Shedding problem! What do I do?

[Erinator]

Alright so my five month old bearded dragon Elliot has been puffing his beard and breathing heavily today. After extensive research and some time on the phone with a vet clinic, I don't believe he has a respiratory infection because he isn't producing mucus from his eyes or nose, isn't weezing or coughing, and is eating and basking like normal.

(He is on repti carpet, has proper humidity, his basking spot is at 108 degrees Fahrenheit, and his cool side is a normal 84 degrees Fahrenheit. I just bought new uv and basking bulbs and have checked their expiration dates; they are both perfectly fine.)

However, I did read something about nose shedding being a contributor to heavy breathing- and after taking a closer look, Elliot does have skin in both of his nostrils that I can't get out.

I have a dilemma. I could either bring him to the only vet open today and cough up 200 dollars just for them to see him, or wait until monday when my usual (much more financially accommodating) vet is open. I work at a small restaurant and my boss just let everyone go because he sold it to some other buyers so i'm really tight on money right now. Elliot isn't breathing heavily enough where I believe that he's in any pain, and again is eating and drinking like normal. On the other hand, I just want him to be okay. I could really use some opinions!

 

[FrankTheBeardie223]

When my Beardie was shedding, he had the skin over his nose too. Mine wasn't breathing too heavily so I am not sure what to say about that. You might want to go to the vet, but you can probably wait for the other vet to open. Don't try to peel off any skin, but you can help by soaking them.Good luck with Elliot!

 

[Erinator]

When my Beardie was shedding, he had the skin over his nose too. Mine wasn't breathing too heavily so I am not sure what to say about that. You might want to go to the vet, but you can probably wait for the other vet to open. Don't try to peel off any skin, but you can help by soaking them.Good luck with Elliot!

Thank you for the advice, he made it through the night just fine and seems like himself despite the heavy breathing so I'm definitely just going to wait until monday!

 

[kingofnobbys]

Alright so my five month old bearded dragon Elliot has been puffing his beard and breathing heavily today. After extensive research and some time on the phone with a vet clinic, I don't believe he has a respiratory infection because he isn't producing mucus from his eyes or nose, isn't weezing or coughing, and is eating and basking like normal.
<<< Was the vet you spoke to (who didn't actually examine him) a reptile vet or a general vet ?
If he's in shed or coming up to a shed , and puffing his beard , he is behaving perfectly normally for a bearded dragon and simply throat skin stretching , they all do it.
see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5BSRC77ZCA
Nothing to worry about unless there is mucus or bubbles involved.

(He is on repti carpet, has proper humidity, his basking spot is at 108 degrees Fahrenheit, and his cool side is a normal 84 degrees Fahrenheit. I just bought new uv and basking bulbs and have checked their expiration dates; they are both perfectly fine.)

However, I did read something about nose shedding being a contributor to heavy breathing- and after taking a closer look, Elliot does have skin in both of his nostrils that I can't get out.
<<<< he'll deal with those plugs of nostil shed himself.

I have a dilemma. I could either bring him to the only vet open today and cough up 200 dollars just for them to see him, or wait until monday when my usual (much more financially accommodating) vet is open. I work at a small restaurant and my boss just let everyone go because he sold it to some other buyers so i'm really tight on money right now. Elliot isn't breathing heavily enough where I believe that he's in any pain, and again is eating and drinking like normal. On the other hand, I just want him to be okay. I could really use some opinions!