Please help!!!!! RIP dear one

[spikerocks]

Hi everyone. U guys have been my rock thru all of this n I can't thank u enough. U r all there for me especially in r darkest hours, so thank u!

Spike has remained the same since this afternoon, which is an improvement from the weekend! His color has been good (unless I put him in the viv). He's not bright eyed but he does open his eyes n look around. He pooped 2x today. He also had another short period of activity! We also had the best food intake so far today. He really keeps us on r toes.

My only concern rite now, is that he doesn't want to b in his viv at all. His colors get very dark n nasty stress marks cover his tummy. After I pick him up, they fade away. I don't mind holding him n I use the extra basking bulb to keep him nice n warm. The only thing is, he's not getting any uvb. Should I worry about this? I don't want to do more harm than good. Spike is so frail n small, I doubt the outcome will b what I want but if he does have even the smallest chance to recover, I want to do the right thing.

I will defintely ask the vet about teaching me the fluid injections. It would make me feel a lot better. Spike was negative for parasites in the stool check. So, who knows where we'll end up but the vet is pleased that he has improved n will call me on Wednesday for an update.

Thanks again for helping me run my little Spike ICU! He has been a tough little booger this far! He must b on life 3, lets hope he has 9! Please keep the positive thoughts n prayers coming. They r what is helping, I'm sure of it!

 

[MALIBUSMOM]

Oh such good news no parasites that equals less meds.
we are all here for u!I think every new beardie owner goes through worries of what to do n what not to do Thank God for this site.
I got malibu 3 years ago for my sons B.Day....N at the time you are not thinking i am going to fall head over heels in love w/ a lizard...so funny before u know it your bathing feeding talking n wrapping him up,
My boyfriend still thinks i am crazy becouse i have to be home at my place to put beardie to bed n there in the mourn to bath her.....before u know it its your schedule.
I have been out of work on disability for 18 months n i got to tell you some days its her that keeps me movin.I had a tumor removed from my vestubular,where your balance is.....a week after surgery Malibu started being awful crazy trying to get out....turns out she had infertile eggs..so i would take her outside everyday to run around the neighborhood on her leash.....neighbors thought i had totally lost it!Her first 3 clutches she insisted on laying at the playground n the more kids watching the better...I swear she would wait for them to get home to lay!Then they redid the playground and i had to convince her to lay in her laybox.
She lays about 5 clutches a year from april to sept...she still goes crazy for about 2 weeks before shes going to lay.
Each Beardie has thier own unique personality.Spike is a fighter n they start growing really fast..
before u know it he'll be running u around.

Malibu at 6 months

last summer 3years old!

 

[zizzee]

Hope Spike gets well soon!! Have you tried him with salad leaves in a tiny bit of water? Is the only way mine will drink water, or eat salad is if they're together.

 

[munchkins9802]

I am so glad to see the support everyone on this website people give everyone!
Jane you are doing awesome. No parasites=good we took off the baytril as he is really too small.
From what she has told me on the phone he is now about the size of maybe a 6 week old. He was definitely sold to soon but at least to the RIGHT person as Jane loves and will do ANYTHING for this little guy.

I am keeping Spike and my prayers and my children added him to theirs tonight!
GO SPIKE!!!
JAne I did PM but I wanted to ask again--what time do his lights go off (I know you said on at 6:30 on the phone)
I am starting to think there is something about his cage he doesn't like but without coming over I dont know if I can pinpoint it. Of course he may just want tobe held.
I sometimes put ours by the sunny window this time of year--it gets him a tiny bit of UVB (since UVB doesnt go thru windows well but he gets MAD if you take him from the sunny window or even the SUNNY spot on the table.

 

[Emeraldcoast]

My Miss Sydney is going thru a shed right now. Sir Darwin kept going after her, as he had other things on his mind. She did not want to be bothered. I placed her in the window. She likes to look out the window. She stayed there for close to three hours. Long enough for Sir Darwin to think of something else besides her. lol

Emerald

 

[spikerocks]

JAne I did PM but I wanted to ask again--what time do his lights go off (I know you said on at 6:30 on the phone) They go off at 830
I am starting to think there is something about his cage he doesn't like but without coming over I dont know if I can pinpoint it. Of course he may just want tobe held. The only thing I changed recently was removing the indoor/outdoor carpet n replacing it with paper towels. Interestingly enough, he will go to sleep for the nite without problems. I was thinking it was be/c he doesn't feel well.

Hope Spike gets well soon!! Have you tried him with salad leaves in a tiny bit of water? Is the only way mine will drink water, or eat salad is if they're together.

I haven't tried this but will try anything. Spike has been a terrible eater since the day we got him. So, do u put it in like a shallow dish n cover with water or just moisten it?

Malibusmom: r stories r very similiar in that spike was also a gift for my sons bday. i stopped working 2 yrs ago to care for my father who was sick. Dad's since passed away but Spike filled the void of what to do when the kids r at school. Oh, i luv the pic of malibu at the window-she looks just like my bassett hound when he's on neighborhood watch (which is every waking minute of every day!). Spike loves to look outside. I pray I get the chance to take him out in the grass as soon as it is warm enough.

