Large urate issues

[GeckoGarden]

Hi guys,
Zivas had some weird healthy issues for a long time. Earlier this year she had a mass in her abdomen that turned out to be a large urate that was stuck. Hard as rock and about the size of the last joint in my thumb (so like 1/2 inch long)

She finally passed it with some meds, daily 30’min soaks, and adjusting her diet.

Both me and her vet couldn’t figure out why this happened. Her blood work was normal, xrays normal (even sent out to a radiologist) and fecal normal.

She gets top of the line care. (Between working for an exotic vet and being an exotic vet tech. She gets the best of the best)

As she’s gotten sick this year she’s gotten picky with her food, and her vision isn’t the best, she has a hard time seeing things if they are not moving.

Now, a few days ago, I felt the same mass in her abdomen starting to form. Fearing the worst once again, I started doing longer daily soaks, adjusted her diet again to help her pass it.

Well today she passed it, all over my bed ?, it was just as big as the last one but not as hard.


Here’s where me and my vet need advice. How do we stop these from forming. Or am I doomed for this to keep happening.

When they start to form I can tell right away because her behavior changes and you can tell she doesn’t feel good.

Now that she’s passed it she’s back to her normal self.

 

[GeckoGarden]

Here’s the huge one that caused the original issue.

Here’s tonight’s

 

[KarrieRee]

Tracie can address this issue - shes our vet tech --- you can PM her if you like look for her username on the board Drache613- find PM on her profile page
Karrie

 

[GeckoGarden]

Tracie can address this issue - shes our vet tech --- you can PM her if you like look for her username on the board Drache613- find PM on her profile page
Karrie

You know, after 10+ years of being on this site you’d think I would have remembered to do that lol. I’ll shoot her a message. Between work and everything I guess I spaced on this.

 

[Claudiusx]

That's really not "too" big for a dragon. I've had dragons that have passed larger.

I guess the first question would be, does it actually cause her discomfort? Or is it just worrysome to you? A totally understandable situation, a lot of times we worry more than we need to

The only way to prevent them from growing so large, is for them to be excreted more often. The urate will build and build and build until it's passed pretty much.

How are her activity levels right now?

For adults, what I usually find to work to increase poo'ing intervals is to make them be a bit more active, and bump up the basking temp if it's already on the low end.
If the diet is already fine, there isn't much to do there, but it might be worth it to post the daily diet so we can see if anything pops out at us.

My best suggestion would be to give her lots of active time around the house. Or doing whatever seems to get her motor running the best. For mine, it's usually exploring the house.

-Brandon

 

[GeckoGarden]

That's really not "too" big for a dragon. I've had dragons that have passed larger.

I guess the first question would be, does it actually cause her discomfort? Or is it just worrysome to you? A totally understandable situation, a lot of times we worry more than we need to

The only way to prevent them from growing so large, is for them to be excreted more often. The urate will build and build and build until it's passed pretty much.

How are her activity levels right now?

For adults, what I usually find to work to increase poo'ing intervals is to make them be a bit more active, and bump up the basking temp if it's already on the low end.
If the diet is already fine, there isn't much to do there, but it might be worth it to post the daily diet so we can see if anything pops out at us.

My best suggestion would be to give her lots of active time around the house. Or doing whatever seems to get her motor running the best. For mine, it's usually exploring the house.

-Brandon

Considering she’s only 14 inches long, and every time the build up like this it causes diarrhea, lack of appetite and hiding, it worries me a bit.

After she’s passed them she’s super active, always cruising around her cage, wanting out, but when they start to form she gets lethargic.

She does get lazy spurts when it’s above 90°f outside.

I try to take her out when she wants out, usually 2-3 times a week. She gives me this look while she’s on her log, or she’ll sit at her door and scratch.

You think taking her out daily for 15-30 min would help?

When she passed this last one I had her out for about an hour and she was climbing in my hair on my head while I was laying down and I heard her fart so, I placed her on a blanket and she pooped that out with a large pile of diarrhea.

How much hotter would you say to bump her temps?

 

[Claudiusx]

You think taking her out daily for 15-30 min would help?

It definitely won't hurt, and IME it does help them a lot in regards to passing stools.

What is your basking temp at right now?

She does get lazy spurts when it’s above 90°f outside.

Yup same with mine. Spoiled "desert" creatures hah.

So it does sound like they are bothering her then. I didn't realize she was not full grown yet. How long does she typically go in between poos? Probably would be best to post her daily diet then.

-Brandon

 

[GeckoGarden]

You think taking her out daily for 15-30 min would help?

It definitely won't hurt, and IME it does help them a lot in regards to passing stools.

What is your basking temp at right now?

She does get lazy spurts when it’s above 90°f outside.

Yup same with mine. Spoiled "desert" creatures hah.

So it does sound like they are bothering her then. I didn't realize she was not full grown yet. How long does she typically go in between poos? Probably would be best to post her daily diet then.

-Brandon

Oh no, she’s done growing. She’s a stunted rescue, no history, and despite the small size, no bone issues that appeared on x-ray the week after I got her. : / I never thought she’d be over 250 grams and she’s sitting at 287 right now. She was just over 150 grams when I got her

Honestly because of her stupid eating habits, I’m lucky to get a poop every other week. Her vision has gotten worse this year, and unless it’s alive and moving in her bowl, or on tongs, she can’t seem to see her food. I’m lucky if she’ll eat her salads in her bowl. When I first got her, she ate anything and everything like a pig, be it in a bowl or off tongs. Now If she tries to eat out of the bowl; no matter what bowl I give: she ends up usually biting the bowl and totally missing her salads.

If I can get her eating normally she’ll go once a week like clock work, but only if I can get her to eat daily. Right now I’ve got her eating daily because I found out she loves the repashy bearded dragon omnivore mix. So until she decides to eat her green salads when offered by hand, and in bowl(usually this just ends up crispy by the end of the day) she’s going to get repashy mixes.

Her basking log ranges from 90-107°f if it’s not hot out. If it’s hot out it will shoot up way to high so I turn that light off and turn her che for night time on, and it ranges 90-100°f on her other log.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, that isn't terribly long, but is it chalky & or hard?
She is a lucky girl you gave her a good home, so at least she seems to be doing well.
I'm glad she doesn't have any metabolic bone disease or other issues.
If you wanted to help increase her fiber some, you can get some squash baby food or
sugar free applesauce, or even some pumpkin (unspiced), to help increase the fiber in
her system.
What kind of calcium supplementation do you give her, powdered or liquid?

Tracie

 

[GeckoGarden]

Hello,

I agree, that isn't terribly long, but is it chalky & or hard?
She is a lucky girl you gave her a good home, so at least she seems to be doing well.
I'm glad she doesn't have any metabolic bone disease or other issues.
If you wanted to help increase her fiber some, you can get some squash baby food or
sugar free applesauce, or even some pumpkin (unspiced), to help increase the fiber in
her system.
What kind of calcium supplementation do you give her, powdered or liquid?

Tracie

The first one was super hard and chalky. This one wasn’t as hard, but still a bit dry and crumbly.

My main concern is every time it happens, she gets diarrhea and lethargic.

She’ll have normal poops for a while then this will happen

I’m using the repashy powder.