Sick beardie, don't know whats wrong!!!

[karolynmae]

Ok. So i am at my wits end now.

Hes been sick for 2 weeks now. He is extremely lethargic, wont eat or drink. He even sleeps in the bath. Ive been force feeding him critical care, as well as baby food with a bit of calcium. The vet prescribed him antibiotics as well as poop meds which ran out about 4 days ago. He still is on Metacam at 1.5 once daily.

Every test we could possibly run has come back normal. At first they thought he was just trying to brumate since he didn't over the winter. Then his leg swelled up and it was he needed to poop. He finally pooped but is still sickly and wont eat.

I'm at my end here. I don't want to lose my baby, but i don't know how to help him.

Background. He is 4 years old. Ceramic heat as well as uvb & uva properly spaced in his 50gallon tank. He is on finely crushed walnut substrate. Hot side temp is 99 degrees, cool side is 80. His diet is crickets daily, greens(usually mustard greens or kale) mixed with carrots or fruits. He also gets the occasional worm. normal baths are once a week but since he has gotten sick we have been doing every other day to try to help keep him hydrated.

His wifey is housed separately right next door. all the same foods and exposure but she is perfectly fine.

attached pictures are one of his xrays and his bloodwork panel from the vet. Any advice what this is or if im just crazy and hes brumating. Im worried if i just let him sleep he will die. but if i keep him up and force feed him i worry he wont get better.

his leg is usable from the swelling. it seems to have gone down. but he just doesn't want to move or eat.

sorry, i know this is long. i am in psycho mom mode. =/

doctors note is that his LDH is high due to an unclean stick. She had to send all his records and tests to a reptile specialist in California for feedback since she doesn't normally deal with dragons.

 

[karolynmae]

So after 3 vet visits with three different vets. And over 1000$ in visit costs and tests. We only have one answer. Something neurological.

They say there is nothing they can do at this point and that we should just keep him comfortable. Im angry because every vet ive taken him to advertizes that they specialize in exotic pets, but when i get him there they dont know what to do. We still dont know the exact cause, but no one seems like they can help.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Sorry about your baby. I'd pm Drache613. She probably can help you.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The bloodwork "appears normal" to me, nothing out of range. The uric acid is a little low though, which can imply a simple nutritional deficiency such as iron or dehydration, . The AST levels are in the low normal levels. Nutritional deficiences such as B6 which is Pyridoxine which can sometimes render neurological problems.
What supplements do you currently give him, vitamins, calcium etc?
How long has this been occurring now?
Has he been exposed to anything toxic that you can think of? I would however, get rid of the walnut shells, not that they are causing the problem, but just to eliminate that possibility.
Which UVB type & brand do you use?
You are positive that he is male & not female, correct?

Tracie

 

[karolynmae]

He has his crickets dusted with calcium every time we feed him. But he hasnt been eating for going on 3 weeks now. Ive been syringe feeding him baby food and critical care as well as water for 2 weeks now.

And we have him on walnut shells because he is a digger and most other substrates are worse for impactions as well as the felt substrates he ripped his nails off. :/

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Sorry, we posted at the same time, basically. Which UVB do you use?
Well, if you feel that he is not ingesting them nor has he had any trouble with them, then you can keep that in. I haven't ever heard of them being toxic.
So he has not had any calcium in a few weeks but is taking in the critical care now?

Tracie

 

[karolynmae]

All his lighting is the reptisun bulbs, just changed. Ive also been mixing the calcium in with his baby food for about 2 weeks or so.

His wifey is housed right next to him, same set up, food, bulbs everything. And she is still eating like a champ.

He isnt even doing anything but squirming around now. Its so pitiful and after 7 different veterinarians id have hoped they would have an answer. All i got tonight after driving 3 hours was i think its neurological. But i dont know

 

[AHBD]

I'm sorry about this super frustrating situation . Karolyn, what were the very first signs [ you wrote that he's been ill for 2 weeks ] Can you post pics of him in his tank as well as a close up of him and even a video where you are trying to get him to walk ? You can do so via Vimeo or Youtube, then post it here. If he really only squirms around it may be that he actually had a stroke. A member here had a female a couple years ago that had similar symptoms + it was a stroke....BUT hopefully it's not that serious.