Lara
Member
Hi guys, I have an 8 year old female bearded dragon. She is severely underweight and dehydrated. Mostly it is my fault, since I have not given as much food as I should have, and I should have recognized her dilemma.
All that put aside. I need to help her. She is really severely emaciated. My set up is:
85 Gallon tank
Paper Towels (3 weeks ago repticarpet)
Reptisun 10.0 UVB - approx. 4 months old
Reptiglo Tightbeam basking spot lamp 50w
Unfortunately my thermometer broke, so I have no temps available.
Her diet consisted of butternut, baby spinach leaves, rocket leaves, green beans, and most anything from Beautiful dragons mixed and matched.
Her appetite has lessened the past months. She still ate, just not as much as she used to. She was still very energetic despite her thin body. When I offered her small Dubia roaches she more than eagerly grabbed them. But since Saturday she can barely lift her head. I read about the bug slush/soup so I went and bought superworms, and I squished 3 of them out of their shells, added some calcium powder, and a bit of water, and pulled it up into a syringe. I fed her a bit and she swallowed. Sunday she at least kept her eyes open and pulled her head away from me when I tried to feed her. So I fed her again Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon she gaped under the basking light. I fed her again Sunday afternoon. Monday morning I tried to feed her again, and she swallowed about 1,5ml. Monday afternoon I tried again but this time she wouldn't swallow. Or at least she took 0.5ml, but the rest she just let lie in her mouth, she wouldn't swallow. So I opened her mouth a little later and let the soup run out.
I realise I might be fighting a losing battle, but I have to try. We have 3 vets in my town, and none of them are prepared to treat a bearded dragon. I don't have the money to drive 100 miles to the nearest exotic vet, and pay a consultation fee, and medicine, and even over night costs.
I know my tears doesn't mean anything now, and if this were America I would've been charged with neglect. But despite everything she is my baby, my first born, and I cant just let her go. The real question is: she is 8 years old, is she dying because of old age? Cause if she is I'm definitely fighting a losing battle. If not, please help me save her and give her a few more years.
All that put aside. I need to help her. She is really severely emaciated. My set up is:
85 Gallon tank
Paper Towels (3 weeks ago repticarpet)
Reptisun 10.0 UVB - approx. 4 months old
Reptiglo Tightbeam basking spot lamp 50w
Unfortunately my thermometer broke, so I have no temps available.
Her diet consisted of butternut, baby spinach leaves, rocket leaves, green beans, and most anything from Beautiful dragons mixed and matched.
Her appetite has lessened the past months. She still ate, just not as much as she used to. She was still very energetic despite her thin body. When I offered her small Dubia roaches she more than eagerly grabbed them. But since Saturday she can barely lift her head. I read about the bug slush/soup so I went and bought superworms, and I squished 3 of them out of their shells, added some calcium powder, and a bit of water, and pulled it up into a syringe. I fed her a bit and she swallowed. Sunday she at least kept her eyes open and pulled her head away from me when I tried to feed her. So I fed her again Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon she gaped under the basking light. I fed her again Sunday afternoon. Monday morning I tried to feed her again, and she swallowed about 1,5ml. Monday afternoon I tried again but this time she wouldn't swallow. Or at least she took 0.5ml, but the rest she just let lie in her mouth, she wouldn't swallow. So I opened her mouth a little later and let the soup run out.
I realise I might be fighting a losing battle, but I have to try. We have 3 vets in my town, and none of them are prepared to treat a bearded dragon. I don't have the money to drive 100 miles to the nearest exotic vet, and pay a consultation fee, and medicine, and even over night costs.
I know my tears doesn't mean anything now, and if this were America I would've been charged with neglect. But despite everything she is my baby, my first born, and I cant just let her go. The real question is: she is 8 years old, is she dying because of old age? Cause if she is I'm definitely fighting a losing battle. If not, please help me save her and give her a few more years.