My baby bearded dragons Xrays, Vet can’t read them.. help

[28purple]

My bearded dragon has been experiencing a lot of symptoms most to what I have read lead me to believe he had a respiratory infection. He has had two weeks on baytril but nothing has seem to help. Vet doesnt think it’s an RI due to no pneumonia in his scans. So she thinks it could be something in his stomach, she took another set of xrays and now says she can read them so she needs to send them out to someone else. He’s not eating so it’s scaring me how long this is gonna take. **His temps were low for about a month after I got him due to the lack of research and Info given from pet store when I got him.Now have adjusted them to the proper temps and humidity.

 

[Claudiusx]

What made you think your dragon had an RI in the first place? Can you describe the symptoms you were seeing?

The bone density in the X-rays looks awful to be honest. What are you using for a UVB bulb?
What does your supplementation schedule look like?
Can you describe the daily diet?

What is your basking surface temperature?

-Brandon

 

[28purple]

Sorry I was trying to figure out how to reply

 

[28purple]

What made you think your dragon had an RI in the first place? Can you describe the symptoms you were seeing?

The bone density in the X-rays looks awful to be honest. What are you using for a UVB bulb?
What does your supplementation schedule look like?
Can you describe the daily diet?

What is your basking surface temperature?

-Brandon

Symptoms are gasping for air, mouth open breathing, excess saliva in mouth, liquid (mucous i think) coming out of nose,lethargic,not eating, weight loss, sleeping in upright position against glass. So when I researched those symptoms an RI came up so that’s when I took him into see the vet. She hasn’t given me an answer to what’s wrong.

I bought a tank bundle from petsmart and he had a dome uvb 13 watts that I would put next to his basking light where he spent most of the day.

Well up to about 3 weeks ago I didn’t know he needed supplements, I am sprinkling calcium on his crickets now and he is on an omnivore powdered food that I syringe feed him because he won’t eat crickets right now.

The powered food the vet gave him I make it by her instruction and I give it to him twice a day, and I’ll try to throw in some crickets to see if he’ll eat them. I also have to give him a bath everyday, that’s the only way he drink water he was very dehydrated. I didn’t have a water bowl in his tank due to being told they didn’t need water.

The temp on his basking side is at 100-110F

I struggle with keeping his humidity down. Some times it can get up to about 60% I’m not sure why.

 

[Claudiusx]

Ok, that definitely sounds like an RI though.
Is this a reptile vet? If not, many vets just haven't a clue about how to care or treat reptiles.

Antibiotics would only treat a RI if it was a bacterial infection. If the RI is caused by a virus, antibiotics will provide no help.

Lets go over your husbandry in more detail first so we can get that all squared away.

What are you using to measure your temperatures with?
Typically, the kits that you buy from stores are junk. You need to have a basking bulb that produces the proper temperatures, and a UVB bulb. The compact/coil UVB bulbs (the ones that screw into a standard bulb socket) are not suitable really for dragons. You need the long tube fluorescent type. The ones that are able to span half to 2/3rds of your tank.

Allow improper UV wouldn't have caused a RI, it's still an important part of their health that is worth taking care of.

Can you post a picture of your tank, and of your dragon?

When you see him sleeping upright like that, in this case it will be good to reposition him so his head is angled downwards. Babies often sleep pressed up against the glass like that. And that is ok, it's perfectly normal. But when there is an RI present, you want the head angled down to help drain the lungs.

Another important thing to be aware of during a RI (and any sickness really) is to try to keep the tank a bit warmer overnight. Aim for 80 degrees. This keeps the immune system more active, and helps to dry the lungs. You will want a CHE to achieve this, no other lights as they need complete darkness to sleep well.

-Brandon

 

[28purple]

Ok, that definitely sounds like an RI though.
Is this a reptile vet? If not, many vets just haven't a clue about how to care or treat reptiles.

Antibiotics would only treat a RI if it was a bacterial infection. If the RI is caused by a virus, antibiotics will provide no help.

Lets go over your husbandry in more detail first so we can get that all squared away.

What are you using to measure your temperatures with?
Typically, the kits that you buy from stores are junk. You need to have a basking bulb that produces the proper temperatures, and a UVB bulb. The compact/coil UVB bulbs (the ones that screw into a standard bulb socket) are not suitable really for dragons. You need the long tube fluorescent type. The ones that are able to span half to 2/3rds of your tank.

Allow improper UV wouldn't have caused a RI, it's still an important part of their health that is worth taking care of.

Can you post a picture of your tank, and of your dragon?

When you see him sleeping upright like that, in this case it will be good to reposition him so his head is angled downwards. Babies often sleep pressed up against the glass like that. And that is ok, it's perfectly normal. But when there is an RI present, you want the head angled down to help drain the lungs.

Another important thing to be aware of during a RI (and any sickness really) is to try to keep the tank a bit warmer overnight. Aim for 80 degrees. This keeps the immune system more active, and helps to dry the lungs. You will want a CHE to achieve this, no other lights as they need complete darkness to sleep well.

-Brandon

I’m not sure if she’s an expert of exotics but she’s the only one who would take him in right now. I called a bunch a places and everyone said no.

I have two hygrometers in the 20 gallon tank.

I just bought a new hood that has that tube uvb on it. I am on my way to purchase the bulb the one it came with was used already.
I will exchange the red bulb for the CHE

My concern is the humidity, could the hood increase it? I’m trying to rearrange everything to what’s best for him.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Lisa,

I sent you an email response tonight.
How is your little one doing?
I agree, the hipbones in particular look light in color or not very dense or strong.
Did the vet mention anything about metabolic bone disease at all?
Which tube bulb brand is that & it is resting on top of the screen correct? It isn't facing
in a very good angle. Can you try to mount the tube directly underneath of the screentop
so he can get a stronger UVB exposure?
It does sound like a respiratory issue, based on the symptoms you mentioned. A lot of it
is probably going to be due to improper heating or lighting.
Be sure to keep him a little warmer overnight, to help boost his system right now.

Tracie