 

[crickest]

I think Spike is more like the size of a two week old - his last weigh in was at 4 grams - that's like 1/10th of an ounce. That's like the weight of a postage stamp. She says he's smaller now than when she first got him. Ten days ago he was at 6 grams. He's a tough little fighter, though, and Jane and her son are doing everything they can to give him a chance to recover.

We are all pulling for you, Spike. We are sending love and hugs and positive energy.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

That is promising news that Spike is at least stable. That is very good his fecal was negative.
What could be upsetting him that is in his tank? Are the temperatures optimal, have you rechecked them lately, during the daytime?
So he is brighter colored out of his tank, & then gets stressed in his tank? It sounds like something is upsetting him in his tank for some reason. We need to try & figure that out so he can bask more readily.
Keep trying! He sure has a lot of fighting spirit that is for sure. Keep us posted.

Tracie

 

[beardie parents]

I'm glad that I got home and found spike still doing good.

 

[fresnowitte]

First I wanted to say hello Jane, you and Spike are in my prays. I was asked to take a look at this thread an all I seen was great advice an info...I've read some of it over and over...and this seems to stand out.

I do have a digital thermometer probe positioned directly under the halogen bulb (about 5 inches below) and the thermometer is always on.

but in another post you said this

The temps are: basking area between 98 ans 103

Is the probe directly on the basking spot or is this that an ambient temp of the basking area? Sorry if this has already been approached and answered. I'm just trying to figure out what it is that he is so not liking about his enclosure. :? Figuring them out can be quite a challenge sometime.

I was very happy to hear that the fecal came back negotive.

Poor little guy give him an extra snuggle from me. :love5:

 

[zizzee]

Hope Spike gets well soon!! Have you tried him with salad leaves in a tiny bit of water? Is the only way mine will drink water, or eat salad is if they're together.

I haven't tried this but will try anything. Spike has been a terrible eater since the day we got him. So, do u put it in like a shallow dish n cover with water or just moisten it?
I use a saucer as he's so small just now. I put chopped salad in the middle of the saucer (where the cup usually sits) and shallow water where the teaspoon would go. The saucer I use has a ridge so that the water & salad don't mix, but I'm sure it's fine if it does. I just find it helps cause my BD doesn't even realise there's water until he's in it. I'll need to take a photo as I'm not very good with explaining :/

 

[spikerocks]

Is the probe directly on the basking spot or is this that an ambient temp of the basking area? Sorry if this has already been approached and answered. I'm just trying to figure out what it is that he is so not liking about his enclosure. :? Figuring them out can be quite a challenge sometime.

Previously I had the dig probe taking the ambient temp above the basking area but now I have it on his basking log. I have also bumped up his temps n the basking area now is betw/102 to 105.

It's too soon to really tell, but I m hoping he'll spend more time under the lites today. So far there r no stress marks so I m hopeful. Almost time for breakfast n bath.

Munchkins9802 mentioned that during the winter his lites should b on 10-12 hours. Spike's r on 14. I m pretty sure it was recommended to have him under the lights longer since he didn't have the rite uvb until 2 wks ago. Should I have them come on later instead of 630am? He doesn't really like getting up so early. He won't come down from his tree until 730 or so.
Thanks for the input!

 

[chrismnc]

I haven't been online since the weekend but I was so happy to read that Spike is still fighting. To answer your question about him not being under the uvb because he prefers to be with you, I think giving him what he needs right now is best. You are what he needs right now.
Give him beardie kisses from us! We are all praying for him!

Chris

 

[surgerising]

Jane,
How is Spike this morning? Did he eat his breakfast? Wishing you both a good day with no scares. I'll check in again when I get off work tonight.
Hugs, Missy and Aztec also still fighting.

 

[spikerocks]

Jane,
How is Spike this morning? Did he eat his breakfast? Wishing you both a good day with no scares. I'll check in again when I get off work tonight.
Hugs, Missy and Aztec also still fighting.

Missy,
Thx for checking in on us. Hope Aztec is hanging in there will check his thread after this post). Spike is doing well so far. He ate a tiny bit on his own but he did drink a good bit in his bath! YAY!

I was worried about his water intake w/out the fluid injections. Waiting for a call back from the vet about learning to do the inj's myself. Being as I m home by myself for the 1st time since the weekend, I m worried about getting enough food into him. Be/c he's so small, we usually have two people when we feed so one can hold him n coax his mouth open n the other uses the syringe. I've tried all the suggestions on how to get him to open his mouth, with no luck. He's a stubborn little booger! So far today, Spike is more alert than he has been n is holding his head n tail up more! We snuggled for a bit after his bath but I got him back into his viv (with some minor protesting on Spike's part!) but he is happily basking w/out stress marks.

Related to Spike wanting to be held all the time, the answer may b SO obvious. On Friday I moved his viv out of my son's room n into the family room so I could readily keep an eye on him. Now, he can see me all day as he can see the kitchen n dining room from where he is. Should I move him back to my son's room? He is cooperating thus far today tho. I m hoping a little more time under the reptisun will increase his appetite. Let me know what u guys think about moving his viv. Thx a bunch!