Please help! Whats wrong with our beardie :(

[Tammy94]

Our bearded dragon Douglas is around 10 months old we think (cannot know for certain as bought him from a commercial pet store).

Around a month ago he started having loose stool and seemed to go off his food a fair bit. He also seemed quite sluggish didn't want to be out of his viv, and spent most of his time sleeping.

Around 2 weeks back we took him to the vets for a check-up to see what was up with the little guy. The vet said on the face of it he looks fine, but the loose stool could be parasites (she was going on vacation and therefore didnt have time to do a stool test) she provisionally gave him a parasite treatment whilst we were there.

Anyway Douglas seemed to perk up a little bit and about a week after his interest in food picked up again, he seemed more alert and it seemed like even though they weren't 100% normal his stool was getting better.

Just about a week ago he seems back to square one, his stool is very loose, he's even more sluggish now, he only wants 1 feed in the morning and then will not eat anything at all in the evening.

Some things that may be worth noting:

- His head is changing colour slightly, we're confident it's just a normal shed (this is the first time he has shed in that area, we had him 2 months so far).
- His vivarium is 4ft by 2ft
- His basking spot lamp is a 50W sun glow Zoo med light
- His UVB lamp is arcadia 14% UVB (he does not currently have a reflector fitted to this there is one on it's way to us and should be here mid next week).
- A ceramic heater is left on in his vivarium overnight and the temperature averages out at about 85
- His cool side is usually around 85 and basking spot about 105
- His diet consists of a mixture of mainly locusts (not oversized) and calci worms, the locusts are dusted with calcium powder with D3 & vitamin supplement (we alternate these daily)
- Since we had him he shows NO interest whatsoever in the salads we prepare for him, we have tried even leaving calci-worms in there, he just doesn't seem at all bothered.
- He is bathed once a week and we increase this when he is shedding.
- Daytime cycle 15hrs night cycle 9 hrs
- Substrate is reptile carpet with blank newspaper laid in his toilet area.


I am thinking of contacting our vet early next week and asking if I can take a stool sample for examination, perhaps his parasites never cleared?

Any help/advice would be appreciated so much, we just want our little guy to be happy and healthy again

If there's anything i've missed please let me know i'll be happy to answer questions.

Thanks in advance

 

[AHBD]

Hi Tammy, it sounds like a few things could be going on. It's possible that he does have parasites, so it would be good to have a fecal test done. Be sure to have a test before giving any meds....you want to know what he has so the right meds. can be given or no meds. are given if he tests negative. The shedding coming on can also affect the appetite, so that may play a small part. It also may be that he's reaching adulthood and going in to a slight brumation....lethargic or actually sleeping with slowed or no appetite.

Can you post a few pics of him ? I'd also suggest getting his night temp. down to about 75. As long as it's above 65 they don't need heat during the night [ mine go down to 62 during winter ] But 85 is pretty high + can disrupt sleep. Hopefully you'll be able to get Douglas feeling better soon.

 

[Tammy94]

Hi AHBD, thanks for your quick reply.

I took a few pictures of Douglas this morning (tried to get him from a number of angles)

Also forgot to mention - he weighs 409g and continues to put on weight, although the rate at which he's gaining it has slowed.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Tammy94]

Just a small update too - we got him out of his vivarium this morning to feed, he had about 2-3 medium sized locusts and then we popped him back inside.

As soon as he went back he crawled underneath his hide and fell straight to sleep and has been since about 11am this morning.

We're starting to suspect that it's a combination of brumation and parasites maybe? Is it too early in the year though for brumation? I'll be calling the vets tomorrow to ask if I can provide a stool sample although he's only going to the loo every 4-5 days at the minute.

 

[AHBD]

Aw, he looks like a real sweet boy. And yes, it may be one or the other or both parasites and a brumation phase. It would be good to check his stool just to be sure.

 

[Tammy94]

Thank you AHBD

Will post an update as soon as I know what's going on with the little guy.