Sudden death after vet visit

[Pumpkingirl]

Hey guys. I just joined to post my experience today and see if anyone else has gone through something similar. Long story short my 6 month beardie passed away unexpectedly im so upset and heartbroken. He filled a place in my heart I didn’t know I needed…this day is a whirlwind and all happened so fast.. here’s what happened—-

Monday morning he had a little “cough” for a couple hours., I had my vet tech friend inspect him.. no mucous bubbles in throat.. no “clicking” sound in his breathing.. said ok cool. He ate some mealworms after and seemed back to normal. I thought maybe he was trying to dislodge the greens he had.. Yesterday coughing again accompanied with no interest in food, when my lil baby ate EVERYTHING and anything. He was adventurous. So I called for a vet appointment.. luckily got in this morning.

The vet said the same thing my friend did— no signs of respiratory infection but agreed his breathing seemed odd. Deemed it as dehydration and injected him with vitamins.. I got some superfoods to feed him with syringe..

I get home to do that and felt like I was torturing him ;( it was the worst. He looked more and more lifeless. He tricked me a few times making me think he passed.. but then would “come to” urgently and acted super strange. Sporadic movement and motor skills were off suddenly.

I call the vet and they tell me he just feels like poop and to keep him warm. I put him back in his tank and he just seemed lifeless. Needless to say he died. I watched it happen and felt so hopeless. Just closed his eyes and opened his mouth to let all the air out. Almost like he “deflated”. I’m so heartbroken. What the heck happened?! I took such care of him, ate the best foods, coated his crix in calcium powder, gave baths, had the right bulbs and temps. What did I do?! I feel horrible. I think he had to have been sick when I adopted him (3 weeks ago).

Any insight is helpful please.. and keep in mind I am mourning. Just looking for support here, thank you kind folks xo

 

[hakusmom]

Oh my gosh.. I am so so sorry for your loss that is absolutely devastating. Where did you adopt him from? Perhaps he had a condition he was born with like you said. I just have no clue what it could be. Judging by how much you cared for him, this wasn’t your fault! Don’t blame yourself, I know how hard the heartache can be. Wishing you nothing but the best!!

 

[KarrieRee]

Hey guys. I just joined to post my experience today and see if anyone else has gone through something similar. Long story short my 6 month beardie passed away unexpectedly im so upset and heartbroken. He filled a place in my heart I didn’t know I needed…this day is a whirlwind and all happened so fast.. here’s what happened—-

Monday morning he had a little “cough” for a couple hours., I had my vet tech friend inspect him.. no mucous bubbles in throat.. no “clicking” sound in his breathing.. said ok cool. He ate some mealworms after and seemed back to normal. I thought maybe he was trying to dislodge the greens he had.. Yesterday coughing again accompanied with no interest in food, when my lil baby ate EVERYTHING and anything. He was adventurous. So I called for a vet appointment.. luckily got in this morning.

The vet said the same thing my friend did— no signs of respiratory infection but agreed his breathing seemed odd. Deemed it as dehydration and injected him with vitamins.. I got some superfoods to feed him with syringe..

I get home to do that and felt like I was torturing him ;( it was the worst. He looked more and more lifeless. He tricked me a few times making me think he passed.. but then would “come to” urgently and acted super strange. Sporadic movement and motor skills were off suddenly.

I call the vet and they tell me he just feels like poop and to keep him warm. I put him back in his tank and he just seemed lifeless. Needless to say he died. I watched it happen and felt so hopeless. Just closed his eyes and opened his mouth to let all the air out. Almost like he “deflated”. I’m so heartbroken. What the heck happened?! I took such care of him, ate the best foods, coated his crix in calcium powder, gave baths, had the right bulbs and temps. What did I do?! I feel horrible. I think he had to have been sick when I adopted him (3 weeks ago).

Any insight is helpful please.. and keep in mind I am mourning. Just looking for support here, thank you kind folks xo

Your dragon looks healthy in the pic--- it is heartbreaking to lose them and not know why--- believe me I have been there ---- I dont think vitamins would have done anything to him to cause his death --- can you tell us what you were / are using for all your bulbs -- brands and wattages and if its a coil UVB or a long tube --- I am flagging your post to our vet tech mod - some of the things you posted about what happened she might be able to help you --- again I am so sorry for your loss ----
@Drache613

 

[Pumpkingirl]

Oh my gosh.. I am so so sorry for your loss that is absolutely devastating. Where did you adopt him from? Perhaps he had a condition he was born with like you said. I just have no clue what it could be. Judging by how much you cared for him, this wasn’t your fault! Don’t blame yourself, I know how hard the heartache can be. Wishing you nothing but the best!!

Thank you. I got it from a pet store in NJ called “value pets”. They were absolutely no help the days leading up to his death as I was just calling as a concerned beardie owner. They angrily rushed me off the phone saying “we’re not vets”. I get that, but they knew more than me.. so I thought. Regardless I did take him to the actual vet which I’m glad I did. Again thank you

 

[Pumpkingirl]

Your dragon looks healthy in the pic--- it is heartbreaking to lose them and not know why--- believe me I have been there ---- I dont think vitamins would have done anything to him to cause his death --- can you tell us what you were / are using for all your bulbs -- brands and wattages and if its a coil UVB or a long tube --- I am flagging your post to our vet tech mod - some of the things you posted about what happened she might be able to help you --- again I am so sorry for your loss ----
@Drache613

