Possible gout? Vet is no help!!

[RockyTurner]

Poor baby. Definitely looks like gout to me. Roxy just went through a bad flare up. While she was in a lot of pain she could only drag her back legs... I was horrified, and thought she had lost use of them. During her first attack as a baby, she was in so much pain that she would not eat. Thank God after I did research, I took her back to a local exotic vet and said “I truly believe this is gout.” He confirmed with a blood test. Blood is not easy to draw from a beardie, definitely need an exotic professional. I used Metecam to get it under control. It is a pain/anti inflammatory medicine. I was in such a panic this last time, and then remembered the Metacam. She is feeling better I have researched like crazy and I want to copy and post the things I am doing for Roxy. Tracie, the girl who tried to help you with your baby in the summer.
Unfortunately they are just starting to realize that gout is becoming more prevelamt in beardies, so we are all trying to learn together. I am switching from collards, turnips to field greens, minus the spinach. Right now I am having to mix Oxbow Critical Care meal with black cherry extract or 100% cranberry juice and water and squirt it on her snout. Lots of nice warm soaks help with the pain and swelling. She will get in her bath and just drink and drink. I do not feed the Dubai’s because they are high in protein and I am guessing that she has a hard time digesting due to the gout, because they do cause slight impaction. I am researching to find the insect lowest in protein- every website/expert seems to have a different opinion as to amount of protein;/
I am going to try horn worms; they have high moisture and low protein, only 9%.
The good news is that if you can get him comfortable and get the swelling down that he may not have another attack for a long time. Some of the damage to his feet, toes, ankles may stay even after he starts feeling better because some damage is irreversible. Please let me know how he is doing, and do not be afraid to contact me with any news or questions. I am trying to learn everything I can to help my girl. Your baby is so lucky to have such a great mom

 

[RockyTurner]

This is the message I just sent to Tracie. Pretty much everything, including doses.

So, she is still not back to her chipper self and still not wanting to walk much on those swollen feet, but the swelling is going down some. Since late last week she has only eaten the Critical Care mixture which I squirt onto her snout. I usually give her 3-5 crickets a day... she would love more. She normally enjoys eating her veggies and fruit, but I guess she has not been wanting to eat because of the pain. I did start giving her Metacam for pain and swelling three days ago. She gets .1 ml once a day.
The Allopurinol is actually the 10mg/ml suspension. Stronger would be better so I had to give less... she does not like it.
The Critical Care is by Oxbow. It is the natural apple and banana flavor “a nutritional complete, assist feeding formula for herbivores.” The main ingredients are Timothy grass meal, soybean hulls, soybean meal, wheat germ, xanthan gum, calcium chloride, salt, ...
She is loving her soaks. I was trying to keep her cage at 80 at night, but a lot of the gout research I studied showed cold compress worked to relieve pain, so I have started leaving her heat lamp off at night, making the temp 70-71*. I don’t know if this is best, just trying everything I can for my girl.
What would you think of giving her A few hornworms per week as her protein intake? They only have 9-10 grams which is even lower than crickets.

 

[itscaturday]

Poor baby. Definitely looks like gout to me. Roxy just went through a bad flare up. While she was in a lot of pain she could only drag her back legs... I was horrified, and thought she had lost use of them. During her first attack as a baby, she was in so much pain that she would not eat. Thank God after I did research, I took her back to a local exotic vet and said “I truly believe this is gout.” He confirmed with a blood test. Blood is not easy to draw from a beardie, definitely need an exotic professional. I used Metecam to get it under control. It is a pain/anti inflammatory medicine. I was in such a panic this last time, and then remembered the Metacam. She is feeling better I have researched like crazy and I want to copy and post the things I am doing for Roxy. Tracie, the girl who tried to help you with your baby in the summer.
Unfortunately they are just starting to realize that gout is becoming more prevelamt in beardies, so we are all trying to learn together. I am switching from collards, turnips to field greens, minus the spinach. Right now I am having to mix Oxbow Critical Care meal with black cherry extract or 100% cranberry juice and water and squirt it on her snout. Lots of nice warm soaks help with the pain and swelling. She will get in her bath and just drink and drink. I do not feed the Dubai’s because they are high in protein and I am guessing that she has a hard time digesting due to the gout, because they do cause slight impaction. I am researching to find the insect lowest in protein- every website/expert seems to have a different opinion as to amount of protein;/
I am going to try horn worms; they have high moisture and low protein, only 9%.
The good news is that if you can get him comfortable and get the swelling down that he may not have another attack for a long time. Some of the damage to his feet, toes, ankles may stay even after he starts feeling better because some damage is irreversible. Please let me know how he is doing, and do not be afraid to contact me with any news or questions. I am trying to learn everything I can to help my girl. Your baby is so lucky to have such a great mom

