Respiratory infection not being healed

[Pamiam214]

Hello all! I had posted on here about two weeks ago about my concern for my juvenile bearded dragon. I had also posted a youtube of his breathing. I took him to a reptile specialist vet and they did confirm it was a respiratory infection. He is on day 10 of Baytril and until yesterday he was doing so much better. He is now mouth breathing again with a heavy looking head - not propping up to bask. His lights are on 12 hours a day UVB/UV basking gets to 110 at hottest and he has a area that is 80-85 degrees on his cool side. I was told also to get a ceramic heat emitter which I did, but I have not set up yet.

Does any one know why he could still possibly be sick? He still is going to have his feces checked for mites and such so perhaps that has something to do with it, but after being on meds this long why did his heavy breathing come back? Please help if any one has any information
Also if any one has any details on ceramic heat emitters when to use and if this might help him at night due to the winter weather and perhaps going to 70 degrees at night is to cold for his lungs?
Thanks every one! I will attach photos of my cutie =)

Tiny on his first christmas =)

 

[diamc]

You're right, Tiny is absolutely adorable. Sorry to hear that he is still having problems. That's strange that he is on day 5 of the Baytril and once again starting with the symptoms of the URI. Could he have aspirated on some water? Does he drink in his bath? How often are you bathing him?

Could you fill us in on what type of thermometer you're using, is it a digital strip, round gauge, digital with long wire & probe end or a temperature gun? What is the humidity level in his tank?

It would be a good idea to use the ceramic heat emitter at night so that the nighttime temps stay at about 80 degrees. You're right, going down to 70 is a little too cool since he is having upper respiratory symptoms.

How is his appetite and what is he eating? Is his beard and/or tail darker in color showing that he is uncomfortable?

 

[BeardedDragon6]

Tiny is such a good lil' sweetheart ;D , my dragon was dehydrated yesterday (i think) as when I have Putted him down on the carpet he opened his mouth and tried to cough or something his "cough" was dry like a desert, well I quickly gaved him a bath (as u can see in the previos topics where I have posted the topic is Mine and there was writen how he was coughing) well i gaved him a bath and he pooped like everytime, after i cleared it and let him swim again he licked a bit of the water , i found his old small waterdish and filled it with Cold water, I have putted some water drops on his nose and he licked them, he stopped to do it after all and maybe he was dehydrated, it could be that Tiny is also Dehydrated , give her some baths for 30 mins , the water (how you know) must be warm and Tiny will probably lick it like mine did , as he licks everything what moves (i have splashed a bit around and he licked it) , so it could be deyhdration because taking meds 5 days and nothing helps never happend.

(im not the Best Helper here , but i try to do my best :mrgreen: :mrgreen: )

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

As Diane suggested, use the ceramic heat emitter to try & keep the overnight temperatures up to around 80 to help boost his immune system.
Do you bathe him? For now, I wouldn't bathe him since he is still having respiratory issues right now. You don't want him to get chilled.
Are you giving him any probiotics right now while he is on the Baytril?

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[Pamiam214]

I am setting up his ceramic heat emitter for tonight - it just scares me because of the hot temps it reaches are fires.

His tank is at 105 on the hot end - and 30 on humidity. He is still mouth breathing we actually took his feces in for checking today but we won't hear back until tomorrow.

He had diareah today for the first time. I am hoping it is just the antibiotic perhaps getting his system and I need to make him feel better by helping him replace what he had in him before.

Does any one know what I can do to help his normal bodies levels of vitamins and such?
I am doing so much to help him but I am so afraid he will never feel better =(.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Do you have any probiotics like non dairy soy yogurt or acidophiliz to help with his little tummy?
The antibiotics do have a tendency to upset their system, so try to keep him hydrated as well as possible.
As long as the ceramic heat emitter is away from anything that could catch fire, it will be fine.

Let us know how he is doing.
Let us know what his fecal results are when you get them back, as well. Thanks!

Tracie

 

[Pamiam214]

Hey every one thanks so much for all of your help. He got his fecal sample returned today and he has concidia if any one has any more information on this parasite please let me know! I am now giving him albon for the next 8 days ( poor guy is full of meds right now I feel so horrible for him! ) . He just took his first dose and he looks grumpy he had too. He is very much into being held so I am just being a good lizard mommy and holding him lots so he doesn't feel so alone in this mean diseased lizard world =( . I am hoping this medicine helps his conditions all around and perhaps the parasite was just to much for it all, I will go ahead and buy soy yogurt for him - will it interrupt his antibiotic now

?

Thanks so much for all of your help =)

 

[diamc]

Tracie's right, as long as the CHE is away from anything that could catch fire, it will be fine. It's very important that you keep his nighttime temps around 80 to help boost his system a little.

The fecal sample must have shown coccidia. Any idea what the count was 1+, 2+, 3+ or 4+? If it was quite low, he really didn't need treatment so that's why I'm wondering how high it was. I would start the soy yogurt right away at least twice a day. Make sure it is soy, not dairy yogurt. You can get the soy in fruit flavors too like peach and blueberry. Keep us updated.

 

[quigleysmom]

I am sorry your beardie is sick. I know it can be scary and upsetting when they dont feel good. Your beardie is lucky he has such a good beardid mommy. I hope he feels better soon. Good luck to you both.