New German Giant Rescue. Something Is Wrong!

[BlitzTheBeardie]

hello everyone.

I just rescued a german giant bearded dragon from a pet store that was shut down due to animal abuse/neglect.

This bearded dragon is breathing weird. She doesn't do it all the time. She only does it when she had been active/moving for a while and "out of breathe" I guess I'll say. Very rarely will she do it while basking and sitting still, but she has a few times.

Her conditions were horrible. She wasn't fed properly. Maybe a few crickets per week. No veggies or fruit and no calcium dust or multivitamin dust at all. She has no UVB or basking light. The pet store owner sit the aquarium beside the window and claimed that was all the UVB it needed. He also had yard mulch in the aquarium as substrate!

She was pretty much threw in an aquarium and fed very rarely...

Here is a video of what she is doing. Its not as bad as she usually does it though. She usually makes a loud wheezing sound... then breathes deep a few times... then shes "normal".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-meeGz6GPWw

Anyways... what do yall think is wrong with this big girl? Upper respiratory infection? What can I do for her to make her better?

Thanks in advance!

 

[AHBD]

Yes, looks like a resp. infection. Be careful of putting her in the water, she can aspirate + even make it worse. Her body condition is not real bad, take some pics + video of her in her new tank. Keep her temps. at about 80 overnight if possible , to boost her immune system.

It may actually have been brought on by too cool temps. combined with the substrate she was on. See how she does in a week or so, in the meantime look for a vet that has experience with bearded dragons.

 

[BlitzTheBeardie]

Thanks for the reply!

I will definitely do what you recommended.

I live in West Virginia... and the closest vet that will even see a bearded dragon is almost 2 hours away. I'm hoping it doesn't come down to that and she will get better. She was so hungry and dehydrated when I got her... it was unbelievable.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is your girl doing today, any improvements so far?
I would consider trying a nebulizer for help with breathing issues as it penetrates tissue very well.
As suggested, keeping her overnight temperatures to around 80 also will help to boost her immune system, too.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[BlitzTheBeardie]

hello everyone!

She seems to be doing better! I didn't hear her make the noise at all yesterday and didn't see her do it either! Her cage is in the living room, so I keep a constant eye on her.

She eats like a champ. omg! She puts my other 2 bearded dragons to shame. She loves her greens/veggies mix and will do back flips and cartwheels for dubia roaches (literally as many as i feed her! She doesn't stop eating) lol

 

[AHBD]

That's great, sounds like the respiratory distress was just a temporary thing. And she's turned in to a champion eater too.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is wonderful she is doing better now! I guess the nebulizer treatments really helped her out, they are terrific for lung issues & respiratory problems, too. I am happy to hear she is tearing up the food too, it sounds like she will keep you on your toes!

Tracie