Wow, thank you so much for replying to this post! So thoughtful. I will definitely try the metecam, do you know where I could get it? I am already doing allopurinol, mostly daily, but sometimes I'm not able to. The weird thing is, he doesn't even eat any bugs! Does not care for them in the slightest, conveniently after I started a dubia colony. He used to eat them., but now he won't eat ANYTHING unless I hand feed. Our situations sound so similar. I originally brought him in for gout but was told that wasn't the case and he also drags his back legs. I wish there was something more I could do!

 

[RockyTurner]

Hello. I hope your Archie is feeling better. I got the Metacam from my vet. It is prescribed for use in 2-3 week increments only when needed. Roxy’s swelling is finally going down some. She is not dragging her back legs as much. I am ordering the horn worms right now. I will let you know how that goes.
God Bless you and Archie
Shann Roxy’s mom

 

[itscaturday]

Hello. I hope your Archie is feeling better. I got the Metacam from my vet. It is prescribed for use in 2-3 week increments only when needed. Roxy’s swelling is finally going down some. She is not dragging her back legs as much. I am ordering the horn worms right now. I will let you know how that goes.
God Bless you and Archie
Shann Roxy’s mom

Would this be the same thing? https://www.chewy.com/metacam-oral-suspension/dp/173240?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=p&utm_content=Metacam&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7briBRD7ARIsABhX8aCgjI0kYYfJClRVGjgPrLG-Zfax4bDDXjtLbRUqD8YF3OqMuIma0sYaAlVXEALw_wcB

I hate to go to the vet who I originally went to, as he does not think he has gout, but MBD. I don't agree with this and originally took him in for gout. I can't find a reputable reptile vet, as I live in rural Illinois and aside from that it's like - 20 degrees! Ugh. The vet told me he thinks his "bones are fused together" and he will never make a normal dragon out of him. I have a vet for my dog and cats, I wonder if they would give me some. Did it definitely help your baby?!

 

[RockyTurner]

Yes, that is it. They get very small doses. Roxy is getting .1 ml once a day. I do feel that it helps with the pain. It helped her with her first flare up to get comfortable enough to eat.
I gave her two of the medium hornworms I got yesterday, and she loved them. I read some information about silkworms being a great choice too. I also found an alfalfa, wheat, and barley powder called “Amazing Grass Trio.” It is supposed to be better for her Kidneys than the Critical Care which I have been giving.
It is so hard to work with a vet that doesn’t seem to have hope for your pets. I wish you could get another opinion from someone who works with Bearded Dragons. So sorry.
Praying for you and your baby?
Shann

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Just checking in to see how your boy was doing! Is he still improving I hope?
Poor guy, it is so hard on them. Please keep us posted on his progress.

Tracie

 

[RockyTurner]

Good morning. I hope that Archie is doing better. My Roxy is having a really hard time right now. I have learned that the gout can really complicate a lot of things. I just wanted to share 2 things with you that I learned- it appears that Roxy has a hard time processing her calcium, so I am adding extra UVB with a t5 bulb. I will do bloodwork when I feel that she is having a “gout” flare up because it turned out to be other things making her sick right now, which irritated the gout;/
Also, the Metacam did help her with pain and swelling- given only in two week increments, but I learned it can cause tremors and paralysis. Roxy had started struggling with using her back legs before I started back on the Metacam, so it did not cause her backend issue, but when using it I just wanted to let you know that if you notice any back leg tremors, to stop using it right away.
I also learned that silkworms have a natural pain killer. Going to order some for my girl. She got her Phoenix Worms and really likes them