Maybe overreacting.?

[Sue E.]

Truthfully a CT scan would be best to pinpoint esp an aspiration pneumonia or pneumonitis ( the latter is NOT an infection so it wouldnt show up in bloodwork). I know they do do them on bearded dragons but I have no idea where or how much they cost. @Drache613 would be best at this info. (Im not a vet, just a people nurse).

 

[acidburn01]

Truthfully a CT scan would be best to pinpoint esp an aspiration pneumonia or pneumonitis ( the latter is NOT an infection so it wouldnt show up in bloodwork). I know they do do them on bearded dragons but I have no idea where or how much they cost. @Drache613 would be best at this info. (Im not a vet, just a people nurse).

I think so, too. Its just expensive and we don't have the money right now. I didn't get a video, but tonight, she started coughing when I picked her up out of her tank and then after several airy cough/hacks, she whipped her head back and forth pretty quickly/hard several times, but i didn't see anything in her mouth (what she'd let me see), so it doesn't make sense as to what is going on.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is alarming, her black beard. Did she act in this way before she had the hornworms? How large were the hornworms? It has happened that they can aspirate larger worms, & it can cause respiratory issues.
The CT scans are expensive, but an ultra sound should show some lung problems, probably more than just an X--ray.
When was the last blood test she has had done? If she is having liver issues, that can sometimes cause digestive issues if the liver is enlarged.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

 

[acidburn01]

Hello,

That is alarming, her black beard. Did she act in this way before she had the hornworms? How large were the hornworms? It has happened that they can aspirate larger worms, & it can cause respiratory issues.
The CT scans are expensive, but an ultra sound should show some lung problems, probably more than just an X--ray.
When was the last blood test she has had done? If she is having liver issues, that can sometimes cause digestive issues if the liver is enlarged.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

She gets the beard when she starts coughing. Usually, she won't have one. And no, the worms were normal size for her, if that makes sense. She's always pretty good about chewing her food. Im real concerned with the head whipping and trying to get whatever is in her mouth out because when she's thrashing her head back and forth, I don't know what to do in that situation.

 

[Sue E.]

Is her cough dry or wet? Any rapid breathing, labored breathing, sides going in and out a lot when she is breathing? No mucus in her mouth? If its a dry cough with no difficuty breathing, in a human, we would think of bronchitis, allergy, or something irritating the airway. Could there be something too small to create a blockage but extremely irritating to her? Like a hair, a fiber, somwthing too small to see? How is your humidity level in the tank? Heat will make it drier. Its a vicious cycle, the more you cough, the more irritated your airways get (I have this , kind of an allergy/GERD issue). Would she accept a little organic baby food (NOT meat, something with no texture)...maybe a butternut squash or some applesauce (idk if dragons can have applesauce..more experienced keepers please weigh in here). Increasing fluids may help the problem but she almost needs something to coat and soothe that airway. Idk if dragons can get GERD, but the reflux thing can cause a chronic cough too. What is the current ambient temp in your tank? Again, I am NOT a vet, just shooting around some ideas for you.

 

[acidburn01]

Is her cough dry or wet? Any rapid breathing, labored breathing, sides going in and out a lot when she is breathing? No mucus in her mouth? If its a dry cough with no difficuty breathing, in a human, we would think of bronchitis, allergy, or something irritating the airway. Could there be something too small to create a blockage but extremely irritating to her? Like a hair, a fiber, somwthing too small to see? How is your humidity level in the tank? Heat will make it drier. Its a vicious cycle, the more you cough, the more irritated your airways get (I have this , kind of an allergy/GERD issue). Would she accept a little organic baby food (NOT meat, something with no texture)...maybe a butternut squash or some applesauce (idk if dragons can have applesauce..more experienced keepers please weigh in here). Increasing fluids may help the problem but she almost needs something to coat and soothe that airway. Idk if dragons can get GERD, but the reflux thing can cause a chronic cough too. What is the current ambient temp in your tank? Again, I am NOT a vet, just shooting around some ideas for you.

Its a dry, airy cough. Like a squeezing a broken squeaker toy and just forcing air out of it, if that makes sense. She'll do that several times before she either just licks a lot like there's something in her mouth or full on whip her head like somethings coming up. But ive seen nothing. The vet has seen nothing, and she had Nova's mouth *open* and she could damn near see down to her stomach. And I don't know the correlation but she'll either cough a few times and be done or have a mini fit and cough several times with the head whipping and cough so hard, she'll poop but because she hasn't been eating (only that hornworm in the last week) its only been some loose urate. I don't know if she's going (maybe the antibiotic shot is upsetting her belly) and pushing and thats making her cough or it's the other way around, but it's happened three ish times.

