RI - is it ok to bath?

[tonid]

My beardie is currently being treated with antibiotics for a respiratory infection. She hasn't pooped in 4 days. Do you think it would be ok to bath her while she has this infection?

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Yes you need to bathe her cause the meds tend to dry their systems out. Just make sure her viv is warmer then usual. Hope that helps.

 

[tonid]

Thanks, bathed her yesterday and she had a huge poop! Still not eaten in three days though, this is worrying me so much!

 

[Twobeardieguy]

You may have to force feed.

 

[Phoenix17June2009]

someone told me to try baby food if phoenix stopped eating when i was giving him meds, i never had to give it, but it could be worth a try

 

[fresnowitte]

Antibiotics are very harsh and hard on a beardies tummy. Due to the fact that it kills all bacteria even the good stuff needed for digesting food. Are you also using a probiotic to help replace the good gut flora?

Also it's good that you got your beardie to poop but keep in mind that you do not want them to take in alot of water at a time orally in the bath during an RI. I try to keep their vent in the water but their heads out if possible only letting them take several small drinks at a time not gulp it down.

 

[tonid]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I haven't been giving her a probiotic - is this something I need to get from the vet? She gets really stressed when I give her the Baytril via syringe into her mouth, so don't want to stress her anymore by force feeding. She gets her last dose of Baytril today, so I am hoping that her appetite may return in a day or so. It is so hard being a new beardie mum, and I so want to get it right!

 

[fresnowitte]

Not even sure if the vet carries it they don't usually prescibe it unless you get a really great vet. :roll: I've not purchased it from a pet store so I'm not sure who carries it. Here are the names of a few so you can look at your local shops...Acidophiliz, Bene-Bac, NutriBAC, the first 2 are your most likely to find in the stores I'm thinking. In a pinch if you can't find any you could give her some soy yogurt. The main reason they don't eat during the antibiotics is because of the tummy ache it causes so they quicker the tummy ache is gone the sooner she will eat. :wink:

 

[tonid]

Thanks Barbara, she just had her last dose of Baytril today, so hopefully in a few days she will be back to her greedy self. Good news is she ate 3 wax worms and a mouthful of greens today

 

[fresnowitte]

Glad to hear she ate something today that is good news.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

That is awesome.

 

[tonid]

Ok guys, this is really worrying me now, since my last post when I said that she ate 3 wax worms, all she has eaten since is 1 more wax worm! This is worrying me so much. The Baytril finished over 48 hours ago and she is still not eating. I have tried all her favorites, supers, mealies, locust, wax worms and butter worms and she just closed her eyes when I offer it to her or turns away. I have tried leaving the food in the viv, but nothing! How much longer before she just dies of starvation? This has been going on for nearly two weeks, surely she can't hold out much longer? I am just so desperate now and can't sleep with worrying! Seems like her infection has cleared up, her breathing is back to normal, so just don't know what else to do!

 

[fresnowitte]

Did you ever give her any probiotics to settle her tummy?

 

[tonid]

Hi Barbara, as I got so desperate, i started up another discussion in the ER section under 'Desperate Please Help'. To recap and save you from having to find my new post, I have today got some Alpro soya yoghurt, baby food (chicken and squash) and as I couldn't find the brand names here in England that everyone was suggesting, I got some Reptoboost, which says that it is an electrolyte, probiotic, energy suppliment. I have just started her on the yoghurt and managed to get her to lick a little off her nose - don't know how much I should be giving her, but am aiming for 3 times daily. Is a few drops on the end of her nose enough? I will also mix the Reptoboost with the baby food and try this later.

 

[fresnowitte]

If you could get her to lick about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon full of the soy yogurt that alone would do the trick...if she's not eating that much then use the reptoboost. Once the good gut flora is replaced then her tummy ache will subside and she will begin to have an appetite again. :wink: