URI

[Flynnthedragon]

So i gave Skyy a bath today, when i took her out she was on my shoulder in the towel to get dry and when she breathed in she opened her mouth and cant really discribe the sound but it didnt come from her mouth. She was been making noises but they have been all from her mouth and none of them sounded like URI until today. I started to give her Reptaid, Will this help? I am trying to find a reptile vet close by and not over an hour away but have heard nothing back from any, But i asked a local vet and they told me of one 15 min away but their site does not say anything about reptiles and left a message and emailed the doc my vet said was herpvet and nothing back.

Im also not very good on money, Having to pay car inssurance and my cellphone bill all together, How do they determine if its URI? do they just listen or do they do an x-ray. I know with human x-rays its pretty spendy and im afraid i wont have enough money if they need to do a x-ray. Should I just keep useing Reptaid everyday until monday and keep a close eye on her? The Vet i was told to go to is a 24h vet hospital as well.
Any ideas on what I should do? She is eating normally and not acting any differently. The night temps are high 70's on the cool side and low 80's on the basking side at night with the CHE on. Should I turn the CHE on during the day as well to up the temps? During the day cool side is 80ish warm side is mid 90's with the basking spot of 105-110.

Would also like to add she is about 15 weeks old and 12 inches. The last weight i wrote down was last week and was 76g. She has greens all day and eats about 25-30 dubia a day. She is eating alot more dubia because all i have left in my feeder bin are little babies that i just pour in a bowl for her.... She is also shedding

 

[Flynnthedragon]

I also want to add that there is no water dish in her terrarium and i do not mist inside either. She drinks water from a little water dropper and when she has a bath. Should i invest in a machine that takes the moisture out of the air? The humidity gauge says 45 but its not digital so its probably off. she has a 24" reptisun? UVB and a 100wat basking bulb

Edit: NO one??

 

[Cammy]

Retptaid won't hurt to use, and it might help fight off an infection if it's only at the very beginning stages. I wouldn't consider it a replacement for a prescription antibiotic, but again, it won't hurt to use.

Try to bump the basking temps up to the 110-115 range. 105-110 is perfect for juveniles, but increasing the temperatures to a little higher than normal can help stave off a respiratory issue if you catch it at the very beginning stages.

Hopefully the increased temperatures and Reptaid will nip this in the bud. However, if the clicking noises continue for more than a few days, or if you notice any mucousy discharge or negative change in behavior, she'll definitely need to see a vet. URIs can be diagnosed by a physical examination, so x-rays should not be necessary. You'll probably just be given some oral antibiotics, and you can use the Reptaid you've already got in conjunction with that to help give her immune system a boost. I'm not saying it will be cheap but it's not something that requires extremely extensive treatment, so the bill should not be too terrible. (If I had to guess I'd say it'll cost maybe $100-150, but it really depends on the vet and treatment plan.)

Hope your little friend gets better soon, and let us know how everything works out. =)

 

[Flynnthedragon]

Thanks for the response. I have her CHE on all the time now so the basking spot should be a bit higher. CHE and in the same fixture as the basking so its in the spot. Now the noise isnt coming from her chest any more but is coming from her mouth right when she opens it kinda like the sound we might make that comes from out lips when we open our mouths. IS this just normal or is that also a sign of URI? The only sound from her chest was once after her bath and once yesterday.
Ever since i turned the CHE light on she has just been in her hide rock which is her basking spot as well, but of course inside it. This is the only difference in her "behavior", Shes not sleeping but instead of basking ontop shes just inside. Perhaps its to hot?

 

[SpikesAgirl]

Hey Flynn,

How's Skyy doing? Any improvement with the Reptaid??? Have the noises stopped with her breathing? Just wondering. I saw your post on the Reptaid thread and haven't seen anything else from you. My beardie started out with pneumonia but I went right to the vet with her. It's a long story but she got sick after she contracted mites from the place where I boarded her over Christmas week. Here we are in May and I'm still trying to get her better! Let us know how yours is!!!

