OLD BEARDIE - PLEASE HELP :(

[OldBeardie98]

I hope there isn't another topic on the same thing but I'm too concerned to look too much, because so far I haven't found anything on the internet that exactly questions my Ziggy's behavior.

So my beardy is around 12 or 13 years old, hitting that endzone... she trembles when we try to feed her (heard shaking like she can't see, body vibrating slightly like she wants to eat but just can't muster the strength). She's lost a painful amount of weight and simply won't/can't eat everything we offer her; veggies, crickets, worms, everything we've fed her through her whole life with calcium powder. We have her light on all the time now. She's extremely skinny when in her younger age she was fit and strong, running around everywhere and whatnot. I know her old age is definitely playing a big part in this but it hurts to not be able to do anything. I want to get her to at least eat something.

Is there anything I can do? Maybe feed her with some kind of liquid drops? She doesn't have any signs of mouth problems and she still looks around when I wave my finger near/far from her so I don't think she's going blind. It seems like she just physically can't eat anymore and now, even if she wanted to (which she does, because sometimes she tries and misses but gives up after a few misses) I don't think she has the strength for it. She's starving and I can't find any information online that matches this issue.

 

[HylianHealeys]

It could be age, but the first thing you want to do is get your beardie to a certified reptile veterinarian. Trembling, weight loss, and loss of appetite are concerning symptoms that need professional intervention.

Meanwhile, can you please tell us about your bearded dragon's husbandry? Type/age of UVB, temperature gradient, what you're using to measure temperature, etc. Also has anything changed in her schedule/any new chemicals being used for cleaning or in the room where she is housed?

 

[AHBD]

Along with the other advice, to feed her get some Repashy bug burger. You can also get Oxbow Critical Care online or at the vet. Or if you have a blender to dedicate to bugs, whip up some smoothies with her feeder insects as well as calcium, veggies + a few fruits . This is probably the best option.

 

[EllenD]

I was going to recommend the Repashy Grubpie and Burger too, along with the Critical Care. These are all made to replace their full nutrition, you can feed her with an oral syringe.

Honestly it doesn't sound like "old age" to me either, as I had a dragon live to 13, and he was fine. It sounds like a serious calcium deficiency and MBD...Do you still replace her UVB light on time, and what type is it? Also, when you say you leave her lights on "all the time", do you mean through the night? I don't suggest doing that, that could be a big part of the problem. There sleep is greatly compromised by having lights on and it being too hot. 14 hours a day with both a bright white colored basking light and her UVB tube is plenty, she doesn't need them on any longer than that, she needs quality sleep every night...

 

[kingofnobbys]

What are you using for a source of both UVA & UVB ?

How is it mounted ?

How far from her basking spot ?

How far from her substrate ?

and very important , when was it last replaced ? is it older than 6 months old ?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

If you could run over the tank setup a little more for us, that would help. She is getting
up there in age, but could still live quite a bit longer.
Let us know what type & brand of UVB light you are using & how old it is. How often do
you give supplementation, such as calcium? I agree, she does need some assisted feeding
to help her get her strength up.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie