Stitch and Sydney- New pics pg 22!!

I rescued a beardie yesterday, and am looking for a little support group overall for the most part, and any advice you have to give... and hopefully to watch this little one progress from pitaful to fat and sassy over the next months!!! For some quick background info...I'm a long time lurker of several bearded dragon forums over the past 7 years, and I've had 2 beardies over the past 6.5 years, but have always been a 1 beardie household (until today). My first I had for 5 years, before he passed from a long term illness, and then I've had a new baby for just over a year.
This one ended up with me yesterday. I'm not entirely sure of all the details, but he ended up with a wildlife rehabber about 3 weeks ago, who has to go through major surgery and who has been trying to get a better home for him since then. He was supposedly bitten by another bearded dragon on the tail base before going to the rehabber, but in my opinion it looks more like a dog bite. He's skinny, and the saddest part is apparently he put on "good weight" over the past 3 weeks - his little hip bones are all sticking out Here is a first picture, but I"m not sure how well the skinniness will come through

At the vet's office we did a full workup - got that scab off and the skin and area cleaned up, bloodwork, xrays, took a biopsy of the wound to make sure the yellow coloration around it isn't yellow fungus , and got him started on antibiotics and pain meds. He never would poo at the office, so no sample to test there (stinker). Here is a pic afterwards, in the 2nd bath of the day

Things look better at that point, and he's lightened up a little bit at least.
I've got lights, etc on order for him, but for now, my tortoise was nice enough to share her UVB light , and we'll shift some lights around to get things up to temp, and then hopefully my next week all my stuff will be in and he'll be set up.
As I mentioned earlier support and advice are welcomed! Luckily my significant other, Matt, loves the beardies too, but doesn't quite understand I know many of you guys will !!! I've already become alarmingly attached to this dude, and have named him Stitch. This is the fastest I've named something in a long time, so hopefully that's not a jinx, but will give him something to aspire too. Figured the name worked...he's a rescue, but still a bit fiesty, and maybe he'll aspire to some mischievousness over time
When I got him home tonight and put him in the 3rd bath of the day (where i finally got poo ) he lightened up the most I'd seen him, so I'm hoping he knows that he's HOME... and that's my anthropomorphizing for the day... (But check out the pics?? What do yall think ?????)

and then snuggling in a towel - he's not sure quite what to make of this I think, but is still snuggled in the towel propped on my leg as I type....

I'll have questions and concerns soon I'm sure, but I wanted to introduce Stitch !!
Carrie

 

[Claudiusx]

I'm glad you got the works done on him at the vet.

How did the bloodwork come back as?
Anything else the vet noticed?

What antibiotics was it that you have for Stitch?
What were the doses?

Can't wait to see Stitch starting to fatten up and return to a big healthy dragon. keep the pics updated so we can all be updated on his progress.

-Brandon

 

[NCSUCarrie]

Bloodwork will be in tomorrow AM- so no answers yet on that part. Histopathology won't be back on the biopsy until late this week or early next. I'm crossing my fingers that the yellow is from unhappy skin or bacteria.... On xrays doesn't seem to be any bone lysis, which we were both concerned by based on the tail swelling and lesion.
He's on Cefa Drops as the antibiotic once daily for now, and should hopefully get a fecal tested Thurs/Friday and get him on the right meds for whichever parasites he has- because i'm sure he has some!

Brandon or anyone else... Any thoughts on good things to feed ? He's eaten some crickets so far for me today, he wont' chase them down yet, but I could escort the cricket to the corner of the cage his face was in and he would nab them, he doesn't have great aim though! I was thinking about ordering some waxworms, hornworms, and maybe some superworms. I'm not ready to feed him supers yet, but to have on hand for later, esp if he won't chase down the crickets (and the other beardie can eat them). He's been gaining weight for 3 weeks supposedly, so I'm not sure if I need to worry to much about the stress of refeeding syndrome issues anymore, but figured I'd see what your thoughts are on waxworms, and hornworms for him now to help put some weight on him! And hopefully he'll eat some salad for me over the next couple days....

 

[Claudiusx]

It would be worth your time to go through the feeding sections on the forums because there really is too much to cover in just one post.

Crickets will be fine. Make sure your always offering him a healthy salad. I would try to keep an unending supply of it in his tank for the time being.

Are you dusting the crickets with vitamins and/or calcium?
Did the vet recommend you liquid calcium? And did she test for MBD?

-Brandon

 

[TwistedCrayon]

Awww, what a cutie. Sounds as if he is in good hands. Keep us updated. I love the name =)

 

[NCSUCarrie]

Stitch is up basking this morning under his borrowed Reptisun-10 and an incandesent bulb - I'm going to check temps on things here shortly. He's not real impressed by the hammock yet, I'm thinking this is just him not really knowing what it is, despite being placed on it a few times. Is there really such a thing as a "non hammock" dragon ? lol :shock:

Bloodwork results are back in and overall things look good ! Calcium and Phosphorus are normal and in a good ratio, liver and kidney's check out OK too.

Are you dusting the crickets with vitamins and/or calcium?
Did the vet recommend you liquid calcium? And did she test for MBD?
-Brandon

There was no major evidence of MBD on a physical exam (other than the small overbite)- no soft bones, etc, and the bloodwork and xrays helped back that up. So despite the major weight loss of unknown cause (no real background) it doesnt' seem to be a MBD issue. Hopefully it's from the previous owners not feeding him versus another hidden illness (it sounds odd to hope for other owners to have just not feed their pet,but I think yall know what I mean )
I will be dusting crickets from now on - the first feeding didn't have any on it, but he had gotten some liquid calcium orally while at the vets. Since it doesn't seem to be a calcium issue now,I was just going to stick with the Repcal powder I have and dust his insects daily for now. I also have herpt-vite that he'll get some of as well.

It would be worth your time to go through the feeding sections on the forums because there really is too much to cover in just one post.
Crickets will be fine. Make sure your always offering him a healthy salad. I would try to keep an unending supply of it in his tank for the time being.
Brandon

Thanks for checking up on the food situation. I ran through the feeding guides and the active posts in the feeding section, and did some archive searches, but didn't find any recommendations on feeding beardies specifically to put weight back on them. If I missed it, please point me in the right direction though. I do know the basics of feeding these little dudes, but thanks for pointing me in the right direction in case I didn't! I've only got crickets in the house currently since Sydney (my other beardie) is in semi-brumation mode at this point in time. I've had experience feeding superworms, waxworms, and phoenix worms as well with the other beardies. I was thinking of worms for Stitch since he didn't want to chase down the crickets. I'm don't want to feed him supers just yet until after I know fecal results and that he can digest them. Any thoughts on some other other worms that would be better (or not) than crickets? I've never fed Silkworms or hornworms, but this might be a good excuse to buy some. I thought waxworms - since they are good and fatty and soft and delicious- (to beardies at least!) might be a good snack for him to help put on some weight along with crickets, and other stuff.
He has had a salad in with him since I've gotten him, but not terribly interested just yet. I don't have a great variety in the house (thanks again to the semi-brumating Sydney who thinks that salads are a waste of good napping time right now). I'll be heading out to he grocery store here shortly to buy a fun variety of beardie salad supplies...and maybe pick up some things for the humans too :lol:

Awww, what a cutie. Sounds as if he is in good hands. Keep us updated. I love the name =)

Thanks for checking Stitch out! I thought the name was cute too. Figured he fit somewhat in with the crazy Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch) and with his short bursts of fiesty-ness it may inspire him to be silly in the future. Plus he needed to be "stitched up" in a sense.

Thanks !
Carrie

 

[fez09]

Hi and welcome! Stitch is adorable, I love his eyes! egarding the food, I would focus on getting him healthy rather than "fattening" him up. Hornworms and silkworms are the BEST! My whole crew love them and they are the most nutritous feeders (butterworms too) honestly, waxworms are fatty and can be used as a treat but just providing a good fresh salad of collard/mustard greens and some squash daily along with live feeders is the best thing. He will put on weight just by having food everyday. I use superworms as a staple, is Stich 16 inches? If so then you can offer those as well, maybe just a few a day to make sure that he digests them properly. I can't wait to to his continued progress!

 

[jeritta]

Carrie
Glad stitch had found a good home. Also glad you are working so hard to help him. He is a beautiful boy.
For the worms. You said you have not tried silks well Mulberryfarms.com has a great sale on them right now. they have a mixed size tub of them
for I think it was $12 dollars. I just ordered it. It was supposed to have 50 of various sizes it had way more than 50 in it and they were all diff sizes.
You could also try reptiworms. If you want to stay with the crix try putting a few in a small bowl (with lid) in freezer for a few minutes and let them
slow down don't freeze all the way just slow down then he can catch them easier. I have had to do this with Ash when we first got her because she
was afraid of the crix.
Again glad he is doing better. He is a nice looking boy. keep us all updated please. Thanks for the pics.

 

[NCSUCarrie]

Hornworms and Silkworms are on the way! Should be here Friday Tried feeding some crickets a little while ago... he chased one down in the corner and then lost interest, so I tried putting a few in the freezer, and he ate one of those too and was no longer interested....I had the "awakening" crickets in a bowl and was offering them to him and instead of eating them he crawled halfway onto the bowl and my hand ... AND head bobbed like there was no tomorrow. I just laughed and laughed at him. Stitch has been headbobbing everything today... head bobbed the hammock (which he is crawling into now- WHEW he doesn't hate the hammock), head bobbed his reflection (everywhere), his new rock, my cat - unfortunately for him, she was not paying any attention to his display of dominance and hence was lost on her, ME. I was trying to get a video of the bobbing and he was shooting me the eye, twisted on the basking rock for a full profile view, did the big head bobs and then turned and looked right at me and did short bobs. *shaking my head* While I know head bobbing is very common, it's not at my house - I've got a female now, and my first male was the most layed back thing going and headed bobbed twice in 5 years.

