Poe: puffing up/small prolapse?/not eating

[Mephsito]

Hey guys,

Quick run down:

Cage: 4x2x2 ish a bit more than two and a little less than 4

Temps: sleep area 70-75, Basking spot 95-102.

Lights: Day light 60 watt; UVA/UVB Acardia light MVB; Creamic heat bulb when needed in the cold months (just bought a new 12% light with daylight buld from acardia too for his new cage that is being built) MVB is about 18 inches away.

Diet: was superworms during some of the winter, now switched to hornworms, Collard/mustard/turnip greens with some others thrown in once in a while. He doesn't like to eat them much but does when no one is looking. Super worms for about 1-2 months and tried to always get the just shed ones.

Age 5-6 years old (owned him since 1-2 months old)

Male, Edgar Allan Poe

Last bloodwork/fecal/vet visit: about a year or so ago. All seemed fine, Nothing crazy, Paperwork is at my office which I can get to on monday.

Prior issues: I forgot the stuff but i had to inject him in the arms everyday(looking for the slip as i kept the script). Bad right arm; Unknown causes as he was living with a friend for a couple months while i was out of the country about 3 years ago. He was taken to the vet right when I got him back. So he now kinda walks with a limp but didn't stop him from roaming and being active. He always has been lazy.

So now the issue,

He has been for about 1-2 weeks not wanting to eat, spitting food back out when trying to make him eat, and he hasn't poop'd a real poop in all that time, He has been leaving many little ones through out the day and seemed like a prolapse might happen(really tiny little flesh that didnt fully go back in till about 10 minutes after, so I start giving him daily warm sugar baths and feeding him baby food greens(veggies and chicken, with a little added olive oil). He has been black bearded the whole time minus sleeping and right when he wakes up. He doesn't want to move around but will go to the heat area to warm his belly.

Just now he had a episode where he seemed to be bloated up. was breathing really heavy sort of sparse panting closed his eyes and teared up. His legs/arms were twitching and he was seemed to be in pain which he never shows of course. He has poop'd 2 times today one of which he had a mini little episode similar to what just happened.

I have him now laying in his bed and hes still with a black beard not moving any arms/legs and "resting".

I have posted a video of his episode, hopefully someone can help me know whats going on, I have a vet appointment for this week(Tuesday)

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aya1uSepfcM&feature=youtu.be

I am in the process of making him a better home, as right now its a section area while i monitor the temps daily. The new cage is to be 5x~2x~2

Thanks
chris

 

[Tonja]

Personally I would take him to the vet, as he could have a respiratory infection. Does he have strings of mucous in his mouth or any bubbling around his nose? Does he make any clicking or wheezing noises when he breathes? A vet could also check for a prolapse. If you have a prolapse you want cool sugar water to reduce the swelling and hopefully cause it to go back inside. Sometimes a vet will have to reduce the prolapse and put in a stitch or two to keep it from happening again. For his constipation you can try unsweetened applesauce with a drop or two of olive oil in it, dripped on his nose so he can lick it off or through a syringe, also canned pumpkin with NO spices, baby food prunes, or just a drop or two of plain olive oil. When in a warm bath, up the temp a little so its really warm but not hot enough to burn him or make him uncomfortable, massage his tummy from under the right arm to the vent in circular motions, gently. Sometimes this will help get things moving. I am more concerned about his breathing being a URI.

 

[Mephsito]

He is wheezing when he has a deep inhale, sometimes I have wiped his lip for saliva but nothing out of the ordinary looking and very very little. And nothing around the nose, no bubbles, no mucous. Also no clicking sounds.

Ah so that's a mistake on my part cool sugar baths, And thanks for the food tips just so happens I have some pumpkin in a can with no spices.

I have upped the temp slightly on the warm baths to try and help it "flow" a bit better but he has not been liking his baths like he normally does. Also always try to rub his tummy on the right side and a little on the left in all baths.

The prolapse also is tiny tiny, Ill take a pic and post if that'll help.

I am going to take him this week, going to get the blood work/xray/fecal tests done.

Thanks for the post.

 

[Tonja]

Are you giving him calcium with d-3 in it and a multivitamin and if so how often. The twitching could be a sign of metabolic bone disease. Can you lower the mvb to about 12 inches from him so he gets more uvb?

 

[Mephsito]

I actually stopped giving him that about a year ago as the vet I took him to said he didnt need it. and with the lights I have him under I thought it would suffice.

 

[Mephsito]

he just passed away ...

 

[Tonja]

I am so very sorry to hear that. I tried to give you help. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Mephsito]

thank you very much, i do very much appreciate it

 

[Brezzy99]

I am so sorry!

 

[Tonja]

For future notation, and I am sorry if this is not the right time. Dragons need calcium all their lives. Without it and proper UVB they cannot synthesize the d-3 in their skin which in turns helps them absorb the calcium. If they don't get the calcium they can get MBD which is signified by twitching limbs, curling of the limbs, an underbite, rubber jaw.

 

[diamc]

I am so sorry to hear that he passed away. When I saw the video, I was going to recommend taking him to the vet immediately. He definitely had some major issues going on and it looked quite serious and showing some signs that the end was near. So sorry you lost him. Can tell that you loved him deeply and we know he loved you right back. Thinking of you.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Chris, I'm so very sorry about your boy Poe ! How sad, you already had a vet appt. and you were just posting to get him some help. You obviously took great care of him, and this was nothing you did wrong. Although he may have been a little low on calcium, with the proper greens + UVB he would not have had MBD. His movements in the video didn't signify a R.I. or metabolic bone disease, he had something far more serious + unseen and the movements were his death throws. Again, nothing you did wrong and please accept my deepest sympathy !

 

[Mephsito]

Thank you all for the kind words.

I have been reading this forum since before I got him, in prep for Poe.

Thank everyone on the site for all their help as well. I might not have posted much but i read pretty much everything to ensure a happy life for Poe, and that he was.

He was a happy guy who loved to be around people.

 

[BlueMorpho]

Hi Chris, sorry to hear he didn't make it!
I really love the name you chose for him, and you seemed to really care about him.
If you'd like, there's a memorial forum where you can share your memories and pictures of Poe, and know that we all grieve with you.
Take care.

 

[Esther19]

I am so sorry for your loss. I know how much you miss him.