Sick Dragon and Upcoming Move

[Desdemona]

My bearded dragon has been having issues on and off for some time now. She has seen two different vets but they don't seem to make a huge difference. I have temp thermometers in multiple locations, so I don't think it's environmental. To be honest it seems like she's had a stroke or something. She just brumates unless I put her by her food, in the sink for water, etc. As soon as she sees food or water she perks up but she never gets up on her own to get these things. The old vet gave her an appetite stimulant (which the new vet said they don't do anymore) and some meds for parasites, thoug he said her count was normal. The new vet gave her calcium, more parasite medicine (though this time she did show an infection), eye drops for an occasionally weepy eye, and some food to force feed her (before she started eating on her own).

She didn't seem to have any healthy change for months and just a few days ago she did start eating. Before she would just watch her food and seem interested but never actually eat. She probably got tired of being force fed. She basically keeps fluxuating between looking as if she is going to die and seeming normalish. Since this has gone on for almost a year (multiple visits to both vets) it seems as if it's something she probably won't recover from. However everytime I feel like maybe it's time to let her "rest," she seems to perk up a little and I feel bad.

So, the delima is that I am going to move in June. This move will include a visit to my parents and about 6 days on the road. My car is not big enough to bring her tank. I could probably bring one of my lizard tanks, but since it's a move things are going to be tight. I don't really feel like re-homing a sick animal is an ethical choice. I doubt anyone would jump on that sale. She is roughly 7 years old, not young but not really old either.

WWYD, try a few more vet visits and see if they manage to stumble upon the problem? The current vet said that some things are really difficult to discover or would you let the vet end her struggle? I'd keep trying things, but I don't know how well she will do with the move. If she's still just as ill, probably not well at all with the added stress. She has gone on one day road trips before without to much problem, but this is potentially a two week trip and I can't leave her behind since I'm moving states.

 

[CooperDragon]

I'm sorry to hear she is having so much trouble. You may want to locate an experienced reptile vet in your new location once you get there. If she has handled short trips without a problem, she'll probably be OK on longer trips too. I use a tote bag (a big shoebox will work too) with some towels in the bottom as a carrier during car rides. I can tuck any supplies needed short term into the side pockets which is easy. Since your trip will be for a longer term, she will need a temporary setup to provide lighting and heat while you're stopped. If you don't have room for her whole setup, you could use a large plastic bin as a travel tank. While traveling, you can fill it with other things so it isn't taking up as much useless space during the trip. You'll want some basic lighting as well. A strip UVB light and a dome lamp and stand (if you use a mercury vapor bulb you can get away with just that in a dome fixture). Depending on the weather, stopping for some sun breaks may be an option as well. There are options for multi-purposing some of the equipment to make it manageable. As far as the travel goes, she'll probably be content if you keep her in a nice comfortable carrier.

 

[Desdemona]

Thanks for the reply. I am moving to a small town, so hopefully there is a reptile vet up there! It's on my list of things to research. I took her to the vet a couple of days ago, though she hasn't been gaining much weight (it's up an down) she does seem to be stronger. She is going on 3 weeks of antibotics so hopefully after that she will be healthy enough to do okay. I'm also going to start force feeding her again so she can fatten up.. hopefully. She had started eating on her own, I stopped with the force feeding, but she wasn't eating enough, so we are back to it.

This move will be interesting.. me, a child, three leopard geckos and the dragon all in a Jetta (I have movers taking most of my stuff).

 

[CooperDragon]

Sounds like you've got your hands full with this move. Please let me know how everything works out.