no function in rear legs and seems bloated and lethargic

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billshaw

Member
Original Poster
Well Rex is doing good but i do not think he is getting enough to eat. He is not touching his lettuce and only has about 6 drops, plus or minus, of diluted baby food. He had a very small cricket 2 days ago but will not touch any more. Tried one yesterday and one today but he does not want it. Any advise? I am afraid he is not eating enough and that is why his energy is off and on.
Thanks
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello Bill & Lauren,

That can be a concern with him not eating enough. Keep trying to get more food into him though. How many times per day are you feeding him? Frequency is important if he is not eating much each feeding. That is probably why he doesn't have enough energy.
Are you adding any calcium or vitamins to his food? If he is not ready to eat crickets, then you can just try again in a few days.
Are you dripping it onto his nose? If he is losing weight then we will need to get more food into him.
Be patient with him. Sometimes, it takes them a week or so to get over an incident like that. Keep a close eye on him in the meantime.
Keep us posted on him.

Tracie
 

billshaw

Member
Original Poster
Hello Tracie,
Thank you for all of your help. He ate a cricket today, he even went after it as best he could. He is getting liquid calcium daily. Drip into his nose? I feed him 2-3 times a day, depending on how much he eats.
thanks again
Bill and Lauren
 

billshaw

Member
Original Poster
Ok so just now was the third time in the last hour that he is opening his mouth and just holding it there. He does not want any water because when i try to give him some he closes it. Any ideas what it about and what we should do?
Thank you
Not a good/clear photo but the best i could do.
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Denise Bushnell (RIP)

Juvie Member
Retired Moderator
Have you checked his tank temperatures, and the temp on his basking site? If his temps are a bit too high, that could be why he's gaping like that. You should be using a digital thermometer with a probe to check his temperatures. If you don't have one, you can pick one up at any Walmart for about $12. Unfortunately, the thermometers that you buy in pet stores are notoriously inaccurate, and sometimes may be off by 20 degrees, either way.

To get an accurate reading of his temperatures, you should place the digital portion of the thermometer on the floor of the cooler side of his tank, and attach the probe to the object that he uses as a basking site on the warmer side of his tank. That way, you're measuring the actual temperature thats up against his tummy after he eats, instead of the air around it. The temperature of the object that he basks on should be between 100 and 110 degrees, and the cooler side of his tank should be between 80 and 90 degrees.

If his temperatures are fine, and he continues to gape like that continually, then you may have to take him back to the vet, as he may have picked up an Upper Respiratory Infection. As I mentioned before, the humidity in his tank could be elevated, due to the waterfall in his tank, which may be causing problems for him in his weakened condition.
Have you noticed his sitting up very straight and gazing up at his lights for long periods of time, or sleeping with his head propped up on the glass, or something else in his tank. Both of those things can also be one of the first symptoms that you'll see if he has picked up an Upper Respiratory Infection, since being in that position will help his sinuses to drain, and make it easier for him to breathe. If he has picked up an URI, that could also be affecting his appetite, and he'll need an antibiotic to clear it up, If you still have the Baytril that the vet prescribed, you might want to check with Tracie to see if she thinks it would be a good idea to give it to him, just in case. She can also advise you on the dosage, if the vet didn't indicate how much to give him.

Another thing that you might want to consider, because of his poor appetite, is purchasing a tube of a product called "JumpStart", which is manufactured by Zilla. It is a concentrated caloric supplement and appetite stimulant for reptiles who are off their food, due to illness, or other reasons, and is chock full of all the vitamins and nutrients that he needs to keep him healthy if he isn't eating well for you. It is sometimes difficult to find in local pet shops, but you can purchase it online at ReptileSupply.com, and the cost is about $10. It comes in a tube, in a molasses based, paste form, and if you mix about a teaspoon of that in with about a half jar of his baby food, he may be more willing to eat for you, since its sweet, and most of them like the taste of it.

If you end up having to give him the Baytril, then you may also want to order a bottle or two of Acidophiliz+ from ReptileSupply.com Acidophiliz+ is a probiotic which should be given to beardies who have taken, or are taking, an antibiotic, since antibiotics will kill off all the good bacteria in his digestive tract, which are what cause him to feel hunger, and also help him to digest his food. Giving him a probiotic, such as the Acidophiliz+, will replace those good bacteria and should improve his appetite.

If you are interested in how it works, and how to provide more supportive care that might improve his appetite. I would recommend that you read through my article "Supportive Care During Antibiotic Treatment for Coccidia and Other Intestinal Parasites". You can find the article by clicking on the "Care Sheets and Articles" link at the top of the home page here on the forum.

Although we don't know for sure that he has parasites, the supportive care would be the same, since, if you have to give him the Baytril, he is taking an antibiotic, just for a different reason.

I will send Tracie a Private Message, and alert her to the fact that you may be having problems with him again, due to his gaping. I'm sure that she'll check here and read this thread, and then can advise you on what she thinks would be best for you to do.
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello Bill & Lauren,

Hm, he is gaping more now?
As Denise suggested, recheck your temps. If he gapes for prolonged periods of time, he is over heating.
Do you measure the humidity in the tank? It is possible the humidity is too high. When they are ill or not feeling well, their immune system can easily succumb to infections more so than if they are not in a weakened state.
Can you tell whether or not there is any mucous in his mouth, or if his saliva is thickened or more stringy than normal?
I agree, the jumpstart is an excellent product that is very effective in helping out their appetite when they are suffering from poor appetite.
Is he fairly active right now, or is he sluggish? Are his gums white to pale or healthy pink?

Tracie
 

billshaw

Member
Original Poster
The temps have been normal and same with his humidity (we took the waterfall out the day he got sick). If he keeps it up the gaping then i will call the vet about a possible URI. I have been at classes today so i have not been home to watch him (first time since he has been sick, it was hard to be away ). Thank you for you help. He started to eat a little more but he looks to skinny so i will probably have to get the "Jump start".
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello Bill & Lauren,

How are things going today?
Yes, I think getting some jump start would be a good idea if he is getting that thin. He needs his strength to get better. Good you did take the waterfall out initially.
I hope that he will begin improving for you soon. Please keep us posted on him.

Tracie
 

billshaw

Member
Original Poster
Today was an ok day. He stopped with the gaping but he is so skinny. Not eating much at all!! I can not wait for the "Jump Start" to come in (i had to order it). He ate some baby food and no crickets. Can not tell if any lettuce. Going to try a new kind of baby food and maybe some applesauce. Thinking about graded green beans too. I am willing to try anything, he lost too much wait from being sick. His energy is still up but not 100%.
Thanks again :)
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello Bill & Lauren,

Well, good he is not gaping right now & had a better day, overall. The jumpstart will hopefully get there soon for him. Good that you already ordered it. Bad timing huh, thanksgiving is this week.
Well, at least he is still eating though & has decent energy. I know, it is important to get some weight back on him though right now. Keep working with him, & hopefully he will begin feeling better & put some weight on again. Keep me posted! :D

Tracie
 

billshaw

Member
Original Poster
Rex has been doing so much better. Eating better to. i noticed today that his color all around, stomach and all, is so much darker then usual and after taking a bath his color is back to its normal light and bright orange. Any ideas as to why.
Thanks
Lauren and Bill
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello Bill & Lauren,

That is super news to hear that Rex is doing alot better now!
So his appetite is doing well also?
The colors when they get darker, usually indicates him trying to absorb more heat during that particular time. When he lightens up, then he has reached perfect temperatures & his mood is probably better also. :D
Does he like his baths? If not, then he could turn darker too, if he is not happy with his bath.


Tracie
 

billshaw

Member
Original Poster
Thank you, i did not know that about the lights. His color is lighter in the bath but i get the feeling that he does not like it because he is always trying his best to get out of it. Any tips for bath time?
Thanks
Lauren & Bill
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Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello Bill & Lauren,

Well for baths, it really helps if they can see out of the tub. So, if you are bathing him in the sink, to where he can't see out that might stress him. Try using a plastic or clear tub to where he can see out of it. That might help. Also put a towel on the bottom so he doesn't slide around too much, & keep your hand in the water so he can grab on if he needs to. It takes awhile before they get used to the baths. Some like them more than others.
He is a cutie!


Tracie
 

billshaw

Member
Original Poster
Hi everyone,
Rex has a lot of energy and looks better. He is still skinny and his eating is off and on. I mean he always eats something but not enough. He is only eating about 4 crickets (very small) a day (more or less sometimes) and some of the baby food (about an eye dropper full). The jump start is in and i can only get him to take it if it is mixed with his baby food. He is not drinking water though. He gets water from the baby food mixture and absorbs it through is bath(s). Do you think this is enough?
Ever since he got sick he has had this bump on his top back (spine). It has not gone away. I think it is from him being skinny but Bill swears that it is not and that it is getting bigger. I have cought him a few time on his back, from turning around and i think once/twice from turning wrong and falling.
Any ideas.
Thanks

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