, "nicely" but firmly. Simply put, if they don't want to "bother" placing a craigslist ad, then they obviously do not want to or haven't taken the time to properly care for her to let her get into this bad of condition in the first place. That is very sad.

Em covered pretty much everything for you.

The light that you got, is it "blue" literally, or does it shine white when it is on? As long as it is a bright white light, that is fine right now. I would go very slowly with increasing the temperatures, & for the moment, try to keep the basking temperatures to 95-105 but no higher. Let her get adjusted to that first then you can bump them to a range of 95-110.

The best UVB tube/flourescent light you can get is the Reptisun 10. You can get that from pet mountain, & here is a link to purchase it:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html

That is the best price you can find, as the petstores will mark it up double or triple that.

You should get some liquid calcium because that will be absorbed more efficiently than powdered calcium right now. Here is a link to where you can purchase some:

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Meds.html#CalciumGluconate


Right now, since she has not been cared for properly, her digestive system probably is not working optimally. I would start with chicken or turkey babyfood, & some squash babyfood mixed in with some water & calcium (when you get it) a couple of times per day. Start with .5 to 1ml per 50 grams of bodyweight, a couple of times per day or as she can take it. I would put more squash in than chicken or turkey babyfood so you can focus on rehydrating first to get her system moving before introducing too much protein into her system. As for the crickets, they should be smaller than the space between the eyes. It may take a couple of weeks before she is ready to eat any feeders. It is going to be a long road to recovery for her.

You will need to monitor her stools, & make sure that she is passing urates or the white portion to ensure that her kidneys are functioning properly.

Let us know how she is doing. I hope that you are able to take her home. I can tell that you have a very kind heart.

Tracie

 

[Chunka]

I just want to keep wishing you the best of luck with this little one.

 

[Embee]

Northstar,

Just checking in...

Sending lots of support and good wishes.

The best,
Em

 

[zebraflavencs]

Also pulling for you and that poor baby !
Janie.

 

[northstar]

Thank you all It's good to know there are people out there concerned and wanting to help. I'll admit, my spirits were a little crushed with the realization of this person's indifferent attitude. It's probably more common than I realize

As of this morning the lil critter was alive
The family is out for the day so she is unattended right now I think they are getting tired of my calling and offering help or suggestions. I hope that later today/tonight I can go grab her

They claimed they tried baby food before but she wouldnt eat it. I dont know how hard they tried though or what kind/flavor they got. In this condition, is it in her best interest to force feed her if she wont lick? It sounds like intervention is needed

I'll be back with an update and thanks again!!!

 

[zebraflavencs]

Hopefully you can relieve these people of their....Un-wanted dragon....*grumbles something nasty under her breath...*
Just keep us up to date ! We are all pulling for you and this baby !
*grumbles something MOST unladylike*
Janie.

 

[shimmeriing]

I've been checking in to. They obviously don't care or have any interest in it's well being, why keep it? that's cruel. I think you need to make them realize if he doesn't get the help he needs, he'll starve and die, you are more than willing to take care of him. If you haven't done that already, could you call the local pet cops..lol i forget what they're called. The owners know he's not well, and don't care enough to take him to see a vet. good luck!!

 

[zebraflavencs]

Okay and this is one of the reasons I want to win the Lottery ! I could effect removal of all dragons from unwanted parents !
*back to nasty grumbling ....*
Janie.

 

[northstar]

I've been grumbling nasty things under my breath for 2 days now as well!

 

[zebraflavencs]

You are so wonderful, I think you need a HUGE HUG ! Oh and Orion wants to nudge you with his broad nose !
Hugs and Lots of support !
Janie. oh and that red boy on my keyboard, Orion.....