Losing Weight

[neonerd336]

I have posted on here many times about Titus who has never been a good eater. Up until now however, his weight has been ok and he has been fine. Now, he's lost a lot of weight and his tail base and head are really sunken in from weight loss. I can only get him to eat very small amounts at a time, right now its a pelleted food, ground up and mixed into squash baby food. This is all I can get him to eat. Vegetables are still untouched and I can't even get them forced into him. My question is, is there something the vet can do? Is there an IV of some kind or anything that I can do to get him back up to weight? I'm so worried. And before you ask, my set-up is all up to standards and everything. What do I do?!

 

[neonerd336]

I feel like such a horrible beardie owner because nothing I do is working and it's killing me.

 

[sherie]

Your poor thing- how stressful.

Im by no means an expert but this product link: http:http://www.hillspet.com/hillspet/products/productDetails.hjsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524441763368 has worked wonders for my little guy. The site says it can be used for malnutrition. It is precription only however you could just go to a vet and buy it without a 'script' as such, as its only available at vetinary practices.

Again im no expert and hopefully someone will jump online soon to help you further than I can but in the meantine check this product out as I have found it invaluable for the care of my little one.

Good luck!

 

[diamc]

I noticed it was back in 2009 that you had posted about him losing weight, so that's still going on? Did you ever have a fecal checked for parasites? What brand & type of UVB are you using and how old is it? How often are you dusting with calcium & vitamins? What are the basking & cool side temps and what type of thermometer are you using?

Is he eating any feeders at all now? If so, what ones? If he's not eating any feeders, have you been giving him chicken or turkey baby food so that he gets some protein in his diet? Have you tried giving him Critical Care formula which you can read about here? http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753955

How often are you bathing him? How old is he?

Sorry for all the questions but we really do need to rule things out first and you may have made some changes since 2009.

 

[neonerd336]

I'm using a 10.0 Repti-Sun Tube. It needs replacing but even when it was new he still wouldn't eat normally. I haven't been able to get him parasite checked which I know I need to do, I just need to catch a fresh poo which I have yet to be able to do. He's not on feeders because he refuses to eat crickets and I've been told superworms aren't good for him even though he loves those. I can give him chicken, I just need to know how to do it. Again, I've read that chicken is too fatty and shouldn't be used. When I get paid on Thursday, I will go get some critical care and a new UVB. I have a digital probe thermometer and my temps are fine. I don't usually bathe him though I know I should be, I offer him water very often though. He hates baths and gets really freaked out when I try and do it. He's approx. 5 if I go by what the pet store told me. Is a vet visit something I should seriously look into or is there some way that I haven't tried to get him to actually eat veggies like he has never done?

 

[diamc]

Well, I would start with a fecal check, even a regular vet can do that. If he has parasites, that would cause him to have loss of appetite and to lose wt. I would make that the priority.

I'm not sure where you got some of your info but supers are good to feed as well as a 2nd feeder. You could even use horns, butters, phoenix worms, silkies or roaches if he doesn't like crickets.

Chicken baby food is a good way to get protein into them. You mix a smaller amt of chicken with a larger amt of baby food squash, add a little water to thin it, heat in microwave to take the chill off, then use a needleless syringe or plastic medicine dropper and put drops on his nose for him to lick off. Mixing that with the critical care should help give him a boost.

He really needs to be kept hydrated too. You can even hold him in your hand making sure his vent is down in the water if the baths stress him out.

Be sure to keep us updated, sounds like you need to act fast and try doing these suggestions.

 

[neonerd336]

Thanks so much for all the advice