Not eating normally weeks after deworming

[JennaJ]

My Beardie Steve is 8 months old. He started having mushy stools and lost his appetite, and was treated for pinworms. After two doses of Panacur, his stools have mostly improved, but his appetite has not. The last dose was 3 weeks ago, and he is still not eating normally.

He will eat some greens on his own, but will only eat bugs if hand fed them. He is not eating nearly enough for a growing dragon. This has been going on for weeks now, and I am at my wits end. His temps are good, and I don't know what else could be wrong. He seems somewhat interested in the food, but won't eat out of a bowl/dish. Sometimes he doesn't look like he feels well. He is maybe eating 1/8 of what he should be each day, and that's mostly with us "begging" him to eat with repeated offering. Do I just hold my ground and let him figure out that he needs to eat on his own?

HELP. ?

 

[CooperDragon]

Sometimes they go through phases of eating less, and that is normal. I would keep an eye on his weight. If that is remaining fairly stable, then he is probably OK and just in between growth spurts so not eating as much. If he is showing signs of shedding then that can affect appetite and mood as well. If he is losing weight or is acting lethargic, showing a black beard, etc, then something may be up. Otherwise I'd just keep offering food as usual and monitor his weight for now.

 

[JennaJ]

Sometimes they go through phases of eating less, and that is normal. I would keep an eye on his weight. If that is remaining fairly stable, then he is probably OK and just in between growth spurts so not eating as much. If he is showing signs of shedding then that can affect appetite and mood as well. If he is losing weight or is acting lethargic, showing a black beard, etc, then something may be up. Otherwise I'd just keep offering food as usual and monitor his weight for now.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease. His activity level does seem OK. We found our kitchen scale and have weighed him a couple times (he did at least maintain his weight over the course of about a week). Not to jinx it, but he ate pretty well yesterday. He was shedding almost constantly those first several months (got him at 2 months old), but hasn't been shedding for probably two months....

Hopefully just between/after growth spurts. Will just keep on keeping on and keep and eye on him. Thanks again. ?

 

[JennaJ]

I keep going back and forth on this, but I feel like something is still amiss. He is 8 1/2 months old and hasn't shed in 2 months... He still just doesn't seem to be eating enough, even if he weren't growing.

He is over 20 inches and weighs 480 grams -- could he be mostly done growing at 8 months and that's why his appetite changed so dramatically? But I know he has lost a little weight.... I just wish he had the appetite he used to. The vet saw him a couple days ago and said that since he has fat stores, he should be getting what he needs.

Sorry for all this, trying to get all my thoughts out and hoping for any advice. I have some Fluker's Reptiboost on the way.

 

[Claudiusx]

At 20 inches he definitely is nearing the end of his growth, if he hasn't already. And at near 500 grams too, he's quite hefty.

A lot of times, owners worrying is what causes an issue. They worry something is wrong, and start doing something when nothing needs to be done.

Is he acting sickly? Is he acting weak? Is he moving around? Is he eating still on his own? Is he basking?

Don't force yourself into believing he is sick, it sounds like from what you described, that he is just fine and perfectly content.

Their dietary needs change as they grow, and he likely just doesn't want to eat as much protein anymore, and is more interested in salads. Or at the least, doesn't feel the need to eat large amounts of food like he once did when he was younger and still growing.

-Brandon

 

[JennaJ]

Is he acting sickly? Is he acting weak? Is he moving around? Is he eating still on his own? Is he basking?

-Brandon

I wouldn't say sickly, but maybe a little "blah". This is my first Beardie, so I don't know their body language/expressions too well yet. Sometimes he looks like he doesn't feel great (looks tired, squinty eyed), but maybe just chilling? I noticed when I gave him a soak today and had him out he seemed more perky. Maybe he is just bored and needs more stimulation? He does bask after he eats, but some days he kind of hides away for a lot of the day. If we didn't hand feed him it's likely he wouldn't eat. He does eat some salad most days, if we put a pile next to him.

He really isn't eating on his own, though. Today he ate no salad, and only ate bugs because I hand fed him. I don't know if he could be just that spoiled? I have also been giving him the bugs he will eat (more "treat bugs" than is ideal). Maybe I just need the willpower to leave his food out and make him realize he needs to eat on his own? Even if it means he doesn't eat for a day?

Thanks all, for your time working through this with me.