please advise..

[lilacgeorge]

Last night I noticed my beardie (Freckles) wasn't moving right, he was carrying himself very low to the floor and was unusually quiet. Prior to this he had been 'running' around (I've mentioned it before where if you're in the room he will run around the viv, climb the walls, run along the glass), so I assume whatever happened occured during this time as I know he was fine before this.

I got him out and put him on living room floor and again instead of having a run around/nose he just stayed where I put him, with a bit of encourage he did move around but only a few steps, after a bit he was lifting himself up a bit more but still not right. I rang my local vet - that isn't an exotics vet - last night and they said they could fit me in today but the problem I have is Im scheduled to work today and I am a nurse so can't not just come in. My other vet where I take my torts is open tomorrow (Saturday) and they do have a reptile vet there but until they open I don't know if he'll be on duty (I'll ring later when they open).

Today the lights came on just before I left for work and I noticed he's quite 'dark' in colour, I couldn't do much with him as had to leave for work, I have asked my hubby to keep an eye on him for me and as already said I will ring the vets shortly.

Is the dark colour a sign that he is stressed/ill? Is this what they do?

I think it's possibly his front right foot (and hoping its nothing to do with his back!) I can't see any obvious break or injury (Im no expert but did used to be a vet nurse and now a kiddies nurse), what would you do? Would you leave it a few days to see if it gets better itself or would you take a (very expensive) trip to the vets? He was walking a bit better last night but still not quite right...

Thank you in advance

 

[Grogshla]

if in doubt then go to the vet mate!
keep an eye on the dragon and make sure that he is not freaking out.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

Dragons are experts at hiding illness. If you see something is off chances are its worse than you think. I agree with the above poster. A vet is probably in order.

 

[lilacgeorge]

Thankyou for your replies. I have got an appointment booked for tomorrow morning (first available I could get). I rang home not long ago and my husband said that he thinks he's 'normal' (Freckles not my hubby!), but I will check myself when I get home later... if in doubt I will certainly take him tomorrow.

 

[Grogshla]

good on you mate. Peace of mind is priceless. Your beardie will thank you for this.

 

[lilacgeorge]

Ok, I've got home and checked him. My OH doesn't think there's anything wrong with him but openly admits that he doesn't know the first thing about them! LOL! Me personally, I'm not happy....I still don't think he's walking right - can't make out if its an injury, impaction or something else - all I know is he was fine before last night.

I'm gonna keep the appointment tomorrow - I figure he's worth the consultation fee!!! Hopefully I'll be told theres nothing wrong and I'm being a silly mare!!!

I gave him a long warm bath and he drank a bit as well so thats good - what's not good is I weighed him for the first time since he woke from brumnation just before christmas and he's lost about 80grams!!!! He is eating, not huge amounts but then he never was a big eater - fussy little sod!

Will let you know how we get on tomorrow, thanks for your replies/advice x

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Are you using a UVB light, & if so what type & brand is it? A fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light? How old is the light?
Do you supplement calcium & if so, how often?
Is his beard black for prolonged periods of time?

Tracie

 

[lilacgeorge]

Hello,

Are you using a UVB light, & if so what type & brand is it?
off hand not sure, think it could be exo terra - I know its a repti-glo 10

A fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?
fluorescent tube

How old is the light?
couple of months old

Do you supplement calcium & if so, how often?
I sprinkle a small amount discretly on his food - he wont eat if he sees/tastes it, I feed the live food with greens covered in calcium

Is his beard black for prolonged periods of time?
very rarely, I saw his beard black was the other day when he was head bobbing and running around but thats one of the first times I've seen him do it, today he was a dark colour all over, but he's not anymore
Tracie

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The Reptiglo 10 tube bulb is unfortunately, not a very good bulb. It has UVB emissions that are not conducive to D3 synthesis. So, he may be having some trouble absorbing his calcium. The better UVB tube bulb would be the Reptisun 10 tube bulb instead, in which you can get from www.petmountain.com

How is he doing today, has he eaten well?
Please let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[lilacgeorge]

:lol: :lol: ok now I'm confused!!! Do you mean the exo terra's rubbish? I'm not 100% sure what mine is off hand - I'll have to remove it when I turn the lights off and have a look - I did keep the box for it but it looks like the OH has chucked it out! :shock:

As for Freckles...well, he's out on the floor as we speak and seems to be moving around as normal - he's lifting himself of the floor as he moves and he's actually 'running' around whereas 2 days ago he would just stay where you put him. I think he must have maybe just twisted, pulled or bruised his leg when he was having a mad 5 minutes :roll:

I've also seen him eat some of his greens today - rocket leaf mix - so I'm also happy with that. I've got another half hour until the vets open to decide whether to still take him or not - I'll watch him carefully over the next 30 mins and see.....

 

[lilacgeorge]

Just checked uv tube and it is a zoo-med reptisun 10 (phew!)

 

[Grogshla]

thats good news just make sure the dragon is 7-10 inches from this tube to get the benefit.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great you have a Reptisun 10 instead of a Reptiglo 10. Yes, at the moment, the Reptiglo 10 tube bulbs are not good no.
The best distances to have the tubes bulbs are 6-8 inches, but up to 10 is ok. Just make sure you don't have any plastic lens covering the bulb so it wont block out the UVB emissions from him.
How is he doing today?

Tracie

 

[lilacgeorge]

:shock: Do you want the good or the bad news???

Freckles was back to normal over the weekend in every way and I was happy with him and my desision not to take him to the vets BUT....

I came home today and when I first walked into the front room I looked over at Freckles and at first thought he was dead! :shock: He was totally flat eyes just staring....well, you get the picture...I rushed over and grabed him out the viv and realised that he wasn't dead but was just really lathergic I put him on the floor and he attempted to move but just slumped down so I rang the vets, by then he had moved again and although he did move, he wasn't moving right?? Like it was an effort? Anyway to cut a long story short I spoke to the vet and I am definatly going to take Freckles to the vets tomorrow evening - even if he's doing cartwheels, he is still going!!! I'm going to get him checked out cos obviously somethings not right I gave him a long soak in warm water and syringed some water into him which he took and he did perk up a bit after this, but still not happy.

I will let you know how he gets on tomorrow when I get back.... thanks for sticking on in here with me guys, its really appreciated xxx