Hugs,

Sue

 

[dragonlover3]

Hi,
Sorry your Skyy is having respiratory issues. Bearded dragons are silent though they can expel air to hiss when threatened. Sounds you have been hearing and her opening her mouth like you've seen indicate a respiratory infection. Since you've been hearing sounds for a while she has most likely had it for a while. For a respiratory infection that she's probably had for a while she will need a vet visit and some antibiotics. I have 2 rescues that already had RI's when I got them. It took 4 months of several vet visits and multiple rounds of antibiotics to get them well but they had severe cases.

Yes, respiratory infections can be diagnosed by the vet listening to their lungs, {however at the 3rd vet visit for my beardies, my vet did x-rays to check the lungs.} Respiratory infections are hard to get rid of especially if they've been brewing for a while.

What is your humidity. The lower the better for respiratory infections.

Your temps are fine! The max temp for bearded dragons is 110*F...... 115* is to high, you can severely dehydrate or cook her. If you can get her up to 108-110*F basking surface that will be good. Proper heat will help her immune system function better.

Daily 10 to 15 minute bath/soak to hydrate her would help, shallow up to her elbows but have her back end submerged to absorb water thru her waste vent. Keep her head out of the water so there is no chance she can aspirate it.

It would be best to get her to a vet to be evaluated and get some antibiotics.
Amanda

 

[Flynnthedragon]

Been giving her Reptaid and no more sounds. The sounds she was making when i first noticed wernt coming from her lungs/chest but she hasnt made any for awhile now. Today is the 10th day ive been useing reptaid and it says to wait 2 days and then do another 10 so thats what i will do just to make sure.

 

[SpikesAgirl]

Hi Flynn,

Well, hopefully you caught it early enough that the Reptaid is helping to clear it out! I would just take her out everyday and "listen" to her for a while to make sure there are no more cracking/popping sounds coming from her. She's still so tiny, I would listen for a good long while with her perched up on your shoulder right next to your ear! If she opens her mouth at all when she is out, that's not a good sign. Just keep an eye on that too while she's away from her basking spot. Sounds like she's doing better though! I hope that's the case for you! Good luck!

Hugs,

Sue

 

[Flynnthedragon]

she's HUGE in my opinion Need to measure her and weigh her tonight. she should be 13 or 14 inches by now!. last week she was 106ish grams . And I had her out for a good hour yesterday morning and she never opened her mouth or anything. I will do another 10 days of Reptaid starting monday like they say and hopefully I did catch it in its early stage. There is a true reptile vet but he is 45min away, there is one 15 min away that is pretty much like a general reptile vet, But im sure he can surely tell if its URI if symptoms come back.

I also noticed that this post went in the Beardie ER... If there is a mod that thinks it needs to be moved please do so. I did mean to post it in the other forum topic "Health". IT was kind of a Emergency I guess though

 

[SpikesAgirl]

Ohhh, I only read in the beginning that she was 76 grams or something... If she's 106 now, she's really gaining! That's good! My girl is about 16 inches long and she's 180 or so. I gotta get a scale. I've only been up on her weight changes because we've had so many vet visits! :bleick: I think initally your post was an ER issue. Any breathing problem is definitely an emergency in my book! Anyway, glad to hear that she seems to be on the mend! Don't be fooled by the "general" reptile vet. I've spent a TON of money with my "reptile" vet who I recently found out that the "reptile specialist" on staff is not board certified! Knowing what I know now, I think it was pretty much a trial and error thing for Dino in their care. Sadly, one of the meds almost killed her!! It would be well worth it to travel the 45 minutes to see an ACTUAL reptile vet! I hope you won't need to go that route. I sure hope Skyy stays on the "getting better" path for you! She's lucky to have you taking such good care of her!

Hugs,

Sue

 

[Flynnthedragon]

Oh yeah.. she's growing and gaining weight! no issue there at all. and thanks If any symptoms come back i will def drive the 45 min. Just got my paycheck as well so money shouldn't be to much of an issue.