Skinny Female

[Fogles]

I rescued a female dragon from a person that did not take care of it at all. It didn't eat when I got it, its color was terrible and its nails were overgrown, the person said that they didn't even have lighting in the cage, it was just in a cage and ate crickets once a week and rarely got fed veggies and fruits.

I've gotten her health back to normal, when i first got her, she would not eat on her own so I had to feed her reptiaid in a syringe, she finally brightened up and her colors are normal now and shes not grey anymore. The problem is she is very very skinny, but she eats alot, she eats atleast 20 crickets a day and a big plate of veggies everyday...she poo's normally.

Her cage temps are 100 on basking side 82 on cool side, Running a Sunglo tight beam for heat/light and reptisun 10.0.

Can someone explain to me why she would be so skinny?

Other problems with this female:
She can't catch her food right, I believe she also has some neurological issues, she walks kinda funny also.

 

[egriep6]

I'm no expert on the subject, but I do know that one of my friend's beardies is always skinny. She says its a high metabolism. That beardie easily eats twice what the other beardies do and doesn't even gain weight off of it.

 

[pudden318]

try feeding her wax worms they will fatten her up real quick.

 

[diamc]

I would suggest getting a fecal checked for parasites. Would you be able to post a picture of her? How old is she?

 

[Gail]

Might not be a bad idea to get her on liquid calcium for a couple weeks. Her walking funny could be due to low calcium, Basti was like that when I first got him, kinda wobbly and weak but it cleared right up.
I'd feed her more insects daily until she gets some decent weight on her, if she is big enough try some super worms.
A fecal is a great idea, I'd be surprised if she doesn't have something.

 

[Fogles]

She eats silk worms, super worms, veggies daily, calcium on everything i give her.

I'm going to get a fecal test done, I think she might have worms?

 

[fresnowitte]

The walking and moving off balance could also be an inter ear infection.

Is she a baby or adult?

 

[Fogles]

The walking and moving off balance could also be an inter ear infection.

Is she a baby or adult?

She is an adult, I was told she is 3 years old, but the owner knew nothing about her nor how to even keep a dragon.

 

[fresnowitte]

Okay I re-read this thread an since you did say that she didn't even have UVB before you got her then she had no way of processing the D3 if they even gave her any. She may have a hard time processing the dust so I agree with Gail I'd try the liquid calcium and see if it improves any...also I agree that a fecal should be done...this will at least give you piece of mind about her weight some. Because eating alot and staying super thin can definately be a sign of parasites. How do her poops look? Are they large, small, formed, runny...etc...

I do have 2 beardies that always look on the thin side to me, but they are super active males. They are both clear of parasites. Though they have a thin torso they have hefty water stores on their heads, fat tails, and pinchable legs.

Is she skinny everywhere like legs, arms, and head or just in her torso?

 

[Fogles]

Okay I re-read this thread an since you did say that she didn't even have UVB before you got her then she had no way of processing the D3 if they even gave her any. She may have a hard time processing the dust so I agree with Gail I'd try the liquid calcium and see if it improves any...also I agree that a fecal should be done...this will at least give you piece of mind about her weight some. Because eating alot and staying super thin can definately be a sign of parasites. How do her poops look? Are they large, small, formed, runny...etc...

I do have 2 beardies that always look on the thin side to me, but they are super active males. They are both clear of parasites. Though they have a thin torso they have hefty water stores on their heads, fat tails, and pinchable legs.

Is she skinny everywhere like legs, arms, and head or just in her torso?

She poops on a daily basis, they are formed, but have a watery substance, kinda runny, not much.

She is skinny EVERYWHERE.

 

[fresnowitte]

Could you possibly post a pic of her? Or do you have one posted somewhere on the forum?

Have you tried any other feeders on her besides crickets?
I find that supers tend to fatten up my girls when they need it.
Waxworms or PW's would be a good addition to her diet.
Supers are high in fat...PW's high in calcium. Just a thought. :wink:

 

[Fogles]

Could you possibly post a pic of her? Or do you have one posted somewhere on the forum?

Have you tried any other feeders on her besides crickets?
I find that supers tend to fatten up my girls when they need it.
Waxworms or PW's would be a good addition to her diet.
Supers are high in fat...PW's high in calcium. Just a thought. :wink:

I do feed her waxworms, dubai, and other worms...

I'm going to call the vet where my aunt works and see if she can get a fecal done for cheap.

Here is a picture of her, as you can see, her bones are showing, they have been showing ever since i rescued her, I've had her for around 7 months now. She has proper lighting, and proper calcium and vitamin supplements daily.

 

[fresnowitte]

Aww poor girl!
You're right she is very thin..thinner than I thought you meant.
I hate see beardies with their bones protruding at the base of their tail.
That makes me want to hurt the people you got her from.

She really looks like she needs some calories ...have you ever tried jumpstart?
I don't normally recommend it but in this case I would. It's a caloric supplement and appetite stimulate.
I've used it before on one female that had been treated for coccidia with a bad med and she may have even been overdosed with the meds. I was really having a hard time with her she had lost mega weight and I wasn't having any luck getting it back on her even though she was eating. The jumpstart worked for me and she looked almost that bad. I seriously thought I was going to loose her but with lots of tears, jumpstart, and supers she's one healthy beardie again.

How much does she eat per day?

Hope you can get a fecal in too. Let us know what they find out and what the vet says.
Though I'm not sure that if she was my beardie I'd treat her if they found any parasites because she is so thin. I think my main concern would be to make those bones in her tail disappear first. :wink: