So my sweet Ironhide passed away last friday. I loved him more than i love most of my family. So when he went from healthy to Dying in 2 days. I wanted more information. He is what i have so far and i learned this from Herp vets my new Vet (which if anyone needs a vet in pittsburgh please reply). But i feel i should spread my knowledge so no one goes through this too.
Evidently Reptile Livers are easily affected. Liver diesase and Liver failure are very common. There isnt much research being done and this is seen as a secondary condition because other organs fail as well. So heart failure, kidney failure and other organs giving out may be cause by Liver failure.
So the best ways to prevent are more difficult that expected. The liver processes metabolism and most of their processes. I did not know this but evidently their liver helps process the vitamin D so they can process calcium. Vitamin D is given to them by their UVB bulbs. This keeps them alive. Here is the issue...too much UVB and they over produce vitamin D which can be stored in the body and cause liver issues. So the thing they need to live will also kill them. OUr vet suggested using the ordinary bulb all day and the UVB bulb for only a few hours a day rather than the full day. We have the rest of our kids (7 total) on a timer now so i will update if that causes any issues like MBD.
Another is going light on fatty foods. especially after brumation. Evidently after they stop eatting for a long time or go through a period of anexoria our main priority is to get them fat and healthy again. Usually after they stop eatting for a long time they need to gain weight. Most people suggest wax worms because they are high in fat. Here is the issue.... The fat they are given will over work and damage the liver so once again something they are given to survive will kill them. So what i was told is when they stop eatting for a period of time and they start eatting again....they need low fat high protein. It will make them gain weight without the fat. This way the liver wont fail. Please post any low fat high protein items you know about.
Some signs to look for....
Stop eatting, Sleeping mroe than usual. Color in skin is lighter, dehydrated even though is drinking. Sunken in looking.
the worst sign in Jaundice. This is yellow pigment in the skin, mouth and body. You see yellow, go right to a vet. This means the liver IS more than likely failing. We lost 2 dragons to this and the first was over a year ago. We were told fungus and infection. After thousands of dollars spent at an incompetite doctor he passed but our new vet strongly believes it was the same issue. So when your baby is no longer eatting, sluggish and just not themselves. See a vet and have their liver checked. Trust me... a simple scan can save your beardies life. Ironhide was everything to me and if i knew what i knew now he may still be with me and sleeping on my face everynight.
Evidently Reptile Livers are easily affected. Liver diesase and Liver failure are very common. There isnt much research being done and this is seen as a secondary condition because other organs fail as well. So heart failure, kidney failure and other organs giving out may be cause by Liver failure.
So the best ways to prevent are more difficult that expected. The liver processes metabolism and most of their processes. I did not know this but evidently their liver helps process the vitamin D so they can process calcium. Vitamin D is given to them by their UVB bulbs. This keeps them alive. Here is the issue...too much UVB and they over produce vitamin D which can be stored in the body and cause liver issues. So the thing they need to live will also kill them. OUr vet suggested using the ordinary bulb all day and the UVB bulb for only a few hours a day rather than the full day. We have the rest of our kids (7 total) on a timer now so i will update if that causes any issues like MBD.
Another is going light on fatty foods. especially after brumation. Evidently after they stop eatting for a long time or go through a period of anexoria our main priority is to get them fat and healthy again. Usually after they stop eatting for a long time they need to gain weight. Most people suggest wax worms because they are high in fat. Here is the issue.... The fat they are given will over work and damage the liver so once again something they are given to survive will kill them. So what i was told is when they stop eatting for a period of time and they start eatting again....they need low fat high protein. It will make them gain weight without the fat. This way the liver wont fail. Please post any low fat high protein items you know about.
Some signs to look for....
Stop eatting, Sleeping mroe than usual. Color in skin is lighter, dehydrated even though is drinking. Sunken in looking.
the worst sign in Jaundice. This is yellow pigment in the skin, mouth and body. You see yellow, go right to a vet. This means the liver IS more than likely failing. We lost 2 dragons to this and the first was over a year ago. We were told fungus and infection. After thousands of dollars spent at an incompetite doctor he passed but our new vet strongly believes it was the same issue. So when your baby is no longer eatting, sluggish and just not themselves. See a vet and have their liver checked. Trust me... a simple scan can save your beardies life. Ironhide was everything to me and if i knew what i knew now he may still be with me and sleeping on my face everynight.
