How to tell when BD is nearing end of life?

[SeventyGTX]

Hi all, I have been wondering about something for a while now. My little female BD is nearing 11 years old now. She just got out of brumation a few days ago, but her appetite is down from normal, and she just doesn't seem as alert and active as usual. Her eyes are not wide and as observant as usual either. I have added a new 100 watt PowerSun to her enclosure while she was brumating. Hopefully that is not causing a problem. It is not nearly as bright as the Mega-Ray it replaced.
What are the symptoms when they are nearing the end of their life cycle. She is the only one I have ever had or been around for any length of time. I don't want to lose her, but have read they don't live much longer than this normally in captivity.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....you must be taking good care of your girl ! That's a good age for a beardie, but they can live a couple years longer. It may be just taking her a little more time to get functioning 100 % after brumation, but even younger dragons can be a bit dopey after waking from brumation. She may just be taking a little more time.

 

[diamc]

I agree with ABHD, as they get older, it does take longer to get motivated and moving around more.

Did you happen to check the basking temp of the new Power Sun recently? Different MVB's can throw off different temps. If not, might be a good idea and also make sure it is a minimum of 12" from her while she is in her basking area.

Good luck with her & be sure to keep us updated on how she is doing.

 

[Siren]

I have a 12 year old female. I rescued her. I am her third (maybe fourth) home. Her past homes only had heat lights on her and a male that shared the tank with her. They never fought or attempted to breed. Much of that likely had to do with the fact both had MBD. His was more advanced than her's. He couldn't move his back legs at all. He would propel himself like a snake with front legs. We had to have him euthanized 2 years ago. He wasn't thriving, had stopped eating, etc. So Demona has been along since. Her MBD though severe was not as bad as him. She has regained some use of her back legs and can climb a little and move better. Spent a lot of time doing makeshift physical therapy with her, lol. I'd put her on the floor, both carpet and tile, and place superworms a few inches away to get her to move more. Lots of swimming in baths. And simply gently massaging and rotating her legs. But it seems to have worked. Now her issue appears to be, she is going blind. She is always trying to grab her food and misses it several times. I think she gets it by chance. I pretty much feed her by hand now. It is the only way to guarantee she is eating well. Other than her sight, she is still doing well. Is active, sheds, alert, etc. She can see to a certain extent, I think just shapes/shadows.

 

[abbyxelizabeth]

Sounds like you are taking really good care of her. Keep it up.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is your dragon doing today?
Sometimes it can take a little longer for them to come out of brumation when they are older.
She has done very well for her age, that is fantastic!
Are you giving her plenty of calcium?

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

 

[SeventyGTX]

Tracie, she is just about back to her old self. Up on her basking rock, watching everything going on around her. Much more alert looking. Unfortunately, it is hard to give her calcium when she doesn't eat much. She drinks plenty of water though.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[diamc]

Oh that's great that she's doing so much better. Is she on liquid calcium? If not, that would be something to consider because as they get older, their bodies don't tend to process the supplements as well. Tracie sells all flavors of the liquid calcium here: http://bug-de-lite.com/Products%20Page.html She sure sells a lot of neat products.

You could also add a pinch of the powdered calcium to some water & drop it on her nose for her to lick off although it might not be absorbed as well as the liquid would.

 

[SeventyGTX]

Oh that's great that she's doing so much better. Is she on liquid calcium? If not, that would be something to consider because as they get older, their bodies don't tend to process the supplements as well. Tracie sells all flavors of the liquid calcium here: http://bug-de-lite.com/Products%20Page.html She sure sells a lot of neat products.

You could also add a pinch of the powdered calcium to some water & drop it on her nose for her to lick off although it might not be absorbed as well as the liquid would.

I think I will order up some of that liquid calcium. My wife suggested crushing up some oyster shell she uses for her laying hens, and mixing it in with the water I give her.

edit: Just ordered some Calci-blast. Thanks for the link, "Goldie" thanks you too.

 

[diamc]

Great, the calci-blast should do her some good. My older beardies used to really like it.

What flavor did you get?

 

[SeventyGTX]

Got the unflavored. I thought about raspberry, but my wife reminded me we bought some for her one time years ago, and she wouldn't eat them. I wasn't sure if she would like any of the others so took the safe bet with unflavored.

 

[diamc]

Unflavored is fine, it should really help her out. How has she been doing since yesterday?

 

[SeventyGTX]

Unflavored is fine, it should really help her out. How has she been doing since yesterday?

She stayed under her rock where she sleeps most of the day. But that's pretty normal for her. She may stay there for a couple of days, then all of a sudden I will see her up on her basking rock watching everything I do. After this many years, I pretty much know what her normal is. :wink:

 

[diamc]

After this many years, I pretty much know what her normal is

That's certainly understandable.