Older Beardie (9yo M) has fluid leaking from left eye & nostril

[Sophielius]

Hey all,

My beardie Raxtus (I posted about him in the other non-emergency forum but this feels like an emergency) has fluid leaking from his left eye and left nostril. It appeared last night, I thought it was a single tear. This morning, it appears his eye leaked all night, and I noticed a little bit of fluid in his nostril as well. He has edema that's being treated, and we have an emergency appt with a vet both today, and tomorrow with the specialists. I was wondering if anyone has any insight on what's going on.

This photo is of the eye in question, you can see the tear streaks down to his lip.

He is otherwise active and alert, though his appetite is still not there as in the last thread.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hey all,

My beardie Raxtus (I posted about him in the other non-emergency forum but this feels like an emergency) has fluid leaking from his left eye and left nostril. It appeared last night, I thought it was a single tear. This morning, it appears his eye leaked all night, and I noticed a little bit of fluid in his nostril as well. He has edema that's being treated, and we have an emergency appt with a vet both today, and tomorrow with the specialists. I was wondering if anyone has any insight on what's going on.

This photo is of the eye in question, you can see the tear streaks down to his lip.

He is otherwise active and alert, though his appetite is still not there as in the last thread.
View attachment 99120

Please go over your lighting- basking bulb? Brand please-- uvb coil or long tube - placement of it- any colored bulbs?

 

[Sophielius]

Please go over your lighting- basking bulb? Brand please-- uvb coil or long tube - placement of it- any colored bulbs?

Of course!
He has a mini halogen light for basking that gets around 110-115F under it. We have a Jungle Dawn LED bar for extra light, and a 3' Arcadia t5 12% UVB tube (placed along the side of the cage that the heat bulb is) that was changed a few months ago.

Cold side of tank is ~80, warm side is ~90.

Current health complications: he has adenovirus, and was recently diagnosed with mild fatty liver disease. He's on both Milk Thistle and Liver Happy (not sure what's in it, vet office mixes it)

 

[KarrieRee]

Of course!
He has a mini halogen light for basking that gets around 110-115F under it. We have a Jungle Dawn LED bar for extra light, and a 3' Arcadia t5 12% UVB tube (placed along the side of the cage that the heat bulb is) that was changed a few months ago.

Cold side of tank is ~80, warm side is ~90.

Current health complications: he has adenovirus, and was recently diagnosed with mild fatty liver disease. He's on both Milk Thistle and Liver Happy (not sure what's in it, vet office mixes it)

Ok so the lighting sounds good but the surface basking temps are pretty hot - we usually recommend 95-100 for adult dragons - does he sit for long periods under that heat? How long has the Jungle Dawn been in the tank and when did the runny eye and nostril start? I am trying to rule out that Jungle Dawn being the cause- are you feeding any wax worms for treats? that has nothing to do w/ the eye thing -- but it does w/ the fatty liver issues -hes done good for having ADV--

 

[Sue E.]

Edema in people will weep(leak fluid), through thin skin (which dragons do NOT have), through mucus membranes, etc, maybe it does the same in dragons, I dont know. @Drache613 would know that.

 

[Sophielius]

Ok so the lighting sounds good but the surface basking temps are pretty hot - we usually recommend 95-100 for adult dragons - does he sit for long periods under that heat? How long has the Jungle Dawn been in the tank and when did the runny eye and nostril start? I am trying to rule out that Jungle Dawn being the cause- are you feeding any wax worms for treats? that has nothing to do w/ the eye thing -- but it does w/ the fatty liver issues -hes done good for having ADV--

He doesn't sit for long under that heat, but I can easily adjust so it's that proper temp. The Jungle Dawn has been in there since January. No wax worms for him, most recently for bug day he had a hornworm and a few soldier fly larvae. He's still on a salad strike and bugs have been hit or miss

Runny eye and nostril started just last night, but I didn't realize it was actually running until the morning where I saw the tear streaks from his eye to his mouth his eye was very puffy as well

The puffiness and active running seems to have subsided since waking up, but his eye is still a bit puffy and more deeply wrinkled (if that makes sense?). The fluid is completely clear and looks just like tears (from both places)

 

[Sue E.]

