I don't know what else to do...

[machomushu]

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?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am sorry he is having such a hard time.
First off he should not have prescribed antibiotics without doing a bloodtest to determine if there was a need for them. The meds can be harsh on their organs & should be used with probiotics to help with their tummy gut flora during the medication round.
He may have gotten too much medication, possibly.
Which mercury vapor bulb did you get? What brand?
Which calcium supplement do you use?
Can you post a picture of him?
It almost sounds like early metabolic bone disease, but I can't be sure yet.
Are you still leaving the lights on all day & night? That is not recommended because they will never get any sleep.
When did this start, before he went into brumation, or after he came out?

Tracie

 

[machomushu]

The bloodwork was clean.
The supplement I use is rep-cal.
I believe the bulb I have is the exo terra tight beam.
I am not longer leaving the light on all the time.
I have a hard time understanding brumation completely.
MBD was my guess but the fist vet said not likely and the second vet gave me calcium... so I don't know what is going on in their heads.
The bone density was fine.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

What type of Exo terra tight beam? The Sun Glo or the Solar Glo?
If you can, could you get a copy of the blood test results so I can see them? Were the calcium levels within range, & was an ionized calcium test done too?
Brumation is basically when they slow their metabolisms down to prepare for a resting phase. They all seem to do something different.
How is he doing today?

Tracie

 

[machomushu]

Today... he is doing nothing but basking. I do not have the results in hand... I will have to call them monday. I just got a phone call to tell me the results. I believe the light is sun glo

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ok, good that he is basking. However, I hate to say that if you have been using the Sun Glo that he has not been getting any UVB at all. That is just a basking bulb which will give him plenty of UVA & heat, but NO UVB at all. You will need to use the Solar Glo by Hagen exo terra if you want to stick with that particular line.
Great, I would like to look over the results. It takes awhile for metabolic bone disease symptoms to begin showing up in adults many times. The initial calcium blood levels may appear good, but it is the absorption that is being held & uploaded to the bones that will be affected first. The ionized calcium test shows the 25 hydroxy levels which are responsible for maintaining bone integrity & strength. It can be a slow process of the bones being slowly drained of calcium, over time & you would never know it.


Tracie

 

[machomushu]

Ok... Sorry it took a while to get back to you but one thing led to another and well.. you know how life goes. Horses... they are a handful.

Anyway.. I bought another bulb that the guy at the store said was the best for uvb. It is a 100 watt "Solar Brite" exotic pet light.

His bloodwork:

Heterophils 21.0%
Heterophil Abso 3150.0
Bands 0.0%
Absolutes 0.0
Lymphocytes 65.0%
Absolutes 9750.0
Monocytes 4.0%
Absolutes 600.0
Eosinophils 0.0%
Absolutes 0.0
Basophils 3.0%
Absolutes 450.0
Azurophilic Mon 7.0%
Absolute 1050.0
No toxic changes
Thrombocyte Est Adequate
HCT 30.0%
SGOT (AST) 28.0 IU/L
Total protein 8.5 g/dL
Albumin 3.1 g/dL
BUN 8.0 mg/dL
Phosphorus 3.4 mg/dL
Calcium 11.2 mg/dL
Glucose 202.0 mg/dL
Sodium 157.0 mEq/L
Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
Chloride 115.0 mEq/L
CPK 896.0 IU/L
Uric Acid 4.7 mg/dL
Globulin 5.4 g/dL

is that what you need??

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am not familiar with the Solar Brite, but I don't think it is probably a real good light. I can vouch for the Megaray, T-rex Active UV heat, the Solar Glo or the Powersun which have been used for awhile now. Who makes that light, & is it made in China?
I personally wouldn't go with a brand that is not well known as most are just junk.
Yes thanks for posting the blood tests.
Actually there is a couple of things that stand out.
The BUN which is the blood urea nitrogen is high at 8mg/dl. The normal ranges are 3-4mg/dl. That could indicate his body is not getting rid of waste efficiently enough & has nitrogen buildup. It is a measure of renal function. Urea is a substance secreted by the liver & then the kidneys get rid of it, via the blood.
The total protein is a bit high as well at 8.5g/dl. The normal ranges are around 6g/dl. The A:G ratio is off. The Albumin usually runs around 2.6g/dl while the Globulin usually runs around 2.3g/dl.
The calcium is ok, it is within range & so is the phosphorus & potassium.
I would like to see the Uric acid a little lower, under 4.5mg/dl.

I am thinking that he is dehydrated & possibly a little stressed due to the improper lighting. I urge you to consider trying to find one of the suggested lights instead of the Solar Brite since he has not been doing well. I hate for you to take a chance on an untested bulb right now.
Also, are you positive that Mushu is a male?

Tracie

 

[machomushu]

I can't believe this. I just spent 57.00 on this light. I was told that is has a high uvb output so I will stick to it for now. From what I can see he seems to be doing better. I am not 100% sure if my bearded is a male or female. Does it make a difference??

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry about that, it's just that it is not a well known brand so I cannot guarantee that it is even a decent bulb so he may not get good UVB exposure.
Well, it could matter the sex of the dragon yes. If it is female, she could be eggbound possibly.

Tracie

 

[machomushu]

Sorry I haven't been on in forever but HE IS EATING.. woohoo! and he is slowly getting more active. I am sooo happy. I think the light worked. He is getting to be his old self again. His beard is a little on the dark side and he has some signs of stress marks though.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is great he is eating now! I am happy to hear that the light has been helping him out now. I am glad to hear he has improved so much now for you. Let us know if you need anything.

Tracie

 

[machomushu]

Okie dokie. So why is he not eating well now? He has eaten 4 worms in i think about 3 weeks. I changed nothing!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Can I ask a favor please? Could you please post a ventral (belly towards the camera) picture, to include the inner thigh & vent area, so I can make sure that you have a male?
I was reviewing his bloodwork. There were a few things that were off, not alarmingly off, but a little bit. I did not mention it before because he began eating but I would like to confirm the sex of your Mushu. I just want to make sure he is in fact a male, & not a female.
Thanks.
So, how is he acting, is he lethargic? Is he basking at all, or active any at all?
Is he losing weight? Does he appear bloated in appearance? How do the eyes look?

Tracie

 

[machomushu]

Lemme figure out HOW to post the pic. Give me a bit...

But.. no, not lethargic. Looking a little skinny and yes, basking.