Question about vet's advice

[NoxnGeorgieT]

Hello!

I've posted before about my 7 1/2-month-old beardie and his digestive issues (see http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=169464) and the problem still hasn't cleared up. My own vet, who has lots of experience with reptiles but is not a specialist, consulted a herp specialist to see if there was anything else we could try to get his issues under control. The specialist guy suggested that I only feed George two days a week --not just for a limited period of time, but from now on. I was pretty shocked. I'm all for getting my poor little guy to poo normally, but I'm awfully nervous about restricting his weekly food intake so much. He's only half-grown, for pete's sake! I asked my vet if this guy was clear about how old George is, and she said yes. It sounded like she was as taken aback by the advice as I was, honestly.

I'm desperate to get G's diarrhea to stop once and for all, but I would feel a whole lot better about trying this particular strategy if I heard some success stories. Anyone?

BTW, I recently found out that George is adeno-positive, so that's something else to consider, I guess.

Thanks!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am sorry I didn't check back in with you on your previous thread! I am sorry George was positive, but at least you know & we can try to get his immune system boosted.
Did the fecal test for giardia back or done? If so, what was the results?
The Adeno can manifest in so many ways but may affect dragons in different areas.
There are a lot of things you can do to help with the immune system boosting. The Milk thistle is very good for the liver & kidneys as is the Serrapeptase.

The acidophiliz can be given a few times per week when they are not on medication, just to help keep the GI tract balanced out.
Let me know how George is doing!

You can PM/email me anytime.
Tracie

 

[NoxnGeorgieT]

@Tracie: I'm waiting eagerly for the serrapeptase--hopefully it'll be here tomorrow.
He's had two recent fecal exams (floats and smear) which turned up nothing, and they were looking pretty hard for giardia based on his symptoms. The most recent one was sent off to the nearest vet school lab, and they didn't find anything either, so it seems that a parasite problem has been pretty definitively ruled out.

So what do y'all think of this twice-a-week feeding schedule thing? Nutty or no? I would really appreciate opinions from people on this board who have more practical, real-world experience raising beardies than I do. Any breeders wanna chime in here?

Thanks!