Sick! Need help photos included

[adam536]

So my bearded dragon has not ate for about 6 days now and hasn't taken a normal sized poo in a couple weeks. Every time I take him out he does poo but it's tiny and normally just the white stuff. Today though he just looked more out of it so I was worried. I gave him a bath with pedialyte and tried feeding him baby food which he ate but every time I give him water or food he throws up a little and takes deep breathes as if he wants to throw up more. When feeding I have to basically put the baby food on his stout and he would lick it off otherwise he won't eat anything no greens no worms no crickets which was never a problem until this last week... Only thing I can really think is maybe its internal parasites but I'm not sure and just need any advice since the vet isn't open until tomorrow. Also he has what looks like chap lips in a spot and spots on his tail idk if that helps but I have photos.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Can you review your tank setup with us, such as the type & brand of UVB, the temperatures & supplementation for us?
It looks like his head/face area is a little dull, as if he may shed. That could be the discoloration you are seeing, unless he has some dried food on his face & mouth area?
If he is having smellier than normal stools, I would recommend getting a fecal done on him to be sure he doesn't have worms or parasites.
I would continue to feed baby food right now, as well as greens slurries, to help keep his nutrition levels up right now.
Let us know if you are able to get him to the vets & how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[adam536]

I have a exo terra repti glow 10.0 26w and a 100w basking bulb. Temps are fine he has his basking side which is 100-110 and the cooler side normally around 80. Ya on the mouth towards the left it's a little pink and I'm hoping the marks under his tail are not mites. Doesn't look like bugs just red marks but I'm not sure. As for his stools he hasn't had a normal one in over a week, all week long it's tiny and normally just the white part never any solid brown. Im just hoping it's not parasites because his main protein is mealworms with crickets every so often however I did some reading today an saw a lot on meal worms not being too good but I'm not sure how true it is. If it is parasites is there anything I can do to help? Thanks a lot for the respond -Adam

 

[Drache613]

Hello Adam,

Are you referring to the femoral pores on the inner legs/thigh area? Or just the discoloration marks on his tail? Do you have an undertank heater in his tank or a heat rock?
The mealworms are not the best to feed as a staple, as they are fatty & don't have a lot of protein. You can feed them sparingly but phoenix worms, superworms, silkworms or hornworms are better choices along with crickets.
The Reptiglo 10 compact/coil light wont be very effective for UVB emissions. We recommend either the Reptisun 10 tube bulb or the Arcadia D3 12% tube bulb. They give off much more efficient UVB emissions for him.
Hopefully his face area is going to shed, it sounds like it is.
As far as the parasites go, you can try changing up the lighting first to see if that helps out. They can have increased parasite levels just simply due to stress or improper set up.
Are you using a temp gun or digital probe to measure his temperatures?

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[adam536]

Not the pores was more referring to the red spots on his tail/legs quite possibly can be a burn from the heat rock which I unplugged yesterday. Hoping that's all it is cause mites wouldn't be fun on top of everything else. Yes won't be feeding him mealworms any time soon but he is barely even eating the baby food. I have to open his mouth just to get anything in. Took to multiple vets but they all rarely see reptiles and the earliest appt. for a specialist is Saturday. As for the bulb I didn't see any of the ones you recommended at the stores but bought the desert 50 uvb t8 bulb 15w from Zilla. I put him right under it when I got home and he hasn't moved for an hour so I hope it helps. As for parasites does the better uvb make a difference? Or is there any medicication I can get him for the time being? Also can you recommend any methods to make him eat or at least make it not seem so forceful of me when feeding? And haven't looked anything up on it but would some sort of laxative be bad for him because he seems very very constipated? Thanks so much and sorry for all the questions I just can't find help anywhere. I appreciate it a lot.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Adam.....for constipation/impaction you can use any or a combo of these natural laxatives: canned pumpkin [ with no spices] applesauce [ best if unsweetened ] baby food prunes , squash and with a few drops of veg.oil and/or raw honey added to any of those. Then at some point afterwards a 10 -15 minute extra warm bath. Try the bath the next day, not too late in the evening so he has time to dry off + warm up again in his tank.

 

[adam536]

Awesome thanks I was about to go buy normal laxatives. I have been bathing him everyday sometimes twice but every other one I'll add pedialyte to the water he seems to love it but still hasn't had a solid poop. He looks more alert now under the new light so I was going to get him some phoenix worms and try an feed but totally going to the store after would you recommend the pumpkin as the best laxative?

Thanks Adam

 

[AHBD]

Pumpkin is highly recommended and it's also pretty good for them...adding a few drops of veg. oil will make it even more effective. Baths are helpful, and an EXTRA warm bath can stimulate a b.m.

 

[adam536]

Thank you guys so much. The store didn't have pumpkin so I had to open his mouth an feed him squash with some oil then put him in a warm bath a massaged him for a while and he finally had a little brown poo however I saw a tiny bit of blood. I took him to the reptile store with me earlier when changing his bulb and the guy was really helpful and said he is defiantly impacted and it's possibly infected I was surprised he full on tried digging the poo out. He told me what to do a lot of what you guys said on here. If there is an infection is there any antibiotics I can buy? I read a little on antibiotics but don't know what to trust on the Internet and defiantly don't want to make a mistake. I don't really want to wait till Saturday to see the vet hate seeing my little guy in pain. Once again thank you all for the help!

 

[AHBD]

He may very well be impacted, but do you mean that the pet store employee [ or owner ] tried to dig it out ? That is definitely dangerous and not at all helpful. That's probably why a little blood came out. Please don't take your dragon back there. You can keep up with the squash + veg. oil, applesauce can also help as well as a daily warmer than usual bath. In some rare cases a vet may be needed, but beardies will generally be able to poo with these methods.

He may have other health issues going on so if you have an experienced reptile vet try to get him in.

 

[adam536]

I worded that wrong he didn't phsyically dig in there. My beardie has what looks like an unwiped butt. You can see the poo he just can't push it out. The owner just wiped around an pointed out where he saw Puss which made him think it's infected. Then the blood coming out when he pooed made me thinks it is infected. Been researching but can find a for sure antibiotic I should give him, a lot of mixed reviews. Sadly I went to three vets all had no idea what to do with reptiles and directed me to this one a little out of the way but their reptile specialist only works Saturdays.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am glad to hear that the guy at the petstore didn't literally try to clean him out, that would not have been good. He had a little bit of blood which means he could have strained a little to go to the bathroom, which is common.
Continue with the softer foods & warm baths that should help him out a lot.
It was a good idea also to unplug the heat rock as that is most likely what has caused the redness on his tail too. How is it looking today?

Tracie

 

[adam536]

I took off work for a few days so he will get some bath time massages in. Finally gave him squash with olive oil, still had to open his mouth myself but he didn't throw it up and had a little poop. Hopefully another day of baths and baby food and I can get a big poop. As for the red marks idk if it's just me imagining it but I think I see a few more red marks which make me worried possible mites . I will take a pic in the morning but I just took out all his substrate and put in tile so if it is mites it will be easier to disinfect the terrarium. Thanks for the concern

Adam

 

[Drache613]

Hello Adam,

I sure hope that it is not mites. My guess is that it is simply a burn from the heat rock. You can put some aloe vera on it or get some unpasteurized honey or manuka honey to put on it at night, to help expedite the healing on a burn.
How is his appetite, any better?
I am glad he held down the food then. I am sure here pretty soon with all of the softer foods & fluids, that he will pass more finally. Remember, reptiles' digestive systems are a little slower than mammals. Keep us posted on him.

Tracie