Unusual XRay - Kaz showed URI signs/had a healthy gram stain

[Menolly07]

The night before last I found Kaz awake at 11:30. Usually he sleeps soundly. He had his eyes open and a dark beard. He was very lowly contrasted and pale as well. The next day I found he was still pale and had a very dark tail. Additionally, he was darkly bearded off and on.

I made an appointment with the vet yesterday, and he was seen earlier today. The vet did a physical exam as well as swabbing his mouth and throat and doing a gram stain. He came back to tell me that the gram stain was fine.

Tonight I was up very late and found Kaz, at 2am, had his head lifted high up, that beardie push up they do where their back body is flat but their front arms are pressing the front of their body up and their chin is lifted high.

I took him out, and he was awake. He began ballooning hia beard and letting his air out. It sounded like a balloon or air mattress letting out the air held. He dis it several times. He was also gaping and seems to have a really mucousy mouth.

I did get some video.
https://youtu.be/mobHvwJEvJk

Has anybody ever experienced a seemingly healthy gram stain but found that the lizard still had an URI?

He completed a four week course of Panacur (4 doses, every seven days) and Metronidazole (2 doses, fourteen days apart) for pinworms and because another dragon had protozoa.

-------------------------------------EDIT---------------------------------------

He was definitely in distress last night, and we did end up going to an emergency vet. The vet on staff has general experience with herps but not specialized. She said that the video, combined with other items of concern, did point to an issue with breathing, focus on a URI as potential cause.

She took XRays.

The lungs ARE clear. However, there are strange formations along the left side of his abdomen. They're locationally unusual to be impaction, and he IS eliminating his stool. Additionally, he is confirmed DEFINITELY male. The vet, and I, are a little stumped. She's going to forward the XRays to a specialist she knows as well as to the practice's reptile vet. The herp vet doesn't return until Monday.

Additionally, I am going to forward them to Kaz's regular vet as well as another vet.

The vet actually wonders if the distress with his breathing is being caused by Those Things pressing against his left lung. It's difficult to tell location in the lateral xray.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there.....I see a little beard inflation but not enough to think that alone is a sign of an R.I. Saliva wasn't really abnormal, sometimes they do look like that without being sick. How long ago was his last dose of meds. ? 4 weeks is a long time to be on those powerful antibiotics.....is it possible that he aspirated just a bit ? That could cause that behavior. He didn't look sick in the video and his episode may have just been from some type of discomfort that's passed, hopefully that's what it is but of course you'll just keep an eye on him and it would be helpful to get an X-ray.

I like his color,looks like he has purple/grey sidebars. Very handsome dude.

 

[Menolly07]

A weekly administered four week course of antibiotics isn't actually odd at all. As to the symtpoms, individually, no, they're of not much concern. However, combined as described they are symptomatic rather than normalized behaviour. Especially given the nighttime occurrence of the gaping and air expulsion/hissing. I'm attaching an edit and link to XRays in the OP.

 

[Taterbug]

I've not delt with a potential URI with my dragon by with the snake they didn't do a slide but rather a culture+sensitivity (which was sent off to a lab and took about a week or so for results.) His tests came back clear and his problem turned out to be seasonal (low humidity causing RI symptoms) and not a RI.

 

[Menolly07]

They did send off a culture as well. The masses are pretty concerning, though.

 

[AHBD]

I can understand your concern, you're seeing more symptoms than just the brief video. I just brought up the administering of 4 weeks of meds. because they are very hard on any creature ,[ even a week on antibiotics made me sick ] but you have to decide what you feel is best. I know you're familiar how long term use can strip the immune system and you probably used a probiotic.

I had also wondered if maybe he aspirated some of the meds., but now the X-ray is really very odd, I do see the circular objects and if they aren't eggs they are definitely some kind of masses and may be pressing on his lungs like you suspect. If you weren't an experienced owner I would try my best to persuade you to post a pic of the vent area because I would think that he is a she ,on the x-ray that looks just like a mass of eggs !

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Wow, that is quite an x-ray! You are positive Kaz is male, right?
If those are not eggs then it is numerous masses of some type.
When do you expect the lab work to be back?
I agree, he could have aspirated some meds perhaps, enough to be causing some breathing issues right now. How is he doing this evening?
He has certainly been through the meds also.

Tracie

 

[AHBD]

Just wondering how he's doing ?