Treating a RI with Baytril question

[chaibeard]

Hello, so I have a question... I recently ordered 2.5% baytril for my bearded dragon Chai as he has been having breathing issues and making clicking sounds, as well as mucous in his nose, which definitely makes me think he has a RI. He has also not been wanting to bask in his heat for very long and typically hides in his cave all day, which I'm not sure if it's because he's wanting to brumate or because he is sick. He is about 332 grams, and I was just wondering what the right dosage would be to give to him orally, and how long to give it to him for? I've estimated it to be maybe 0.06 mL based on some research and on his weight, but I just want to be sure.

We have been to the exotic vet in my area for my previous beardie that we believe also had an RI, but the vet did not have much experience in treating RI's in beardies and prescribed some sort of unlabeled red antibiotic for us to administer to her orally. I'm not sure what it was, but she ended up not making it after only a few days after we went to the vet, so I unfortunately don't trust our exotic vet to help treat Chai. There's no other exotic vets here that aren't many hours away, so we don't really have many other options that will allow him to be seen by a skilled professional, which is why I'm asking here. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[KarrieRee]

Hello, so I have a question... I recently ordered 2.5% baytril for my bearded dragon Chai as he has been having breathing issues and making clicking sounds, as well as mucous in his nose, which definitely makes me think he has a RI. He has also not been wanting to bask in his heat for very long and typically hides in his cave all day, which I'm not sure if it's because he's wanting to brumate or because he is sick. He is about 332 grams, and I was just wondering what the right dosage would be to give to him orally, and how long to give it to him for? I've estimated it to be maybe 0.06 mL based on some research and on his weight, but I just want to be sure.

We have been to the exotic vet in my area for my previous beardie that we believe also had an RI, but the vet did not have much experience in treating RI's in beardies and prescribed some sort of unlabeled red antibiotic for us to administer to her orally. I'm not sure what it was, but she ended up not making it after only a few days after we went to the vet, so I unfortunately don't trust our exotic vet to help treat Chai. There's no other exotic vets here that aren't many hours away, so we don't really have many other options that will allow him to be seen by a skilled professional, which is why I'm asking here. Any help would be appreciated!

What are your surface basking temps and how are you taking them? Stick ons are inaccurate and you want a digital probe thermometer- uvb is it a coil or a long tube fixture-- these are crucial for dragons health all the way around - we need our vet tech mod on here to address the medication
@Drache613

 

[Claudiusx]

.06 ml / .06 cc is the right dosage for his weight.

However, Baytril isn't going to do anything for a viral RI, only a bacterial RI. Nebulizer treatments usually work better for RI's.

-Brandon

 

[chaibeard]

What are your surface basking temps and how are you taking them? Stick ons are inaccurate and you want a digital probe thermometer- uvb is it a coil or a long tube fixture-- these are crucial for dragons health all the way around - we need our vet tech mod on here to address the medication
@Drache613

I also have a probe temp measurer, and his hot side is around 95-100 and cold side is 82-89 when measured with it - the UVB is a long tube fixture that sits on top of his enclosure

 

[chaibeard]

.06 ml / .06 cc is the right dosage for his weight.

However, Baytril isn't going to do anything for a viral RI, only a bacterial RI. Nebulizer treatments usually work better for RI's.

-Brandon

Ok thank you for the dosage info! But what is the difference between bacterial/viral? I was thinking he may have gotten the respiratory infection from high humidity due to it getting up to 40% in my room at one point not too long ago, but it has since gotten lower to the 30's ever since I got a dehumidifier.

 

[Claudiusx]

Antibiotics only work for killing bacteria. So if his RI is caused by a bacterial infection in the lungs or in the body, the antibiotics will work. If it's a virus that caused it, antibiotics won't work. Just like the reason you take antibiotics for a tooth infection or to threat an infected wound, but not for the flu.

You really wouldn't be able to know if it's bacterial or viral without a vet anyways, unfortunately.

-Brandon

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok thank you for the dosage info! But what is the difference between bacterial/viral? I was thinking he may have gotten the respiratory infection from high humidity due to it getting up to 40% in my room at one point not too long ago, but it has since gotten lower to the 30's ever since I got a dehumidifier.

40% humidity is optimal - are you using a digital probe hygrometer or a analog? You UVB is what brand and what bulb please? The placement is determined by the screen and the bulb -- w/ the screen being a fine screen like a screen door or a wide hole type

 

[SkittlesK]

An RI could potentially clear up if heating standards are raised and proper husbandry is available.
Make sure your room isn't too humid..

I had that problem with my house.
Drove me insane.

 

[chaibeard]

40% humidity is optimal - are you using a digital probe hygrometer or a analog? You UVB is what brand and what bulb please? The placement is determined by the screen and the bulb -- w/ the screen being a fine screen like a screen door or a wide hole type

I have been using an analog hygrometer, and the UVB is a T8 UVB reptisun 18" 15 watts long tube fixture, it is right above his screen on the top of his tank

An RI could potentially clear up if heating standards are raised and proper husbandry is available.
Make sure your room isn't too humid..

I had that problem with my house.
Drove me insane.

I've been trying to raise the temps in his tank by keeping his ceramic heat emitter on during the day as well as night time and it seems to be warmer in there

 

[KarrieRee]

I have been using an analog hygrometer, and the UVB is a T8 UVB reptisun 18" 15 watts long tube fixture, it is right above his screen on the top of his tank


I've been trying to raise the temps in his tank by keeping his ceramic heat emitter on during the day as well as night time and it seems to be warmer in there

The T 8 needs to be unobstructed -- no screen it's not strong enough to go thru it and the rays are being blocked by approximately 30%-- distance needs to be 6-8 inches- directly above the basking decor - if you need to raise the basking decor or get a higher wattage bulb-- temps for a adult should be 95-100 taken a digital probe thermometer- those are surface basking temps--

 

[chaibeard]

The T 8 needs to be unobstructed -- no screen it's not strong enough to go thru it and the rays are being blocked by approximately 30%-- distance needs to be 6-8 inches- directly above the basking decor - if you need to raise the basking decor or get a higher wattage bulb-- temps for a adult should be 95-100 taken a digital probe thermometer- those are surface basking temps--

I see, thank you! I will see if I can mount the fixture under his screen instead or possibly just cut out a part of it so that the light isn't obstructed

 

[chaibeard]

The baytril finally arrived, and I put the dose on a collard green for chai and he ate it right up with no problem. I'm really hoping it helps him as well as the light fixture once I finish setting it up properly for him.