Mega Black Beard

[LittleRepieye]

My poor Draco has been though allot in the last 3 weeks, been to the vet 3 times for what they finally think is a urinary track infection.
But yesterday his mood changed allot. He has always been the sweeetest lizard Ive ever met. Well yesterday he attempted to bite the vet tech when she tried to open his mouth, something he has never done before, and since we brought him home yesterday after the visit he has had a black BLACK beard and been really skittish He even was black bearding while he slept. He will calm down a little bit when I take him out of his tank, the shade of black will go down. When he goes back in he goes back to black black. Nothing has changed in his tank at all, temps are all good. It been a day now and he still is black black. Is it just maybe a coincidence maybe that he just hit puberty? I've seen him what looks like he is chasing himself in the reflection on his back wall, hes like 11 months to a year old.

He has been really reluctant on taking his meds too, he will thrash and just flick it everywhere, he wasn't this bad when I gave him his last meds last week. Also when I go to get him out of his tank, I usually let him lick or smell my finger before I lift him but as soon as my hand goes near him he will jump up and back away, but not run away and he still lets me pick him up, but he never used to jump, I'm afraid he is just hates/mad at me because he thinks I'm gonna give him his medicine There anyway I can gain his trust back, I don't want him to always think he is getting meds when I go to pick him up. I have hand fed him and he gets cuddles every night, I just want him to calm down and not be stressed and black bearding allll the time.

 

[diamc]

Sorry to hear that he is not acting right. What meds did they put him on? Are you giving him a probiotic to help to restore the good gut flora that the antibiotic destroys? Also make sure to keep him well hydrated because antibiotics are very drying.

Have you tried just picking him up and cuddling with him without having to give him the meds? I'm sure he has been traumatized by the vet appts and all the meds so that's why it's important to spend extra time holding him to give him reassurance. How is his appetite?

 

[LittleRepieye]

Thank you for the reply. He was on Panacur last week to treat for pinworms, now hes on Sulfatrim for the pinworms and the infection. He was good on the panacur he would just sit there and let me drip it into his mouth, he was a little resistant, but would take it in the end. This one though he will trash and run and want nothing to do with it, I try to get it into his mouth but he will just flick the syringe out and seems to just really stress him out. Hes been decent on his appetite, but I have been giving him bene-bac. He will eat his feeders fine but no salad for a month now.
Ive also been bathing him 2-3 times a week and giving him water though a eyedropper everyday. I Usually cuddle him for a hour or 2 before he goes in his viv to sleep, I didn't last night though because I didn't wanna stress him out anymore.

I took him out to roam for a half hour today, he still was black bearding but not so dark, and wanted to sit on my knee and seemed calm, but I'm letting him relax right now in his viv and he is super black beard and is resting.I usually take him out to feed him and then for a small roam in the middle of the day, then he usually settles down and cuddles for a few hours at night.

 

[zillathakilla]

I'de be pissed if people put me in a hospital for a couple of days and i had worms and a urinary infection, im sure the meds wouldn't be pleasant either...just keep handleing him and making him feel comfortable,the last thing u want is him to start disliking you

 

[LittleRepieye]

Yea , Ive been giving him allot of time to roam( He usually is out allot anyway watching tv with me or sitting on the computer), hes calmed down a bit today, but always reverts back to black beard when he has to get his meds, poor little guy He gets so angry I can't wait till this is over with so I can gain his trust back again, Just wish they knew you where trying to help them sometimes, hehe.

This is a video I got of him yesterday, He was doing this until I would take him out of his viv, then when I put him back went right back to it, I'm not sure if it's his reflection that is bothering him too.

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff486/LittleRepieye/Draco/?action=view&current=02-02-11002.mp4

 

[diamc]

I would say that he is definitely reacting to his reflection so blocking that one side might very well help him calm down. How old is he?

 

[LittleRepieye]

I'm not 100% sure on his age, but I have had him a year in April and I think he was 2-3 months old then.