Pneumonia and Respiratory Issues

[izzbo]

I posted in another thread that my bearded dragon Klaude had caught pneumonia. He is 4 years old and I've had him since he's been a baby. He was on Baytril .16 ml per day and Z-Max .5 ml every 3 days. He didn't respond too well to the antibiotics and was restless and such. But after 3 weeks we went back and got follow up X-Rays. The pneumonia cleared up. They said do the antibiotics for 1 more week and you are good to go. We did that and ended his antibiotics on X-Mas morning (12/25). Well after a few days I was hoping he would return to his normal self but he hasn't so I took him back to the vet yesterday (12/30/2015). I got X-Rays again and all is clear. The pneumonia is gone.

Here is the issues he is having. He doesn't want to bask and when he does he still puts his head up like he is trying to open his airway and puffs out his throat if he is flatter. I used to give him baths every other day or so and gave him his first bath 2 days after the antibotics finished and he was puffing out his throat. I haven't noticed him doing this in the bath before. Could there still be an upper respiratory issue? There is no mucus or anything like that and no mouth gaping. He likes to sit at the bottom of his log w/his head on the log and looks tired. And I would say things are getting better, they are probably getting worse.

Any ideas? The vet is stumped but said give him a bit more time to get off his antibiotics and keep an eye on him. She said it's hard to see an upper respiratory infection on X-Ray but he had no signs of one in terms of the usual stuff they see but even w/the pneumonia he didn't have any real signs until the x-ray and was doing better until we started the antibiotics.

The only other changes we had was a 150 watt CHE that he used for 3 years burn out and got a new one (same brand and model) and are using a 100 watt one at night. I am using 8.5" clamp lamp for both of them.

Please help, any ideas would be great.

- Jason

 

[CooperDragon]

It's a good sign that the X-rays are showing clear lungs. Those don't always tell the whole story though. Is his beard black? Or has it returned to a normal light color? My guess is that if he was still having a respiratory problem, you would see signs of it such as the mucous or mouth gaping you mentioned. Maybe watery eyes and puffing out and releasing air. If you aren't seeing that, then it could be something else. Did you provide pro-biotics such as bene-bac while you were giving him the Baytril? That can upset their system a bit and the pro-biotics during and after can help ease that a bit.

 

[izzbo]

He does puff out his throat when he is lying flat. He doesn't hold his puff very long so does that constitute puffing out and releasing air? I tried the bene bac a few times (maybe 5) but he didn't like it so I stopped when he was on anti biotics. He does still eat but not as much.

Black beard is mostly gone but he still had stress marks. I don't know if this helps but I don't think he ever had a URI. I think he aspirated water in the tub. When I first brought him to the vet his exam was fine until they saw the xrays.

So what do you guys recommend? Start bene bac and wait or bring him back in for a throat swab and blood work or am I jumping the gun?

 

[CooperDragon]

When Dundee coughs, he puffs his body out, then contracts and opens his mouth wide and hisses out some air. It sounds like if you tried to whistle but didn't put your mouth together quite enough and air just rushed out in a puff. No black beard is a good sign. I would try some bene-bac again or perhaps a different probiotic like non-diary soy yogurt or some Acidophiliz+ and see how he reacts to it. Blood work can be pretty taxing so I'd wait on that for now.

 

[izzbo]

Klaude isn't doing any coughing like that. Just puffing out his lower beard/throat area when he lies flat on his belly. His beard goes turn peppery on occasion but not like when he was on antibiotics.

 

[izzbo]

I tried the bebe bene bac last night and it didn't go well. When I tried to give it to him by putting a pea sized drop on the end of a broken queue tip and trying to roll it into his mouth his belly was having spasms. Not just minor but almost twitching or vibrating. I don't know if it was the taste or memories of his antibiotics or something else. He didn't do that when he eats his supers or horn worms.

Also this morning after a quick 20 minute bashing session right when he hit up he went into the dark and cold spot of his cage which I'd under an magnet rock ledge. I pulled him out and put him up in one of his baking areas.

I'm really worried because I don't understand this behavior.

 

[CooperDragon]

It sounds like he really doesn't like the bene-bac. If he's having that much of a reaction to it, it probably isn't worth the stress and I'd discontinue. You could give one of the other probiotic options a try, or just give him some time to let him bounce back on his own.

 

[izzbo]

I wanted to try acidophliz+ but an having trouble finding it. Anyone have a place they knew stocks it? I've seen some places selling it but it ends up being backordered.

 

[izzbo]

I just have him a bath and he is obviously having some respitory issues. He puffs his beard out and then licks his lips. He did this over and over every 15 to 30 seconds. I finally took him out b/c I heard a gurgle sound from him. And he loved his baths before all of this and definitely didn't do that in the tub. How can this be with a clear X-Ray and no mucus or thick saliva? Does this sound like an upper respiratory infection is still lurking but the pneumonia is gone? Also his poop is solid not like when he was on meds.

 

[CooperDragon]

It seems to be only one symptom of a RI which means there still could be something up - maybe a different type of infection, or he is still on the mend. I think beautifuldragons has some Adicophiliz+ http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Acid.html

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jason,

He was making noises after his bath tonight? If so, he may not be completely cleared up then.
Since the x-rays showed his lungs were clear, it could just be some residual. All in total he was on meds for less than a month?
You could also consider trying nebulizer treatments to help out. It penetrates the lung tissue better than orals alone do.
I agree, if he just doesn't like the benebac then definitely try a different probiotic. It almost sounds like he pouts when he goes under his log & wont bask.
I am glad that his beard isn't black though, that is a good sign he doesn't feel too bad.

Tracie

 

[izzbo]

He does get a peppery colored beard a few times during the day so it's not like it normally is which is white all day. He was on two antibiotics for one month. The baytril every day and z max every 3 days. How long do you think I should wait to bring him back to the vet? Things aren't getting better each day like I would hope. It is staying about the same. And if I bring him back in what do you recommend I ask them to do? A swab to ensure things are clear?