About a week ago I got a text message from a friend I met via the reptile world asking if I would be willing to take in one of a pair of bearded dragons that someone asked her to have. I wanted to say no as I already have three bearded dragons (two of which are rescues) as well as a variety of other critters, many taken in as part of my gecko rescue but then I saw the picture -
And learned that these two "male" bearded dragons were six years old living together in a ten gallon tank on bird seed with only a 25 watt red bulb for heat and no source of UVB. I instantly agreed to take one in so we could separate them and she would care for the other. A few days later, my friend sent me a message letting me know she was getting the dragons that day so we arranged for me to drive over and pick up one that evening.
Had spent the previous few days feverishly preparing as I feared the worse about the dragon's condition. Once my friend had them, she confirmed my concern that the neglect they suffered were obvious. Both were small for supposedly being six years old, skinny, dehydrated, filthy, and one was displaying obvious signs of a RI (heavy breathing, gaping mouth, etc.). She asked if I would take the one with the RI as she didn't have experience with them and I agreed.
I arrived around 10:00 PM and say my rescue for the first time. He was being held by my friend, appeared listless, and his colors were dark. My heart sank. I wrapped him in a towel I brought and placed him in the travel container with a heat pack ready so he could be warm for the hour journey back to my house. He passed out as soon as he was gently wrapped and we made the journey home.
As soon as I awoke the next morning, I checked on him to make sure he survived the night and was relieved to see him open an eye when I turned his lights on. I gently placed him on his basking platform and snapped this picture -
Moments after he started gasping. As soon as my vet's office opened I called and got him an appointment for that evening. Luckily, work is understanding so I left a few hours early so I could go home and bathe him before the appointment and shock and surprise, the "male" I took in was in fact a female. The previous "owner" (and I use this term lightly) had called "him" "Nubbs" due to her shortened tail but I decided she needed something a little more feminine but also a warrior's name so I dubbed her Saya which is a character from an anime called Blood +.
After her bath and about an hour under her basking light, I packed Saya back into her travel container to head to the vet. She handled the ride well and didn't seem to mind people checking her out once we were in the waiting room. We were brought to one of the offices and I was taken aback by her brighter colors so I captured them before the vet came in -
I had already spoken to the vet earlier to tell her my concern about the RI so she came in prepared and was dismayed as myself when she could clearly hear the RI using the stethoscope. She also examined the bump on Saya's nose which had started to leak clear fluid which later was shown to be fungus under a microscope. The vet helped trim her nails (one which has almost twirled back into her toe), gave her the first injection of the medication for her RI, gave her additional injections of calcium and vitamins, and weighed her in at 320 grams. I was given clear instructions on caring for both the RI and fungus and my vet asked for an update in a few days.
This morning, I woke up to Saya waiting for me to turn her lights on to which I happily obliged. To my surprise, when I offered her some salad by hand she devoured it with glee and seemed quite proud of herself and they must have been delicious after her diet of lettuce and pellets. Later in the day, I took her out for a betadine soak (to help with the fungus) and while she isn't a fan of water she was able to pass a bowel movement which was almost entirely comprised of bird seed. Imagine their is more in her system but hoping she can continue to pass them without difficulty as she has enough to fight already.
This is just the beginning of my journey with Saya and her journey into a new life but am truly hoping I'll be able to write about her for a long, long time. Her spirit and will to live are nothing short of extraordinary.
And learned that these two "male" bearded dragons were six years old living together in a ten gallon tank on bird seed with only a 25 watt red bulb for heat and no source of UVB. I instantly agreed to take one in so we could separate them and she would care for the other. A few days later, my friend sent me a message letting me know she was getting the dragons that day so we arranged for me to drive over and pick up one that evening.
Had spent the previous few days feverishly preparing as I feared the worse about the dragon's condition. Once my friend had them, she confirmed my concern that the neglect they suffered were obvious. Both were small for supposedly being six years old, skinny, dehydrated, filthy, and one was displaying obvious signs of a RI (heavy breathing, gaping mouth, etc.). She asked if I would take the one with the RI as she didn't have experience with them and I agreed.
I arrived around 10:00 PM and say my rescue for the first time. He was being held by my friend, appeared listless, and his colors were dark. My heart sank. I wrapped him in a towel I brought and placed him in the travel container with a heat pack ready so he could be warm for the hour journey back to my house. He passed out as soon as he was gently wrapped and we made the journey home.
As soon as I awoke the next morning, I checked on him to make sure he survived the night and was relieved to see him open an eye when I turned his lights on. I gently placed him on his basking platform and snapped this picture -
Moments after he started gasping. As soon as my vet's office opened I called and got him an appointment for that evening. Luckily, work is understanding so I left a few hours early so I could go home and bathe him before the appointment and shock and surprise, the "male" I took in was in fact a female. The previous "owner" (and I use this term lightly) had called "him" "Nubbs" due to her shortened tail but I decided she needed something a little more feminine but also a warrior's name so I dubbed her Saya which is a character from an anime called Blood +.
After her bath and about an hour under her basking light, I packed Saya back into her travel container to head to the vet. She handled the ride well and didn't seem to mind people checking her out once we were in the waiting room. We were brought to one of the offices and I was taken aback by her brighter colors so I captured them before the vet came in -
I had already spoken to the vet earlier to tell her my concern about the RI so she came in prepared and was dismayed as myself when she could clearly hear the RI using the stethoscope. She also examined the bump on Saya's nose which had started to leak clear fluid which later was shown to be fungus under a microscope. The vet helped trim her nails (one which has almost twirled back into her toe), gave her the first injection of the medication for her RI, gave her additional injections of calcium and vitamins, and weighed her in at 320 grams. I was given clear instructions on caring for both the RI and fungus and my vet asked for an update in a few days.
This morning, I woke up to Saya waiting for me to turn her lights on to which I happily obliged. To my surprise, when I offered her some salad by hand she devoured it with glee and seemed quite proud of herself and they must have been delicious after her diet of lettuce and pellets. Later in the day, I took her out for a betadine soak (to help with the fungus) and while she isn't a fan of water she was able to pass a bowel movement which was almost entirely comprised of bird seed. Imagine their is more in her system but hoping she can continue to pass them without difficulty as she has enough to fight already.
This is just the beginning of my journey with Saya and her journey into a new life but am truly hoping I'll be able to write about her for a long, long time. Her spirit and will to live are nothing short of extraordinary.