Lucy (Beardie) is in the Hospital...

[Julirs]

Not sure what is going on with her. She is 22 months old, and spent the winter brumating. She came out of brumation in March, started to eat, and then over the past week started having mushy bowel movements, stopped eating, keeps her big puffy black beard on, and then this morning it looked like she was having trouble with her back legs. My early diagnosis is parasites, but I guess we will know when the Vet calls me.

Any ideas Bearded Dragon keepers/

 

[jannb]

Hope that Lucy will be ok. Keep us posted.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Hey Juli , Sorry to hear Lucy is having a hard time.

Did she eat at all during brumation and what temps was she at? Mostly just curious. Was she empty when she went into brumation?

The possibility of parasites is what I would think. Was she ever treated for coccidia? I know most dragons carry it and are not usually treated for it. It does sound to me that some kind of parasitic infection gone wild.

I wouldn't rule out a bacterial infection as a result of not processing food during brumation that may just be starting to present itself.

Good luck with her and Best wishes

 

[PardalisGirl]

Keep us updated!

My prayers go out to you and Lucy....please keep us updated. I know how much you care for your babes and how worried you must be.

 

[Julirs]

I just heard from the Vet. They said she has some abdominal distention and when they opened her mouth she had tenacious saliva, so they are putting her on Baytril for a bacterial infection. As soon as she gives me a "present" I will take that in for a fecal.

Thanks for all of your well wishes. It does stress me out when they get sick!

Ryan-she was pretty empty when she went into brum. She did eat a few times, and unloaded majorly when she came out. She has a basking spot that is between 95-100 degrees. The basking spot is over slate, so she gets good and warm there. She has never been treated for coccidia.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

Ryan-she was pretty empty when she went into brum. She did eat a few times, and unloaded majorly when she came out. She has a basking spot that is between 95-100 degrees. The basking spot is over slate, so she gets good and warm there. She has never been treated for coccidia.

I was more curious of the brumation temperatures. Did you allow her to warm up during brumation? It is common when reptiles are not cooled enough they can develop respiratory infections or build up bacteria in the system as a result of partially digested food as a result infections occur.

I expect she will have a quick recovery. It will be interesting to see whats in the fecal.

She couldn't be in a better place to fight it.

 

[Julirs]

I was more curious of the brumation temperatures. Did you allow her to warm up during brumation? It is common when reptiles are not cooled enough they can develop respiratory infections or build up bacteria in the system as a result of partially digested food as a result infections occur.

I expect she will have a quick recovery. It will be interesting to see whats in the fecal.

She couldn't be in a better place to fight it.

Ahhh-during brum she was lights off on the floor under a table of chams. I would say with our super cold winter here, temps would have been usually 65-70 degrees in there.

 

[ijmccollum]

Bummers. She still at the vet or at home? A warm tummy might help the "present" come a little quicker.

My guy hasn't gone into full brumation since I've had him -- guesstimate >3 years now -- just slows down and eats less. But then I live in a fridgid region during winter and the house never goes below 68 F, and I keep lamps on but for shorter durations.

I had been told by our vet that beardies pretty much need an annual to check coccidia levels. They are generally okay with very low levels but if she had gone through a long brumation or with stomach/bowel contents, things could have "fermented" a bit more. Sure she hasn't impacted as well?

Wish you all the best.

 

[Julirs]

Bummers. She still at the vet or at home? A warm tummy might help the "present" come a little quicker.

My guy hasn't gone into full brumation since I've had him -- guesstimate >3 years now -- just slows down and eats less. But then I live in a fridgid region during winter and the house never goes below 68 F, and I keep lamps on but for shorter durations.

I had been told by our vet that beardies pretty much need an annual to check coccidia levels. They are generally okay with very low levels but if she had gone through a long brumation or with stomach/bowel contents, things could have "fermented" a bit more. Sure she hasn't impacted as well?

Wish you all the best.

She is home in her clean warm cage basking on her slate pile.

She just pooped Saturday so no impaction issues.

 

[chams1]

My guy hasn't gone into full brumation since I've had him -- guesstimate >3 years now -- just slows down and eats less. But then I live in a fridgid region during winter and the house never goes below 68 F, and I keep lamps on but for shorter durations.

Yeah, that's the same for my 2, this past winter especially. Although now my female is eating everything in sight (including munching down on my bright pink fingernails ) and she's getting a little plump in the belly (I think I know where this is going....).

I'm pulling for the both of you for a speedy recovery and that nothing is majorly wrong that can't be corrected quickly and without too much stress.

 

[jojackson]

I was more curious of the brumation temperatures. Did you allow her to warm up during brumation? It is common when reptiles are not cooled enough they can develop respiratory infections or build up bacteria in the system as a result of partially digested food as a result infections occur.

Juli, Im a big beleiver in providing a source of belly heat (UTH) during brumation for all dragons, and combined with normal heating for all juvi's under 6 months.
Since they seek out warm spots during winter and utilise sun warm rocks to digest anything they eat.

Brumation consist of a shortened heating period through the day, and UTH only at night, along with a shortened photoperiod.
I hope your dragon recovers quickly, do ensure lots of water since Baytril is a harsh and nasty overprescribed 'blanket' remedy (that can effect the renal system).

A worming and heat source from below would have sufficed given the diagnosis is not based on a culture or blood test.

If its been with a male pre brumation, are you sure its not gravid?

 

[Julirs]

Hey Joe-no-she has never been with a male, and yes they cultured the saliva and it tested positive for bacteria-thus the Baytril.

What had me running to the vet this morning was her black puffy throat-like a bullfrog. She has had it continuously since Fri/Sat, and it felt like it was full of fluid.

I like to use the slate under their basking spot because it keeps their bellies good and warm.

I put a red heat lamp on the tank tonight to keep it in the mid 80's.

 

[ijmccollum]

Glad to hear she is home where life is more comfy.

The continuous black puffy throat on a female is curious. That is generally a male trait -- not 24/7 though. Pete is feeling the "spring" and puffing, bopping, and running frenic. You got a pic of the throat? Wonder if it is display or if there is fluid? What did the vet say about the throat?

 

[jojackson]

Possible RI. Did the vet inform you weather it was gram positive or gram negative bacteria? (RI is generally associated with gram neg) Baytril is not the most effective drug against anaerobic bacteria infections, treatment should be specific.
Again i think most vets overprescribe baytril for any bacterial infection , like snake oil.
Id be asking for the culture results and if/why th vet thinks baytril wwill be effective.

Bacteria is present in every animals mouth, but not all is harmful or indicative of infection.
Stringy/thick saliva is also a symptom of dehydration.
Id be asking more questions personally.
As a rule of thumb, where possible (aka the animals cage is not in a bank of others) its probably worthwhile to boost the temps, but, not until you know that there IS an infection and what kind it is. Be sure there are no draughts from air conditioning etc.
A blood test might be worthwhile too.
x'ing fingers for lucy!
best wishes

P.S a nice warm bath will likely produce a stool sample you could get tested for parasites.

 

[Julirs]

With over a weeks worth of Baytril, keeping her hydrated and nice and warm, Lucy is getting back to her normal self! She is eating Supers and greens on her own now!

 

[PardalisGirl]

Good News

That's great news! Thanks for the update