machomushu
Member
My bearded dragon's name is Mushu. I got him from a breeder who had no need for him anymore. He is about two years old and fully grown. He has never been a voracious eater and will not chase. I offered him crickets every day and had veggies available but eventually, due to his slow appetite I decided that I would just feed him his fill every other day. And yes I always powder with calcium supplement. I tried super worms and he preferred them so much that he soon decided that he didn't want crickets at all. Everything about him was very normal. He is in a 55ish gallon tank with a big uvb basking bulb that was quite expensive. I was going through other less expensive yet qualified bulbs like tissue paper so I got the more expensive ones with a year waranty. I have reptile carpet in his cage because every other day i give him a bath which he loves. He usually poops in the tub. Anyway... I started to notice that his energy level was getting kinda low but thought nothing of it due to the cold weather. Then about 2 months ago his limbs seemed weak. He kinda limped around. I thought maybe he strained himself while jumping from couch to chair and to couch again. His activity has lessened and lessened ever since. I started to worry and monitored almost everything but every time I was about to take him to the vet he seemed to get better. Well.. lately the limping won't go away like it miraculously seemed to earlier. I took him to the vet and he said that he was pretty stumped and that I was doing everything right. We had an X-ray taken and his bone density looked normal. He then suspected septic arthritis and prescribed me some antibiotics. A fecal analysis was done and pinworms were found so I also got a wormer. Throughout the 10 days I was giving him his medication his beard was black and he seemed to have gotten worse. He then refused to eat and has not eaten on his own yet. I have been force-feeding him bearded dragon pellets watered down and turned to mush and squirted down his throat with a seringe. I then called the vet and they said I should leave the light on all day and night because he might be in brumation and he needs to be functioning full force in order to get well again. After he was done with his meds he still didn't get any better. I took him in again... this doctor prescribed me calcium medicine. I am supposed to see a difference but I haven't. He has been on them about a week. He still isn't eating on his own and lethargic and limping around with shaky crippled wimpy arms and legs. I feel really bad for him. I just want him well or put out if his misery. He is a great lizard and I really love him. But not knowing what is wrong is killing my hopes. I feel like I have done everything and have gone above and beyond to help him. He has cost me a small fortune and no results. What do I do know?