I don't know what happened?

[keschete]

I have a huge 800 gram male beardie. I left him to soak in the tub. In literally 1 inch of warm water for 10 minutes, and he was fine when I got him out. Then going back to his cage he started puffing water out his nose. So I held him with his head down and patted him on the back. Then he threw up some water, and then he quit breathing.

I freaked and I started CPR like you do in dogs. I did a combination of choking for a baby and rescue breaths. I had him head down and was doing back blows and then a few rescue breaths. After about a minute he started breathing again.

Even with his head down in the tub he couldn't have drowned, the water was too shallow. He must have tried to drink and sucked in too much. He seems fine now, but I have him on my shoulder wrapped in a heating pad on low. He was all black bearded and is slowly comming back around.

I have a reptile vet, but it is Christmas, so they aren't open and he seems fine. I am going to stay up with him tonight.

Tough lesson, don't even leave a big beardie in even an inch of water.

Any suggestions? I am assuming as long as he doesn't develop pneumonia we will be in the clear.....

God that was scary. I was crying. But rescue breaths do work, just like on a dog, hand over the snount and blow into the nostrils, the beard and the lungs both inflate.

Scary but good to know. I will book a vet visit ASAP.

 

[AHBD]

Wow, what a scary experience ! Good work on your part to get him breathing ! Just keep him warm tonight [ not too hot though, probably 80 F is fine] and position him, if possible, with his head pointing down slightly. Hopefully his lungs are clear.

 

[keschete]

I am a Nurse Practitioner and I pulled out my special infant stethescope (I don't use often) because I do ENT now, use to do peds. He is clear. His lungs and heart sound great.

I will still sit up with him. I could not bear to loose him. He is my buddy. I was almost hysterical and then the ER training kicked in. I just acted like he was an infant.

He is all back to color now and very alert.....just scary and a good warning. Even and inch of water is enough to drown in. I was stupid and shouldn't have left him.

 

[diamc]

Good job for your fast thinking and acting. It certainly sounds like it paid off. When you put him down for the night, it would be a good idea to have his head lower than the rest of his body in case there is more water that needs to drain out, it's always good to take that precautionary measure.

Be sure to keep us updated on him.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Wow, that is so unnerving, but at least you kept your head about you though! That is great you acted quickly.
I hope he wont have any respiratory issues but if you got it cleared out so fast, most likely he wont. Poor thing! They don't have diaphrams so it is hard for them to clear their lungs on their own.
I am SO glad that he is alright. Let us know how he is doing in the morning.
Don't forget to keep him in a tank around 80 during the night, also.

Tracie

 

[keschete]

Thanks, I don't think I can even sleep tonight!!! I might just stay up.

Thinking back, I think maybe he drank too much and then when I picked him up, he regurgitated and then inhaled. He was actually completely lifeless for a few seconds and I started wailing and my husband came in the kitchen. Then my nursing exp as an ER nurse just kicked in.

I would advise anyone with pets to take child and infant CPR or dog and cat CPR. I also used to teach Ped advanced life support.

OMG, I am so worn out! I am just thankful my little buddy is okay.....I would be devistated without him. He is my baby and he has so much personality!!! He is like a kid!!!

 

[Esther19]

I'm so thankful this had a positive outcome! Good work!

 

[keschete]

Thank you! He is head down wrapped in Viva paper towel, on a heating pad on very low (checked it with my hand) and the lone dog that is up with me, is checking him regularly. I set his ceramic heat emitter in the cage to 80, but he may just sleep with me and the dog on the sofa.

I was so distraught earlier, I don't know that I could even sleep.

I keep thinking how could he have sucked in enough water...but he must have drank in too much and then when I picked him up regurgitated into the lungs.

Good info for others to prevent this....

He is so funny as I type this he is eye balling me, like "what are we gonna do next?"

 

[Freddiemom]

Wow that is scary! I just went thru the same thing with Flipper and babyfood. I had Flip up too sitting with him on my chest, being thankful he's still here. We thought he was a goner for sure (he has other health issues) I just did chest compressions with flip. :wink: Good job. I'll keep my fingers crossed he stays well. Handsome boy, too.

 

[dragonlover3]

It's a Beardie Christmas Miracle!
Merry Christmas!
Amanda

 

[kitkat101]

It's a miracle!!! I'm so happy your beardie is looking better! Quick thinking!

 

[diamc]

So happy to hear that he is doing better. I'll bet you didn't get any sleep at all, it's terribly scary.

I have actually heard of this happening before. When they're drinking like that, they have control of how much water they're taking in but when you grab them, it startles them and their first reaction is to inhale and that's what causes the problem. So, if at any time one of your adult beardies is drinking (you can see the sides of their mouths and beards moving) just watch them, they will lift their heads way up when they're done. Our Judas drinks quite a bit from his bath water and likes me to hold him at an incline with just his mouth in the water, when he is done, he lifts his head way up and puffs out his beard as the water goes down, that way he is totally in control of the situation.

 

[keschete]

That is the funny thing. He wasn't drinking at the time. I think when I picked him up maybe it caused regurgitation. Because he is such a fatty (he is actually on a diet). He started gurgling and then vomited, now that I step back and think about it. That is when he started choking and quit breathing.

He is good now, and I will call the vet tomorrow, but as long as he stays warm and doesn't get pneumonia, we should be fine. I just wont leave him alone again and I will be careful how I pick him up. I think it was just a fluke. I have 4 lizards and I have never had this happen before.

I am just relieved, I would be devistated if anything happened. My husband is totally freaked that I did CPR and rescue breaths.....he may never kiss me again!!!

I told him the lizard was cleaner than him!!! Hehehe.... :mrgreen:

 

[dragonlover3]

"I told him the lizard was cleaner than him!!! Hehehe.... "

laughing my butt off :laughhard:

 

[diamc]

Perhaps he had been drinking and hadn't swallowed it all the way, still having some water in his mouth. Anyway, you did a great job & acted very quickly which was great.

Wonder how long it will be before your husband kisses you again. :lol: