motherofbeardies
Member
So today I brought a bearded dragon home from school, I agreed to watch him over the summer and was going to bring him home mid May, but due to the HORRIBLE care he was getting, and overall lack of attention he was being given I decided to bring him home early and try to get him some help.
Some background info:
-He had no heat source at all
-No UVB light
-Placed with another dragon
-Given only pellets to eat, no greens or insects at all (he's an adult)
-Teacher doesn't know the age (they've had him for a year and a half)
I am obviously going to take him to the vet ASAP, luckily we have a really good herp vet here who will see and treat him for free, but because of that, it takes a little bit longer to get him in. The next available time to bring him in is this Thursday (4/27/17). I am really worried about him, and want to do everything I can to make sure he makes it to Thursday..
I do have my own happy, healthy bearded dragon, so I know the basics. However, I have never dealt with a sick beardie..and need help here.
So here is what's going on with him..he is very clearly dehydrated, lethargic, not eating or drinking on his own, no bowel movements (just urates) and the most worrying...he can't seem to breathe after the few sips he does take. I took a video and will figure out how to link it..but he gapes and throws his head around, takes a big gasp and goes back to gaping. During all of this he is drooling like crazy..
The only thing I can think of is an URI maybe? And I don't know how to help him while he's here..
As far as his other problems, I've given him diluted Pedialyte (1:3), butternut squash baby food, soaked him, set up his tank with 2 heat lamps to make a basking area of 100-105F, hes under a Reptisun 10.0 tube light (same as my other beardie), he can get about 8" from both, but not close enough to harm him.
I have calcium powder (with and without D3) I can mix into his baby food once he gets some more strength. But I feel like all of this is useless if I can't get him to drink safely. I've used the dripping water over the snout before with another dragon, but this guy is really struggling.
Is there anything else that anyone can think of that might help this little guy out? I am willing to try anything. I don't want him to die.
DROOLING/GASPING: https://youtu.be/w_3z23BATkQ
Some background info:
-He had no heat source at all
-No UVB light
-Placed with another dragon
-Given only pellets to eat, no greens or insects at all (he's an adult)
-Teacher doesn't know the age (they've had him for a year and a half)
I am obviously going to take him to the vet ASAP, luckily we have a really good herp vet here who will see and treat him for free, but because of that, it takes a little bit longer to get him in. The next available time to bring him in is this Thursday (4/27/17). I am really worried about him, and want to do everything I can to make sure he makes it to Thursday..
I do have my own happy, healthy bearded dragon, so I know the basics. However, I have never dealt with a sick beardie..and need help here.
So here is what's going on with him..he is very clearly dehydrated, lethargic, not eating or drinking on his own, no bowel movements (just urates) and the most worrying...he can't seem to breathe after the few sips he does take. I took a video and will figure out how to link it..but he gapes and throws his head around, takes a big gasp and goes back to gaping. During all of this he is drooling like crazy..
The only thing I can think of is an URI maybe? And I don't know how to help him while he's here..
As far as his other problems, I've given him diluted Pedialyte (1:3), butternut squash baby food, soaked him, set up his tank with 2 heat lamps to make a basking area of 100-105F, hes under a Reptisun 10.0 tube light (same as my other beardie), he can get about 8" from both, but not close enough to harm him.
I have calcium powder (with and without D3) I can mix into his baby food once he gets some more strength. But I feel like all of this is useless if I can't get him to drink safely. I've used the dripping water over the snout before with another dragon, but this guy is really struggling.
Is there anything else that anyone can think of that might help this little guy out? I am willing to try anything. I don't want him to die.