Edwtampa
Hatchling Member
So figured i would try to decipher what is going on. My Gypsy girl is about 12- 13 years old. Never changed much over her lifetime and she was always fat and happy. Got a 150 watt ZooMed uvb basking bulb. Added a ceramic heat emitter when i moved from Florida to North Carolina on account of the colder winters. The temperature when i had sensors was about 90's to early 100's Fahrenheit in the hot side, and her tank is about 3 to 4 feet long so plenty of temperature variation.
Always kept Fluker's adult buffet blend in her food bowl to graze on. Would feed her collards whenever i had them on hand, as long as they'd last before disintegrating into goo. Varieties of insects in rotation over the years. Superworms, crickets, hornworms especially as she loved these and i loved the fact they had no risk of impaction.
Until about earlier this year. I noticed she was keeping one of her eyes most of the time. Sure she'd open it sometimes but close it again quickly, and her aim was getting pretty bad. And her fatpads on her head weren't as full as they used to be and her legs seemed a bit...thinner. Her eye looked okay. But took her to the vet anyway. I was concerned about her eye and weight.
But vet examined her and declared the eye must be a behavioural issue. Gave her an xray. No issues, bones looked solid where they should be. Fecal came back parasite free.
Started trying to feed her a thawed pinkie once a week to build her fat back up. Did this twice, maybe 3 times. She gulped them down easy. Did some crickets twice, dusted with calcium powder. She finished the first batch, not the 2nd.
Then her weight loss got worse. I could see her hips and the beginning of her tail bone. She was also pooing a bit excessively but mostly the white part. I researched and ordered the Oxbow critical care food, herbivore and carnivore.
However Wednesday when i finally got them but hadn't had a chance to feed her yet. Came home and saw her with her mouth open and shaking her head. When i researched, found someone who had posted online about the same actions but their dragon had died. I became fearful Gypsy was dying. Especially when i held her and she became limp and unresponsive, taking a breath once every 20 seconds or so, a big one. Mouth hanging open. Really thought she was dying and i had just gotten the food to help her.
But to my surprise, she was still holding on in the morning. Moving a bit, holding her head up. So i started feeding her the Oxbow. 3 1/4 tsp of herb to carn with enough water to make a paste.
The first feeding, by spoon, she fought me but i was able to get her to eat some. 2nd feeding by syringe, still being difficult but got a little in her stomach. Today i did a feeding and got her to gradually eat all of it. She was holding her mouth open a lot during and after but i don't think she aspirated any of it (i hope). Gave her a warm bath after every time, to hydrate and help clean her up. She typically does a little poo, she had a bit more today. Last feeding and bath i swear i heard her do a tiny fart. Then i put her back on her hot side.
Checking on her now, about an hourish after feeding and bath, she's moved to her cool side of the tank again. Heads up, breathing slow and steady. Eyes closed.
So what the heck? Also i hate the fact i can't find anything on how to comfort or ease the passing of a beardie from old age. All the articles are " sick beardie and how to fix it!" Nothing about just "my beardie is old"
So any thoughts would be appreciated.
Always kept Fluker's adult buffet blend in her food bowl to graze on. Would feed her collards whenever i had them on hand, as long as they'd last before disintegrating into goo. Varieties of insects in rotation over the years. Superworms, crickets, hornworms especially as she loved these and i loved the fact they had no risk of impaction.
Until about earlier this year. I noticed she was keeping one of her eyes most of the time. Sure she'd open it sometimes but close it again quickly, and her aim was getting pretty bad. And her fatpads on her head weren't as full as they used to be and her legs seemed a bit...thinner. Her eye looked okay. But took her to the vet anyway. I was concerned about her eye and weight.
But vet examined her and declared the eye must be a behavioural issue. Gave her an xray. No issues, bones looked solid where they should be. Fecal came back parasite free.
Started trying to feed her a thawed pinkie once a week to build her fat back up. Did this twice, maybe 3 times. She gulped them down easy. Did some crickets twice, dusted with calcium powder. She finished the first batch, not the 2nd.
Then her weight loss got worse. I could see her hips and the beginning of her tail bone. She was also pooing a bit excessively but mostly the white part. I researched and ordered the Oxbow critical care food, herbivore and carnivore.
However Wednesday when i finally got them but hadn't had a chance to feed her yet. Came home and saw her with her mouth open and shaking her head. When i researched, found someone who had posted online about the same actions but their dragon had died. I became fearful Gypsy was dying. Especially when i held her and she became limp and unresponsive, taking a breath once every 20 seconds or so, a big one. Mouth hanging open. Really thought she was dying and i had just gotten the food to help her.
But to my surprise, she was still holding on in the morning. Moving a bit, holding her head up. So i started feeding her the Oxbow. 3 1/4 tsp of herb to carn with enough water to make a paste.
The first feeding, by spoon, she fought me but i was able to get her to eat some. 2nd feeding by syringe, still being difficult but got a little in her stomach. Today i did a feeding and got her to gradually eat all of it. She was holding her mouth open a lot during and after but i don't think she aspirated any of it (i hope). Gave her a warm bath after every time, to hydrate and help clean her up. She typically does a little poo, she had a bit more today. Last feeding and bath i swear i heard her do a tiny fart. Then i put her back on her hot side.
Checking on her now, about an hourish after feeding and bath, she's moved to her cool side of the tank again. Heads up, breathing slow and steady. Eyes closed.
So what the heck? Also i hate the fact i can't find anything on how to comfort or ease the passing of a beardie from old age. All the articles are " sick beardie and how to fix it!" Nothing about just "my beardie is old"
So any thoughts would be appreciated.
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