Yes he was healthy body weight! Seemed happy mentally. I didn’t spare a cent! I bought the dual bulb that holds both bulbs.. it was a coil UVB.. and the basking bulb was 75 watt in a 20 gallon tank.. Repti Sun and Power Sun. Both digital and dial thermometer. My only concern is that he was maybe cold at night? But it never dropped below 70.. and I had just bought an under the tank heater for him that I opened today so at least the ground was warm for him as he passed away. Thank you so much! It was such a fast decline. I appreciate the help

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes he was healthy body weight! Seemed happy mentally. I didn’t spare a cent! I bought the dual bulb that holds both bulbs.. it was a coil UVB.. and the basking bulb was 75 watt in a 20 gallon tank.. Repti Sun and Power Sun. Both digital and dial thermometer. My only concern is that he was maybe cold at night? But it never dropped below 70.. and I had just bought an under the tank heater for him that I opened today so at least the ground was warm for him as he passed away. Thank you so much! It was such a fast decline. I appreciate the help

The coil uvb- is a terrible uvb- your temps at night were good - I don't think the coil would of caused his death so suddenly either however over time he would of started having health issues- so for now I am thinking something else was going on- maybe Tracie can shed some insight on what had happened

 

[Pumpkingirl]

The coil uvb- is a terrible uvb- your temps at night were good - I don't think the coil would of caused his death so suddenly either however over time he would of started having health issues- so for now I am thinking something else was going on- maybe Tracie can shed some insight on what had happened

I started to think about humidity. It was less than 48 hours though that it might have been slightly high due to water bowl being close to that side.. I wanted it closer because I could tell he was off and not willing to travel for it in last 2 days would that kill him that fast?? But like I said he was coughing before I did that

 

[KarrieRee]

I started to think about humidity. It was less than 48 hours though that it might have been slightly high due to water bowl being close to that side.. I wanted it closer because I could tell he was off and not willing to travel for it in last 2 days would that kill him that fast?? But like I said he was coughing before I did that

Coughing? Any mucous in the mouth- crackling wheezing? Did you have a hygrometer in the tank?

 

[Pumpkingirl]

Coughing? Any mucous in the mouth- crackling wheezing? Did you have a hygrometer in the tank?

Yes he had a slight cough that only lasted maybe 40 mins in the morning.. no mucous in the mouth- checked by vet. And no crackling or wheezing. I didn’t have one at the time, no. I got it yesterday and realized oh crap it’s high. But again, less than 48 hours at that level because of the water bowl.. it had always been on the other side which made the humidity 34%

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes he had a slight cough that only lasted maybe 40 mins in the morning.. no mucous in the mouth- checked by vet. And no crackling or wheezing. I didn’t have one at the time, no. I got it yesterday and realized oh crap it’s high. But again, less than 48 hours at that level because of the water bowl.. it had always been on the other side which made the humidity 34%

Ok digital probe hygrometers are the best

 

[AHBD]

So sorry to hear this. It may have been the shot, they don't really need vitamin shots as if that's going to clear up a very slight , potential R.I.
Then there's the possibility that he aspirated the syringe fed meal they gave you for him. Again, I'm really truly sorry, you did what you could and tried to take care of the little dragon.

 

[Pumpkingirl]

So sorry to hear this. It may have been the shot, they don't really need vitamin shots as if that's going to clear up a very slight , potential R.I.
Then there's the possibility that he aspirated the syringe fed meal they gave you for him. Again, I'm really truly sorry, you did what you could and tried to take care of the little dragon.

Ugh, that breaks my heart. Do you think the vitamins could have killed him? I know they’re vitamins and not a pain med but ugh, it just all happened so fast

 

[Pumpkingirl]

So sorry to hear this. It may have been the shot, they don't really need vitamin shots as if that's going to clear up a very slight , potential R.I.
Then there's the possibility that he aspirated the syringe fed meal they gave you for him. Again, I'm really truly sorry, you did what you could and tried to take care of the little dragon.

So sorry to hear this. It may have been the shot, they don't really need vitamin shots as if that's going to clear up a very slight , potential R.I.
Then there's the possibility that he aspirated the syringe fed meal they gave you for him. Again, I'm really truly sorry, you did what you could and tried to take care of the little dragon.

I’m sick over this. They didn’t show me how to syringe feed I didn’t know what I was doing and just wanted him to be fed/ get his energy back. Ughhhhh Omgosh I am angry now

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh my, I am so sorry that happened to you & your precious boy. Do you know what exactly was
in the vitamin shot? If it had a high amount of calcium, it could have caused heart or renal failure.
Did it seem like he choked on the food you syringe fed him?
Nothing makes it easier no matter what happened, but, it was not your fault! He did look very
healthy in the picture, too. I am so sorry you lost him so suddenly.

Tracie

 

[Pumpkingirl]

Hello,

Oh my, I am so sorry that happened to you & your precious boy. Do you know what exactly was
in the vitamin shot? If it had a high amount of calcium, it could have caused heart or renal failure.
Did it seem like he choked on the food you syringe fed him?
Nothing makes it easier no matter what happened, but, it was not your fault! He did look very
healthy in the picture, too. I am so sorry you lost him so suddenly.

Tracie

Thank you I’ve done nothing but cry. It says vitamin A,D, & E.. and “subcutaneous fluids”… I’m guessing that is hydration. He didn’t seem to choke or cough or anything no symptoms of struggle. It just felt like he was already dying once I got home with him. He was in and out of consciousness.. whatever he had was aggressive I just don’t know why an X-ray wasn’t done. I’m convinced it was heart/lung related..