Also went to the grocery store and got a smorgasbord of deliciousness.... or not. No interest....Oh well maybe soon!

Stitch also got to go outside and get real sunlight for about 30 minutes before the clouds rolled over and it got chilly outside!

Hi and welcome! Stitch is adorable, I love his eyes! egarding the food, I would focus on getting him healthy rather than "fattening" him up.

Better choice of words for sure Hopefully he'll like the silkworms and hornworms; It'll be fun for me to try them out if nothing else.

Thanks jerita as well for the advice!

 

[jeritta]

You're welcome. I hope he likes his new treats. Give some summer squash a try in his salad it is huge hit here with our
girls. I am glad he is feeling better.

 

[sobotta]

Great to hear hes got a good loving home now. Cant wait to watch his thread to see how hes doing! Good luck and be sure to post lots of pics!

 

[NCSUCarrie]

Well I figured I'd post a couple pics from tonight since it was requested of me to post lots of them
Here is Stitch...trying to get out of the cage, been glass dancing for a few minutes, but when I had him out of me he kept wanting to run around and explore, and i'm just not ready for him to have floor time yet without knowing parasite info...poor Stitch.

And showing off the belly and pretty yellow eyes !

I also have another picture to share of my other baby, Sydney. She's getting some shoulder time out on Mom.

You're welcome. I hope he likes his new treats. Give some summer squash a try in his salad it is huge hit here with our
girls. I am glad he is feeling better.

We got yellow squash, butternut squash, and acorn squash that I tried today... I'm wondering if all the relocating over the past several days is making him not eat as well. Unfortunately I work away from home twice a week, so he's got to come with me back to work Thurs/Friday, and then has to go visit my parents with me over the weekend.... Hopefully he won't be too grumpy about the traveling over the next few days, but there isn't another option.
I'll try to post another update tomorrow

 

[nair88]

awww, stitch is so cute! so glad that you were able to rescue him

 

[NCSUCarrie]

Thanks Aaron.. hopefully I'll be able to have him live a long, happy, and spoiled life!

For updates and some pics...

Set him up back up at work and he's not nearly as impressed with the small tank here, but he'll have to deal with it for now !

After meds and offering some crickets... he just stared at them *sigh* ...he came out for some "assist feeding" of Oxbow Critical Care - which he seems to like so far and just lapped off his nose, and then a bath.
Fecal results show some coccidia, but not much else, so that's good news! So hopefully a couple doses of Ponazuril and that'll be done with.

Here are another couple of pictures of the little tank *sad face* with some sunlight shining in behind him.. I think he enjoyed looking outside and checking out the people and cars !

Aww this one is cute

Hope everyone had a good day and enjoyed some more pics
Carrie

 

[NCSUCarrie]

Hi everyone,
Stitch has done pretty well with being moved all over the state over the past few days and seems to be enjoying his time at the "grandparents" house!!!
This morning he took a bath in a larger sink with no dividers and LOVED being able to turn into a mini alligator and zoom around... he actually puts his head almost underwater to zoom around. No pictures of that, but I did take a video... I haven't figure out how to post that yet... He also did a big poo and passed a big chunk of what looks like a thick fibrous stem or a bean maybe ? I'm hoping that it (combined with the coccidia and proztoans) is what was causing the less than ideal size's of poo...He hasn't eaten anything like that with me, so I dunno how long it's been in there...
After a bath he actually ate a couple bites of mustard greens, which was a first for him with me. My mom and I both were very excited!!
Later in the day he got to go outside... here are some pictures of this

This next one IS NOT PHOTOSHOPPED... it just looks it lol

Cooling down He gapped off and on after about 20 minutes or so outside... on a couple of those occasions I stuffed some greens in his mouth and he ate a few more pieces that way.. :lol:

After his big afternoon apparently it was time for a nap... I came back in and checked on him and was like, do you have Stich out ?? Where is he? He tucked himself up like this all by himself

See the elbow ? Here is the "untucked" picture

AND the next big adventure this afternoon... eating silkworms!!!! Thanks btw for all the recommendations for these...they ROCK. The hornworms are still too small to bother feeding now, but are growing fast... Enjoy the pics

Nom Nom Nom

I was excited to get the last picture cuteness
Stitch loved the silworms. It took him several minutes to try one, but once the first 2 were down... he went to town... I think he ate 10, and would have probably eaten more had I offered. I didn't want to over do it though. I'm not sure I should feed him all he would eat yet or not...
Hope you liked the pictures Stitch and I (and the rest of the family) have had a fun Saturday !
Carrie