I THINK MY BEARDIE IS DYING! PLEASE, I NEED HELP!

[kmdb]

I need help very badly. I have had my bearded dragon for about 10 years now and for the past few months my dragon has become completely lethargic. It first started when he was refusing to eat on his own (I spoon fed him almost every time I fed him). It got to where he would not eat vegetables or fruit. He would eat mealworms but only sometimes. I tried not to give him crickets too much because I knew his veggies were important (but he still did not want them). I'm pretty sure he went though a time of brumation but it started around summer time instead or fall or winter. He looked weak and tired a lot during this time. Just a few days ago, I fed him some crickets (with calcium powder) and he moved around like normal, chasing them for exercise because I give him live ones. So I got hopeful that my dragon would soon return to normal and tried to give him some greens (kale and spinach leaves in small pieces) and a few mealworms. He is not moving at all, very cold and his beard is extremely black. He is kind of pale for what color he normally is and parts of him look sunken in. He won't blink or open his mouth. I read somewhere that Pedialyte (the childs drinks and things) could help, by warming it and pouring some on a dragons body, their body is supposed to absorb the nutrients. I have no idea if that is true or not but I did give it a try and I had some response from my dragon, mainly just a few twitches here and there. But He did raise the tip of his tail and move it slightly for a good 15 seconds, probably. Right now he is sitting next to me and there is a heater in from of him because he was so cold. His environment: Sand for bedding, he has a bowl for food and a rock to bask on (also he can get under it for naps). The lighting is a single bulb, supposedly fit for a single beardie to keep warm and to bask in. I've never put a thermometer is his tank (I know that's bad but i've had him for 10 years and he has been fine up until this point). Is there anything I can do? Is he just old? I am so lost and feel like I am out of options. It is 2am and tomorrow is Sunday so I don't have access to a vet asap.

 

[sweetiepie9]

I understand he has a household bulb for basking which is find as long as it's at least 100F, you need to measure the temps. Does he have a UVB bulb? How is he getting his sunlight? And please keep feeding him crickets, you can feed the crickets the greens to make sure he gets some that way if he's not eating greens. Sounds as if he's dehydrated to yes, get the Pedialyte & put it 1/2 water, 1/2 Pedialyte and soak for a good 20 minutes, twice a day if you can manage. He's a good age for a beardie and they do start to fail. I have a 10 1/2 yr old as well, he's doing well but has to be hand fed.

Also get rid of the sand, he might have an impaction, meaning he's been licking at the sand and it's become hard in this stomach. So use newspaper or papertowel instead, that will help him out a lot.

Your dragon needs to get to a vet asap to check his digestive system. The black beard means he's in distress. So please do that asap & make sure he has a UVB bulb. Reptisun 10.0 is the best kind & make sure it's mounted inside the tank.

Hope this helps your beardie.

 

[Tonja]

Please stop feeding kale and spinach as those bind calcium making it so it cant be utilized. Feed mustard, collard, turnip, dandylion greens so his calcium gets absorbed properly.

 

[Momomo]

your beardie is pretty old, so he might naturally be shutting down BUT, I am curious as you say you only have a single bulb for him, is that a Mercury Vapor Bulb (heat UVA & UVB in one bulb)? Because if not, I am surprised he lived this long...