Old or Neglected?

[RustyEyron]

I've gone back to my parents for four days and have some serious concerns about the beardie there. He's an old boy, definitely over 10 years old, but since I've never seen a boy as old as him I don't know whether this is normal for one his age or an actual issue. I've noticed on his neck he has a black scab growing between his scales and he's light as a feather. You can see all the bones on him, especially his head and back legs. Photos:

 

[AHBD]

Hi there.....what a sweet little old man dragon. Yes he is thin, but not incredibly so if he's old. It definitely could be due to his age, [ think of old people that are thin, some lose muscle mass, etc. ] but you could also ask your parents how he has been cared for in the past year or so. Don't change his routine too drastically, if you get more food into him than he's used to it could make him sick. Just a little extra and see about his hydration.

As for the black scab, I couldn't tell what exactly it was there in the pic but you can put some raw honey on it [ from health store or beekeeper ] or if it's not like an open raw wound you can put Neosporin on. If you DO use honey be sure there are NO loose insects left on his tank, they would be attracted to the wound for the honey. Hopefully the wound is not from loose crix biting him .

You might see about trimming his nails too if he'll let you. Most beardies don't even know you're doing it. Just be very careful if you do it not to cut the quick.

 

[RustyEyron]

Thanks for your response! It's tricky because my parents got divorced half way through last year, so the beardie still lives at home with mum but dad occasionally comes over to throw food in there. Mum doesn't have anything to do with reptiles, she doesn't really like them

His viv looked like it hadn't been cleaned out in forever, with practically a colony of cleaner bugs and baby mealworms shifting through all the wood chips, faeces everywhere and rotting veg. He had no lights and apparently hasn't been taken out his viv all year. I bought reptile carpet and a heat bulb, cleaned out and scrubbed everything in the tank so now he's in a nice, practically new enclosure with an actual light and heat. So he's in a freshly cleaned enclosure, has fresh veg available and will be given locusts when I wake up tomorrow.

He's been hydrated and bathed (he was VERY happy to drink). Now that the enclosure is clean and not crawling with bugs and stinking my mum says she's happier to give him some more attention and make sure the viv stays clean. Not sure if my dad ever plans on doing anything. It's so annoying. It took me a maximum of 2 hours to do everything, that's barely anything in the long run, what's so difficult about keeping your pet in good conditions?! He looks so happy now, rather than just slouching on his rock he's got his head up and is basking properly ^^

I'm glad his thinness is only due to age! I was really worried about him. He's been in the family for so long that I can barely remember a time we didn't have him, so it sucked to see him in such aweful conditions I'll look up where I can get some raw honey and ask mum to put it on when he's finished eating each day in hopes the wound clears up! Part of me wishes I could just bring him back home but there's no way I can get him there and my landlord wouldn't be too happy with me having much more than my current fish tank and vivarium :/ It's not an open wound...I think, but it's probably from loose bugs biting him given how many there were

I'm planning on filing his nails tomorrow, didn't want to do too much in one day since he's an old boy very set in his ways I've done it for my own beardies so I won't injure him

 

[AHBD]

Aw, poor little guy. Since you mentioned his living conditions then it certainly can be attributed partly to neglect. Maybe your mom would be willing to give him to someone who will care for him....he is already an old man, he deserves to have good care for his last years. Too bad you can't take him. And please be careful of how many insects you give him, he may not be able to handle a large meal. Also be sure there will be none left roaming the tank.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh my, your poor dragon! He is so lucky you came to get him & shame on both of your parents for animal abuse/neglect. He hadn't been out of his tank for a year & had no lights? Honestly, I am surprised he is still alive, but, he doesn't look too terribly bad all things considered.
Are you sure your mom will bother putting anything on his wound?
I am sure he is very happy now with some heat & warmth. Did you get a UVB light for him?
I am sorry you aren't able to take him. Your landlord wouldn't want any small reptile around? He is after all a family pet, so it's sad to have to give him away to someone else. Though, if they are not going to care for him in the least he needs another home.
Definitely go slowly with the insects, to be sure he doesn't have any kidney issues. I bet he was thirsty poor guy. He is an older dragon & is quite hardy to have gone through all of this ordeal.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[RustyEyron]

I'm sure my mum will do her best to care for him with the instructions I give her, but she's not a reptile person and has been trying really hard to convince my dad to take him!

My landlord has already let me bring my huge viv with two dragons to the house, and my small fish tank, so I doubt he'd be happy with me asking if I can bring yet another pet since it's a student house. The reason I know mum will look after him as well as she can do is because I trusted her to look after my two beardies during the last year (I couldn't have them because I was living in student halls without enough room for them) and she did a good job.

Unfortunately since I have my own two to look after (and just spent over £50 on supplies to create a large customised hide/hammock thing for them) I couldn't afford to get the UVB and heat light so I went with what I thought more urgent (I was worried about his weight so thought the lack of heat meant his digestion hadn't been good). I'll see if I can convince my dad to get one but he's an owner who thinks if his animal is still alive then he's doing his care well :/

The poor guy was VERY thirsty but he's nice and hydrated now ^^ and he's eaten a few locusts since being put under the heat. I also reorganised his viv to be more suited to an old boy (the whole front of it is open for him to walk between his basking rock and food bowls, there's hides at the back both in the cool and basking area connected by logs so he can literally be in any temperature, hidden or exposed). I'll have to check in on him again when I visit next time and think about trying to convince either my landlord to let me take him or my parents to give him away to someone who knows about care (let's not mention that dad's trying to make me take in both this guy and his 8 year old kingsnake) :S

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh I see, that can get complicated absolutely! I am sorry you aren't able to take him. Things can really add up with food & supplies I know. At least you got him a cleaned up tank & lighting. Will they be using a UVB light for him? It is crucial because he has been without so long, that is one reason why he isn't able to absorb his nutrients. UVB exposure helps synthesize D3 & other nutrients but without it they can't absorb it & will lose weight & have other issues.
Hopefully your mom will do a good job for him. Do you have any other family members or a close friend or other relative who could take him so you can still see him from time to time? I hate hearing about a family long time pet being given away to a stranger.
How is he doing today?

Tracie

 

[albithebeardie]

Something I found that really helped when I first got my beardie was I printed out a care sheet that I made and I made sure both my parents read it because I knew sometimes I would need them to care for my little guy if I was at my friend's or something. There are some really great ones out there and you could even call her once a week and make sure that she is caring for the old guy. Raw honey is literally the best thing ever and it's sorta expensive but it works for so many things for lizards and humans it also lasts forever.

Hope this helps somewhat

 

[RustyEyron]

I know how important a UVB light is but my dad's convinced that since he's been without for so long he obviously doesn't need it -_- Since it's his pet I don't have the right to give him away, not even to a different family member (not that anyone else would want him). I'm back home with my own beardies now <3 hopefully my parents have taken my advice, but I won't really know until I visit again :S

I actually wrote a care sheet for my own two when I went abroad for the first time since getting them, and mum was very good with following it whenever I was gone and for the past year while I wasn't in a position to keep them! But like I said, he's dad's pet and since my parents got divorced a few months ago she can't be expected to look after him just because dad refused to take him to his new house :/ Mum's doing the best she can but she doesn't know a lot about reptiles and doesn't want him

If nothing's changed when I go back then I'll have to rethink, but for now he's (finally) got heat again, a clean viv and is hydrated. At least if nothing else he'll be a bit more comfortable in his old age. Thanks for all your help guys! I wish there was something more I could do for him but it's too complicated a situation to do much more than I've already done