Fluid from edema looks clear also, alternatively, maybe he has a virus-not the ADV, but a simple upper respiratory like a cold. No coughing or anything? And all one-sided?

 

[KarrieRee]

He doesn't sit for long under that heat, but I can easily adjust so it's that proper temp. The Jungle Dawn has been in there since January. No wax worms for him, most recently for bug day he had a hornworm and a few soldier fly larvae. He's still on a salad strike and bugs have been hit or miss

Runny eye and nostril started just last night, but I didn't realize it was actually running until the morning where I saw the tear streaks from his eye to his mouth his eye was very puffy as well

The puffiness and active running seems to have subsided since waking up, but his eye is still a bit puffy and more deeply wrinkled (if that makes sense?). The fluid is completely clear and looks just like tears (from both places)

I would shut the Jungle Dawn off and see what happens w/ that - trial and error - give it a week to see if it will clear up -- Is he losing weight? He sounds like hes not eating alot- any other staple insect you have tried feeding like dubia roaches or crickets?

 

[Sue E.]

Do you use loose substrate? Maybe he got a little in his eye or nose?

 

[Sophielius]

All one-sided which has me baffled. He breathes deeply when stressed or having just gotten his medicine but no coughing or anything like that.

I may give turning off the Jungle Dawn a try, though I'm hesitant since his cage is very dim with just his UVB and basking bulb. I won't rule it out.

He hasn't been interested in dubia roaches last time I offered them to him, but it's been a couple weeks since then so I'll likely try again.

He is on loose substrate, but the fluid leakage started well after I started holding him for evening cuddles. I suppose he could've taken a while to have a reaction if that happened though

Vet currently thinks it may be the beginnings of an infection, and I can give a proper weight once we're home.

 

[Sue E.]

For the record, I have a jungle dawn in Kais tank too and it hasnt caused any issues. And if its been in there since Jan, odds are any problems wouldnt take so long to surface. Jmo.

 

[Sue E.]

Did you have on any new perfume, body lotion etc...just shooting at possibilities here.

 

[Sue E.]

When he snuggles with you, is one side of his head lower than the other? So that fluids drained down that way? (Like when you get a cold and you wake up with one runny eye and one sided stuffy or runny nose?).

 

[KarrieRee]

All one-sided which has me baffled. He breathes deeply when stressed or having just gotten his medicine but no coughing or anything like that.

I may give turning off the Jungle Dawn a try, though I'm hesitant since his cage is very dim with just his UVB and basking bulb. I won't rule it out.

He hasn't been interested in dubia roaches last time I offered them to him, but it's been a couple weeks since then so I'll likely try again.

He is on loose substrate, but the fluid leakage started well after I started holding him for evening cuddles. I suppose he could've taken a while to have a reaction if that happened though

Vet currently thinks it may be the beginnings of an infection, and I can give a proper weight once we're home.

You can try using a low wattage indacandscent bulb for extra light- solar glos mvb have been used and have caused eye issues w/ some dragons not all- thats just an example so it may not be the jungle dawn causing the issue but it's a trial to see and rule out- are you using a solid clear bright white basking bulb? No daytime bulbs? Off white yellowish ? It could be an infection starting as vet suggested - so blood work would need to be done

 

[xp29]

I don't run a jungle dawn, but I do run a terra-sky in one of my habitats. It has 65k leds as well as uva and uvb.
My girl has been considerably more active since I installed it.
Personally beings it just on one side I'd probably be leaning towards he has gotten something in it. But if I remember correctly, liver issues can cause swelling in their eyes so it my be something do to his liver.
Edema I haven't researched, so I won't even try to guess on that.