Rescue Beardie Still Not Eating On Her Own

[BitterSweetLove4]

I will start with all the normal questions before I give you background on her.

How old is your dragon? Not sure really. She is a pet store rescue and my guess would be maybe 3 or 4 months
How long have you had your dragon? I have had her since July 7.
How long is your dragon? She is about 8 inches.
What is the sex of your dragon?I think she is a she. Kind of small to tell a definite answer.
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? She was in a 10 gallon for about two weeks. She now has a 40 breeder.
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?Non adhesive shelf liner.
Do you use UVB lights?Yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?Tube
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?Reptisun 10
How old is your UVB bulb?Less then a month old
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?6-8 inches
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? Is it a white or colored bulb?It is an exo terra intense heat 50w. White bulb
What are the basking temps?106
What is the cool side temp?80
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?Probe
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?The highest point on her basking area
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad?No
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.Crickets, dubia, BSF, silkworms, and baby food (squash, chicken, mixed veggies). I make my own slurries for her to get her to eat some veggies. Depends on what I buy that week (collards, dandelion, escorale, endive, turnip)
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?I aim for three times a day. Some days it's just impossible to do, but she ,oat definitely gets two feelings morning and night.
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc?Yes
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?Repcal Multivitamin and Repcal Calicum w/ D3. She was a little shaky in the first few weeks so I switched to liquid Calicum and multivitamins from beardeddragon.co.
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?She is going everyday, yes.
Do you bath your dragon? How often?She gets a bath about 3 times a week.
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?I do not mist her. She gets water mixed in with her slurries.
Have you gotten a vet check and fecal done? Not yet. Calling tomorrow for an appointment.
Does your dragon share an enclosure with another dragon?No.

Now that I have answered all the basic questions, let me give your little info on my little baby Willow. I work at PetSmart, I know boo hiss, but I really enjoy my job working with all the animals and trying to give them all the best care they need. We had a baby Beardie come in and I immediately fell in love with her because she has a deformed face. Her upper jaw is deformed so it is pushed back and her lower jaw meets the upper jaw, but her nostrils are really close to her mouth. She also has a toe on her one foot that is bend to the side. Knowing these issues could of come from prossible MBD, I started to make sure she got Calicum with every feeding. Long story short, I got tired of watching her not thrive at work because I am not there to feed her multiple times day, so on my associate appreciation day I got her at a extreme discount. Once she was in my full care, I ordered her all sorts of things to try to bring her back up to health. I got liquid Calicum and Multivitamins. I even ordered a variety of bugs and worms. She doesn't feel shaky anymore since I have her, I'm still giving liquid Calicum 5x a week and the liquid multivitamin 2x. My worry is she seems to be such a spook. I barely ever see her up in her basking spot. She seems to always be hiding from the Reptisun and the heat. She still isn't eating on her own, there was a period when she was eating a little bit of bugs on her own, but that has stopped again. I always offer live food at every feeding and when she doesn't eat I give the slurries, which she gladly licks off her face. I am constantly worried about a respiratory infection because of the way her face is shaped. When I put the slurries on her face it 9 times out of 10 goes over her nostrils. I have gotten to the point where I think the vet is now most definitely needed to see what is really going on. I leave for a week the second week of August, my boyfriend or sister will be taking care of my two babies, but I want to know things are on the up and up before I go away. When I took her home she was about 7 inches and 13 grams. Now, she is measuring 8 inches and weighs 20 grams. Does anyone else have any suggestions for me?

 

[scm133]

You have a heart of gold!! Sounds like she is good hands. She is going to be a challenge due to jaw malformation. I noticed that she is gaining weight, so you must be doing something right.
Maybe getting her something easier to catch, and grab hold of..might be the answer. If you can get hold of some butterworms, they will be easier to grab and chew. Even try some waxworks to fatten her up. I have a craigslist Leopard gecko that had MBD, and she also has the enigma syndrome. She is my sweet mentally and physically challenged child. Slow, and fat worms worked for her. Also syringe feeding with baby squash, and supplements will also help. I also swear by ReptiAid..it seems to help the appetite. And of course a trip to the vet to rule out parasites

 

[BitterSweetLove4]

I just noticed I put July 9 when I got her. That should say June 9th Thank you so much for the quick reply! I have actually tried butterworms with her and she ate about 2 once, but wouldnt eat them again. She won't eat anything but slurries in her viv. If I put bugs in she just let's them run away and hide. I was hoping for her to build some strength before I took her to the vet, but I guess that won't be happening.

 

[Spikey07]

You sound to be gdoing a great job so far. I think it is a good idea to take her to a reputable exotics vet. Also take a sample of poo with you so it can be checked for parasites.

Do you have any pictures?

When you measured the basking temps did you leave the probe there for 45mins before taking the reading?

 

[BitterSweetLove4]

This may be a stupid question, but because she goes so little how do you guys suggest I collect the poop? For measuring the temps, I have probes that stay in those areas all the time. One attached to her basking area and one in the cool end. I most certainly have pictures! I am always snapping shots of my two babies. I just have to load them from my phone to photo bucket.

 

[Spikey07]

If you give her a warm bath that should stimulate her to poop. Does she normally poo in the bath?

Otherwise you can give her a few drops of olive oil and applesauce to help her go.

 

[BitterSweetLove4]

Those are great suggestions! How do I take it to the vet? On a paper towel or on a small sandwich bag.

 

[Spikey07]

either a zip loc sandwich bag or small tupperwear is good.

Keep us updated!

 

[BitterSweetLove4]

I most definitely will! I am extremely attached to her and my boy Percy. Here are some pictures.

Here is Willow:

And my boy Percy:

 

[BitterSweetLove4]

I called two vets today to try and make appointments. The one couldn't get me in until August 3rd and the other said 8:30 on Wednesday. I am keeping both appointments just in case I don't like the first vet. I am a little worried. I just fed Willow her second meal and I think she inhaled some of the baby food. She opened her mouth and then made a cough noise. This is the first time shes done this. What can I do to prevent a respiratory infection??

 

[LadyMeridius]

I work at PetSmart, I know boo hiss, but I really enjoy my job working with all the animals and trying to give them all the best care they need.

I work at a big box pet store too, so I gotcher back!

 

[BitterSweetLove4]

Haha, thanks I consider my store one of the best around because my associates and I really care about our animals. We all have a specific area where we are stronger in and learn everything we can from each other. I go to the vet on Wednesday with my baby girl. I am a little nervous

 

[LadyMeridius]

Haha, thanks I consider my store one of the best around because my associates and I really care about our animals. We all have a specific area where we are stronger in and learn everything we can from each other. I go to the vet on Wednesday with my baby girl. I am a little nervous

That's what I like about my associates as well. They have all learned that its OK to say if they don't know, because no one is expected to know everything, as long as they know who to go to and to listen when they can.

Willow is a cutie! Have you tried taking the legs off the crickets to see if that gives her enough time to grab them? Ive had to break a few legs to get them to be slower >.>

 

[BitterSweetLove4]

When I first brought her home, she was so weak that I had to syringe feed her baby food. Once she got some strength up, she began catching her own bugs. I have small dubia roaches for her, but we started with baby crickets since she knew those from work. I still offer bugs every day at every feeding, but she just lays down and closes her eyes. She eats her slurries very enthusiastically, about 1ml two or three times a day. I know something isn't right, so it's time to see the vet. Poor girl never basks, she just hides and sleeps.

 

[LadyMeridius]

Poor baby - at least she WANTS something! I hope the vet gives you some good news - maybe she picked up a parasite from being stressed?