Seizing Bearded Dragon Help

[needhelp335]

This is my first time posting in the forum, so sorry if anything isn’t right. About a week ago, I noticed my beardie, Iroh, flipped on his back in the tank. I picked him up and didn’t think much of it at first. I assumed he may have fallen off of a perch. But the issue progressed and I noticed he started walking weirdly, which made him lose his balance and fall onto his back again. I made an appointment with an animal hospital and brought him, where they did x-rays, blood work, and ended up hospitalizing for a few days before releasing him back to me. 
He is roughly four years old, but it’s impossible to be completely sure. His past owner was extremely unreliable and inconsistent with answering questions when I got him from him last year. I know the quality of care given to him by this past owner wasn’t right. He had extremely improper lighting that gave him what looks like a burn scar on his back, and had no thermometer in the tank. The previous owner also only fed him bearded dragon pellets. I was told he is male, but am not completely sure.
He is currently on an antibiotic (every 72 hours we bring him in for an injection) and is being syringe fed critical care carnivore mix. He is also being given baths twice daily to help with hydration, but is continuing to flip and I believe seize? He’ll have episodes where it seems he’s lost control of himself and begins to shake pretty bad, and his mouth will sometimes hang down. He is very skinny, but has been since I got him despite consistent feeding. He managed to eat a few mealworms that I handfed today, which the vet said would be alright, and he eats 1-2ml of the critical care every two hours right now. I’m planning to continue syringe feeding until I get a definite answer, but since he’s shown interest in solid food I was wondering if I could start transitioning him back up on it again.
Currently, he has a 55-gallon tank with a basking side that varies between 95-100 degrees, and is using a reptisun 10.0 uvb bulb. I'm not sure how to share photos or if it's possible, but I have photos of the x-rays, bloodwork, and him as well if that could help at all. I’m not sure what else I can do, and hate seeing him struggle. Any advice is more than welcome right now.

 

[KarrieRee]

https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at the top of the message box then click on the pic it should post
If your UVB is a coil 13 watt get rid of it immediately or any coil I am guessing that is the UVB your using --- it sounds like your dragon has a severe case of MBD--- if you can take him outside direct sun/ partial shade for 15 minutes or longer sitting on you or place him in a plastic tote NO GLASS --- watch him / supervise him do this every day till you get a long tube fixture a Zoo Med or Sunblaster or a Arcadia 24" fixture --- get a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb or a Arcadia 12% bulb
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster-nanotech-t5-ho-fixture-with-6400k-lamp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjA0In0=

Do this ASAP--- when you get the fixture please post back on here and we can help you get it properly placed --

 

[needhelp335]

https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ click on XIMG at the top of the message box then click on the pic it should post
If your UVB is a coil 13 watt get rid of it immediately or any coil I am guessing that is the UVB your using --- it sounds like your dragon has a severe case of MBD--- if you can take him outside direct sun/ partial shade for 15 minutes or longer sitting on you or place him in a plastic tote NO GLASS --- watch him / supervise him do this every day till you get a long tube fixture a Zoo Med or Sunblaster or a Arcadia 24" fixture --- get a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb or a Arcadia 12% bulb
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/arcadia-prot5-uvb-kit.html
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster-nanotech-t5-ho-fixture-with-6400k-lamp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjA0In0=

Do this ASAP--- when you get the fixture please post back on here and we can help you get it properly placed --

Thank you so much! I just took him outside now and he seemed to perk up a bit, I ordered the new lights and fixture which are coming on wednesday. Until then for maintaining uvb should i keep the bulb I have off or on ? I had no idea about the coil being an issue, it was what had been recommended to me by a pet store owner I’ll definitely post back for proper placement

 

[KarrieRee]

Shut it off and use the sun- he's way better off-- he needs this everyday - till you get the uvb-- what did you order? And your screen on the tank is a fine mesh or wide hole type?

 

[needhelp335]

Shut it off and use the sun- he's way better off-- he needs this everyday - till you get the uvb-- what did you order? And your screen on the tank is a fine mesh or wide hole type?

Reptisun 22" 10.0 T5HO UV-B Bulb - Includes Attached DBDPet Pro-Tip Guide - Great for Bearded Dragons, and Chameleons https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091YFGSBP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_P892MGC4BHDHCJ693PXP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Reptisun T5 Ho Terrarium Hood 24 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX5HXI2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RTY7K2MM3TW9PHDEZCK9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

^Here are links to the light and fixture I ordered, the top of the tank is fine mesh i believe. I also tried to upload pictures of the bloodwork results but i’m not sure if it worked or not

 

[KarrieRee]

No it didn't come thru I will repost the link here later-- so the UVB will need to go inside the tank - I am gonna post stuff for you to use to hang it w/ here later when I post the pic link- Tracie our vet tech mod will be able to read that blood work - I will flag the post to her -

 

[needhelp335]

[/img]

No it didn't come thru I will repost the link here later-- so the UVB will need to go inside the tank - I am gonna post stuff for you to use to hang it w/ here later when I post the pic link- Tracie our vet tech mod will be able to read that blood work - I will flag the post to her -

Here's the image sorry about that

 

[KarrieRee]

3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties--fishing line - potted plant wire hangers -- and this stuff its like a Velcro strap cut into strips and then wrap around the fixture
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-15-ft-Cable-Ties-Hook-and-Loop-Spool-Black-10375/304220195
I use this stuff it works really good

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The bloodwork doesn't look too bad. His 25-hydroxy levels could be low which is his D3
storage in his system. If he had poor care before you got him that definitely sets him up to
have calcium problems or other health problems.
Based on the blood test results, his AST (liver enzymes) look fine as do his Uric acid (kidney
enzymes) which is great to see. Keep him hydrated daily just to help out his kidneys in case
he might be dehydrated.
How often are you giving calcium?
His white blood cell count namely the Monocytes which can indicate an infection possibly.
That could affect his behavior or balance, too. The Eosinophils help control & isolate an
infection or inflammation.
Are you giving the critical care again right now? How often are you giving calcium for him?
I would recommend giving liquid calcium to help with absorption rate. Yes, if he is starting
to show some interest in solid foods then by all means, go ahead & slowly integrate him to
a more solid food intake.
Which tube bulb did you order now?

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[needhelp335]

Hello,

The bloodwork doesn't look too bad. His 25-hydroxy levels could be low which is his D3
storage in his system. If he had poor care before you got him that definitely sets him up to
have calcium problems or other health problems.
Based on the blood test results, his AST (liver enzymes) look fine as do his Uric acid (kidney
enzymes) which is great to see. Keep him hydrated daily just to help out his kidneys in case
he might be dehydrated.
How often are you giving calcium?
His white blood cell count namely the Monocytes which can indicate an infection possibly.
That could affect his behavior or balance, too. The Eosinophils help control & isolate an
infection or inflammation.
Are you giving the critical care again right now? How often are you giving calcium for him?
I would recommend giving liquid calcium to help with absorption rate. Yes, if he is starting
to show some interest in solid foods then by all means, go ahead & slowly integrate him to
a more solid food intake.
Which tube bulb did you order now?

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

Hello, thank you for the reply ! Today he’s doing well so far ! I noticed that he’s much less agitated with the uvb off and getting sunlight. i’m still giving him the critical care, but have been slowly adding back in some crickets and mealworms. He showed interest in eating from his dish, but he would miss the crickets and eventually sorta give up, so i’ve been hand feeding them instead.
Before this I would use calcium powder in his food, but since he’s on the critical care i haven’t been able to do so since he wasn’t showing interest in solids before yesterday. it says on the back of the package that there’s calcium in the critical care, will that be alright? How would i go about getting the liquid calcium ?
I ordered the reptisun 10.0 t5HO 24w

 

[KarrieRee]

Good when your UVB comes in please let me know I will help you get it placed-- Tracie sells the liquid calcium on her website https://bug-de-lite.com/ she can help you dose that -

 

[needhelp335]

Good when your UVB comes in please let me know I will help you get it placed-- Tracie sells the liquid calcium on her website https://bug-de-lite.com/ she can help you dose that -

Just went to the pet store to see if i could get it there- they have a zilla t8 bulb 15w— would this be an okay placeholder until they ship in ?

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes it will be okay for now till the T 5 comes --- it MUST go in the tank w/ NO clear plastic cover over the bulb take it off and replace that bulb w/ this one Reptitun 10.0 T 8 its a better bulb than the Zilla - place in the tank approx 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor piece NO screen or cover -- you can use this to hang w/ https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-15-ft-Cable-Ties-Hook-and-Loop-Spool-Black-10375/304220195 its like a Velcro strap cut into strips and wrap around the fixture -- I use it in my tanks works great --- it will stick to itself

 

[needhelp335]

Yes it will be okay for now till the T 5 comes --- it MUST go in the tank w/ NO clear plastic cover over the bulb take it off and replace that bulb w/ this one Reptitun 10.0 T 8 its a better bulb than the Zilla - place in the tank approx 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor piece NO screen or cover -- you can use this to hang w/ https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-15-ft-Cable-Ties-Hook-and-Loop-Spool-Black-10375/304220195 its like a Velcro strap cut into strips and wrap around the fixture -- I use it in my tanks works great --- it will stick to itself

Ordered the velcro- Currently i have it mounted with some cord i have just so he can get some uvb in today. Currently using “ Slimline desert fixture 18” with a “18” 15w desert 50 uvb bulb” although I have a reptisun 5.0 t8 bulb 15w as well- By plastic cover, do you mean the lens cover ? mine is currently on, but i believe it’s removable

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes the cover over the bulb on the fixture-- change the bulb out w/ the 5.0- distance is the same 6-8 inches-- when you get the 24" fixture let me know please