No mucus in her mouth, her saliva isn't real sticky or anything like that. She does have some labored breathing, she definitely seems like she doesn't feel too hot. Breathing kinda deep and a little quick, I believe. The humidity is like 30%, I think and I did bump her temps up a good bit when she started coughing so right now, her basking spot is 103-104. And she wouldn't willingly accept it, but ive been terrified of giving her any water or anything like that because she does shake her head when she coughs sometimes, just like there's something in her mouth, and im terrified she's going to aspirate, just like Dreki did. I think we're going to try to get an xray tomorrow, just to get an idea on her lungs because its been a week and she's not getting better.

 

[xp29]

Its a dry, airy cough. Like a squeezing a broken squeaker toy and just forcing air out of it, if that makes sense. She'll do that several times before she either just licks a lot like there's something in her mouth or full on whip her head like somethings coming up. But ive seen nothing. The vet has seen nothing, and she had Nova's mouth *open* and she could damn near see down to her stomach. And I don't know the correlation but she'll either cough a few times and be done or have a mini fit and cough several times with the head whipping and cough so hard, she'll poop but because she hasn't been eating (only that hornworm in the last week) its only been some loose urate. I don't know if she's going (maybe the antibiotic shot is upsetting her belly) and pushing and thats making her cough or it's the other way around, but it's happened three ish times.

No mucus in her mouth, her saliva isn't real sticky or anything like that. She does have some labored breathing, she definitely seems like she doesn't feel too hot. Breathing kinda deep and a little quick, I believe. The humidity is like 30%, I think and I did bump her temps up a good bit when she started coughing so right now, her basking spot is 103-104. And she wouldn't willingly accept it, but ive been terrified of giving her any water or anything like that because she does shake her head when she coughs sometimes, just like there's something in her mouth, and im terrified she's going to aspirate, just like Dreki did. I think we're going to try to get an xray tomorrow, just to get an idea on her lungs because its been a week and she's not getting better.

Please let us know the outcome. It's strange having the cough like that with no explanation. I would be having a stroke if I had to go through everything you guys have.

 

[acidburn01]

Please let us know the outcome. It's strange having the cough like that with no explanation. I would be having a stroke if I had to go through everything you guys have.

I think we're gonna see about an xray and maybe a different antibiotic because shes starting to look like Dreki did and I cant handle that. I won't survive losing another one, especially this soon. And the whole cough/sorta poop thing is stressing me tf out. I don't have the money for all this and don't know what to do.

 

[xp29]

I think we're gonna see about an xray and maybe a different antibiotic because shes starting to look like Dreki did and I cant handle that. I won't survive losing another one, especially this soon. And the whole cough/sorta poop thing is stressing me tf out. I don't have the money for all this and don't know what to do.

Maybe start a go fundme page for her. Link it her, facebook, X , ect. Even if it don't bring in a lot, anything helps

 

[Sue E.]

I dont know how to set one up but if you or someone else does, Ill def contribute what I can

 

[xp29]

I dont know how to set one up but if you or someone else does, Ill def contribute what I can

Me also.

 

[Sue E.]

I think we're gonna see about an xray and maybe a different antibiotic because shes starting to look like Dreki did and I cant handle that. I won't survive losing another one, especially this soon. And the whole cough/sorta poop thing is stressing me tf out. I don't have the money for all this and don't know what to do.

Was it Entamoeba histolytica?

Maybe start a go fundme page for her. Link it her, facebook, X , ect. Even if it don't bring in a lot, anything helps
[/QUOTE

 

[acidburn01]

Me also.

I dont know how to set one up but if you or someone else does, Ill def contribute what I can

You guys are the literal best. like, seriously. Scott, you know you've answered so many dumb questions from me over the last two years or so, its unreal. I was able to better my care for the scale babies because of you guys.

 

[xp29]

You guys are the literal best. like, seriously. Scott, you know you've answered so many dumb questions from me over the last two years or so, its unreal. I was able to better my care for the scale babies because of you guys.

I love people who loves beardies and I don't know anyone that loves them more than you

 

[acidburn01]

I love people who loves beardies and I don't know anyone that loves them more than you

Me also.

You're literally the best.

I don't have a Facebook or X, but Im in the beardie subreddit so I can post it there but i made a gofundme for the Nova Soctia. Yes, thats a lame nickname.

Donate to Save Nova: Our Beloved Bearded Dragon, organized by Amber Martin

On October 26th, my boyfriend and I made a decision to purchase another bearded dra… Amber Martin needs your support for Save Nova: Our Beloved Bearded Dragon

gofund.me