Running out of options, need some serious advice

[Menolly]

Hi this is what my bearded dragon has started doing every morning and he will gape throughout the day.

For the last month he has been having gaping issues since January. He has been treated with Baytril, Cefazolin, and he has been given shots of Amiglyde. We let him go for a few weeks because he showed no signs of a respiratory infection. I got an x-ray which was clear, the blood tests came back with nothing. So here we are a few weeks later and he is gaping more. We went to a specialist, he did another x-ray and saw some cretin from the side view, but nothing to be alarmed about. He also said that his abdomen felt soft. He did a fecal and a fecal smear test, both which came back negative. He thinks however that there could be parasites that are not showing up on the fecal so that is what he is treating him for. He was given some .9ml of Albon (50mg/ml) for seven days. He also have him some Panacur (100mg/ml) while we were there.If the medication doesn't work he wants to do an ultra sound because he thinks it could be something with his kidneys/liver or potentially peritonitis.
I have an Arcadia 100 watt MVB bulb with a 65 flood light. His basking temps range from 98 to 102. The cool side of his cage is about 80. He eats hornworms, phoenix worms, wax worms, butter worms, silk worms, and occasionally superworms. He eats butternut squash, collard greens, and occasionally fruit right now. I'm working on getting him into a more leafy green diet, I have added mustard greens on the recommendation of the vet. The vet seems to seem more optimistic since he learned that he had coccidia a few years ago and thinks that he never got rid of it. He is also still eating, he just continues to gape more.

If anyone has any ideas or has gone through this or has possible questions that I could ask the vet, I just don't know what to do anymore I would appreciate any input.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

I am sorry he is still having some trouble!
I do agree that if he has had coccidia for awhile that can cause health issues. I know he's had this breathing issues now off & on for awhile.
Hopefully the Albon & Panacur will knock it out for him. Be sure to keep him hydrated as the Albon is dehydrating for him.
When was the last blood test you had done on him? I hope it is not kidney or liver related though!
Hopefully he will start eating a few more greens! Adults can be so stubborn sometimes.
Are you still giving bee pollen for immune support?

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hi Tracie,
He had his blood test on March 12th, which I can repost if that would help. I've been giving him soy yogurt a few times a week but I can try the bee pollen as well though. What would the kidneys or liver would cause the breathing issues?

He is also sleeping right now. He breathes fine when he's sleeping so I'm just letting him relax with me outside the cage.

 

[Menolly]

He seems to be gaping more today, especially after he woke up it was a lot.

 

[jarich]

Have you noticed that this is more prevalent during certain times of the day? For instance, more in the morning right after he wakes up? When you take him out does this affect it at all?

 

[Menolly]

He does that every morning at six thirty and will gape intermintinally throughout the day. If he sleeps during the day and then wakes up he has started gaping very badly. It used to be at night, now it's in the morning.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

I hope he is feeling better.
Keep us posted on him. If he is gaping less that is hopefully a good sign. Maybe the ultrasound will help with more answers.

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

He seemed to be doing better but it seems like his breathing in general seems a little more labored this afternoon. He has had a black beard for most of the afternoon. This could just be my paranoia speaking, but any opinions would be helpful at this point.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

Could the meds be bothering him some?
Was this during the day, he was laying with his eyes closed?
When is your ultrasound appointment, next week? I really am hoping that he isn't having any liver issues right now.
Is he basking any during the day?
For now, keep him comfortable at night, around 80 to help him out. Do you wrap him in a blankie when he sleeps?

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hi Tracie,
That could be a possibility.
Yeah this was around 3:30 in the afternoon. He does get up a 6:30 though because he's gaping and usually doesn't go back to sleep.
The ultrasound is scheduled for Wednesday. Things aren't looking very good are they?
He basks some during the day. I don't have the hide in there most of the time because he would stay in there all day.
Yes I do. He has his own dig bed with a blanket.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

Geez, wednesday can't get here fast enough.
Do you have any milk thistle or serrapeptase to use in case it is liver issues?
I hope it isn't liver or heart problems.
Are his urates usually hard or soft?
How is he doing today, is his breathing any better?

Great, I pretty much figured you had a blankie for him. Let us know how things are going.

Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hi Tracie,
I don't have either of those things, but I could see about getting some. What would that help with?
He seems to be doing better today. He was gaping less and the breathing seems to be less forced. Being outside in this warmer weather seems to help. He had more energy this morning and was running around a little bit. His urinate wasn't solid the last two times he's pooped but he is pooping every morning. I giving him Gatorade with the Albon and have been giving him baths so he stays hydrated.
He's also been basking more instead just crawling to the bottom of the cage which I was happy to see.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

They would just help with liver function if the liver is having any trouble. You should be able to find milk thistle in a health food store.
His urates are soft then?
That is great he is more active today & his breathing is doing better. They do tend to love the warm weather & sunshine outside.
Does he like the Gatorade?
I hope he continues to bask more now instead of trying to sleep on the bottom of his tank.

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[Menolly]

Hi Tracie,
Okay, I'll see if I can find those just in case.
They are at the moment, he didn't poop today but he didn't eat as much today. He was more active and he barely gaped today. He seems like he is having more energy lately and is basking more. I'm glad the weather turned warmer, he really enjoys being outside. When my parents had the screen door open, he would always sit at the door, he's always loved it.
It depends on his mood with the gatorade. Some days he doesn't mind it, other's its struggles just to get him to take it. He has no problem with the medication, but then again the Albon is banana flavored so that helps.
He is no longer struggling to breathe at night, it seems a lot more even now. Its such a relief to see.

 

[Drache613]

Hello Jane,

This is great news he is doing so much better right now!
At least his breathing is improving, too. Did you take him outside for some sunshine?
I am sure he loves the banana flavored Albon also. So that is good you don't have any trouble getting him to take it.
Oh he doesn't really like the gatorade so much?

I am so happy he is improving now!

Tracie