Rescue dietary problems

[fandomherps]

I rescued two beardies on wednesday and the male I ended up getting for free because I offered to try and cure him. I will upload pictures just so you guys can see what I'm dealing with.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/109927039722552479067/posts/p/pub
(All of the posts are of him. He's the light colored one)

He is SO skinny and malnourished I don't even know what I should do. I am giving him a combination of reptiboost, jump start, a tad of crested gecko diet just for flavor and thickness, and water with anti-parasite meds mixed with it. He gets it twice a day as well as a bath 1-2 times a day. Previously he had mouthrot plus he hasn't been eating for a while. He was severely dehydrated when I got him and he drank for a literal 5 minutes straight in the bath. I had to hold him up because he kept just putting his entire face underwater. He keeps pooping several times a day and it varies from semi-solid to complete liquid. Since I started the anti-parasite meds, I have been seeing what looks like pieces of bug in his fecal matter which doesn't make sense because he isn't eating. I can't take him to a vet-I spent all of my money getting the appetite simulators and the other rescue. He also sleeps almost all day, no matter what you are doing with him. I've been taking him to my boss who is a reptile enthusiast/breeder of 35 years. He has been gaining weight but that stool problem has me a bit worried. Any suggestions? And right now I don't have a full cage set up for them (I wasn't planning on keeping either of the dragons but I fell in love) so I have a 20 long set up for certain moments in the day but for the most part, they are with somebody cuddling, getting spoiled, or getting one of their daily treatments. They are also getting a couple hours every day outside for natural basking and UVB. He has been gaining weight, I can tell just from the feel of him. He was 222g when I got him. Idk his current weight at the moment.

The main question I had for you guys is what do you think the cause of all this is? It appears that I am flushing out his system and he is gaining strength due to the fact that he no longer seems to have trouble breathing. I don't even know what to ask but I really need your guys' input. No matter what it is, I could really use the help

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Wow poor guy! I would not have them together as he may have something contagious. I know you said you don't have much cash, but he really should go to the vet and aleast have a fecal done. Do you have a ceremic heat emitter to keep his temps warmer at night and help his immune system. You can try stage one baby food like squash, sweet potatoes chicken and turkey. As for having them together a 20gallon is really to small for one let alone 2. I have bought all of my 40 gallon breeder tanks off Craigslist for 40.00 and even one was 30. Good luck with him

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Which antiparasitic meds did you give him?
The stools may be loose due to relocation stress as well as any worms or parasite issues. Have you gotten him to eat any solid foods?
Do you have a basking light for him in the tank? If so, what are the basking temperatures in the tank for him?
I am glad to hear he is getting natural sunlight daily, that will help him a lot. Which UVB do you plan on using for him?
I would continue with the daily baths to help with hydration. The Reptiboost & jumpstart should help his immune system. Does he like the gecko diet?
Are you housing him with the other dragon you got also?
The picture didn't come up, can you post it again or try another link?

Thanks.
Tracie

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....it's great that you're trying to help this poor dragon . He is in terrible condition, so be prepared for the fact that he may not make it. It's good that he drank, and getting soft baby in him is the best thing right now. If you have a blender that you can use to make slurries, you might mix up some bugs along with turnip, mustard, collard greens ans squash. Not too much protein at first though. Also, he is very weak and since you didn't have an actual fecal test done [ unless your reptile friend of 35 years did one ] then it's best to stop the anti parasitic meds. If you don't know exactly what or if he has parasites then the meds. can do more harm than good. The bits of bug in his poo can be what he had in his digestive system from weeks ago...a sickly dragon that is so dehydrated may not have had a bowel movement for weeks.

Keep up the good work, hope that he will make it !

 

[fandomherps]

Hi. Wow poor guy! I would not have them together as he may have something contagious. I know you said you don't have much cash, but he really should go to the vet and aleast have a fecal done. Do you have a ceremic heat emitter to keep his temps warmer at night and help his immune system. You can try stage one baby food like squash, sweet potatoes chicken and turkey. As for having them together a 20gallon is really to small for one let alone 2. I have bought all of my 40 gallon breeder tanks off Craigslist for 40.00 and even one was 30. Good luck with him

I'm just waiting on my boss for his 40 gallon. He doesn't move much anyway but I understand about the 20 long. It was just the biggest I had on hand. At night I dont have a CHE but they get burrito wrapped in a thick towel every night after a warm bath so they seem to be doing pretty well. How much do the fecals usually cost? The reason I use CGD is because it was created as a substitute for baby food. Thank you for the input!

 

[fandomherps]

Hello,

Which antiparasitic meds did you give him?
The stools may be loose due to relocation stress as well as any worms or parasite issues. Have you gotten him to eat any solid foods?
Do you have a basking light for him in the tank? If so, what are the basking temperatures in the tank for him?
I am glad to hear he is getting natural sunlight daily, that will help him a lot. Which UVB do you plan on using for him?
I would continue with the daily baths to help with hydration. The Reptiboost & jumpstart should help his immune system. Does he like the gecko diet?
Are you housing him with the other dragon you got also?
The picture didn't come up, can you post it again or try another link?

Thanks.
Tracie

He is getting the Reptile Xtra anti parasite meds. It is suggested for the first 3 days of the first 3 weeks whenever you add a new reptile to your home. He has only eaten one superworm for me since wednesday. I do not have a basking light or UVB at the moment because I am waiting on that tank from my boss to see what wattage of heat bulb that i need to get because I have none on hand at the moment. I will be getting the reptisun 10.0 bulb. So until I get all of these things they have spent most of their time free roaming, in the large bathtub, or outside basking. They are being housed together but that's how they were when I picked them up along with 4 other dragons so it doesn't seem like it's contagious and he is more comfortable when she is around.

 

[fandomherps]

https://plus.google.com/u/0/109927039722552479067/posts/p/pub
Okay the pictures of him are the only posts on the account so hopefully you guys can see the images

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is he doing today?
Are you referring to Reptaid as the antiparasitic formula?
Has he shown any interest in food?

It is important for him to be able to have a basking spot or or around 95-105 so that he can digest his food better. I am glad you will be getting the Reptisun 10 tube bulb soon, that will help out also. When do you anticipate getting the basking light?
Try to make sure she doesn't dominate him because with him being so thin, his system can't really take anymore stress right now.
Fecals normally cost $25 or less most of the time. It would be a good idea to try & have one done just so you know if he does have worms or parasites.

Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie