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In my area I have searched high and low as of recently for a herp vet to help me with some issues with Draco my 2.3 yr old BD. I have had a very small compilation of vets to contact through my research but the information turned out to be outdated and the very few herp vets listed are no longer practicing in the state. This is incredibly unfortunate. The only option I will have if it comes down to it at this point would be to work with the typical cat and dog vet. This however, I don't feel confident or comfortable with. I would really like to make the attempt at bringing him back to health myself before putting him in the hands of a vet with little to no reptile experience as I've read some horror stories. Its unfortunate and sad really that we don't have a reputable herp vet in the area, I suppose it's simply because their isn't a big enough calling for herp vets in our area. The reptile fans are few and far in between and the majority of the people purchasing reptiles purchase them at the local pet store for children and treat them as a disposable pet to be replaced once passed.
Draco my 2.3 yr old BD may have mild MBD. I was uninformed and thought I was doing things correctly. I had a 5.0 UVB, was feeding kale as a staple under the impression it was a high calcium green, and I have not been using a calcium supplement. Pretty much creating the perfect recipe for MBD :-(... I noticed last week Draco couldn't lift his back. He could use his legs and arms but couldn't lift his back up off from the floor. I learned that night about MBD. I'm pretty sure we lucked out here and it was an impaction/dehydration and not MBD as he passed a large compressed stool the following day after his episode. There are no twitches, no seizures, and after a few baths and UVB change he's back on all fours and looking much better! He is thin though and still seems to be a tad weak. When I take him out he will explore on all fours but in his 40g he slithers around on his belly. I need to correct this whole calcium deficiently thing and get him back on track before issues grow & become worse.
So far these are the changes I've made this past weekend-
Swapped out the 5.0 for the 10.0 UVB.
Changed his heat lamp just incase.
Bought some Phosphorus Free Repcal calcium dust with D3.
Bought some Repcal min/vit. No vit A.
Bought some Collards and tossed out the Kales.
Ordered some Pheonix Worms (which just arrived today and he seems to enjoy!)
Restocked the crix and have been gut loading them with collards/calcium cricket quencher food.
This past weekend/week -
Every other day he has been getting a bath for about 10 minutes.
I've been feeding about 10-15 crix dusted with calcium w. D3 each day.
He gets a bowl full of collards and cucumbers each day rinsed. (He's being stubborn about eating his collards though :-( )
Today he got about 10 small Pheonix worms.
He is under weight so I'm trying to get his calcium intake up and his weight up.
I have some Q's.
How many crix should he get weekly/daily at his age (2.3)?
How many times weekly do they need to be calcium dusted?
How many times weekly do they need to be dusted with vitamins?
How many phoenix worms should he get weekly/daily?
What other high calcium greens should I be offering or might he like? (since he's not digging the collards)
What other worms should I be feeding to increase calcium? (roaches not allowed here)
How many baths should he get weekly?
I know ideally he should get a calcium shots from a certified vet, but as stated before we don't have that option. I'm hoping we are catching any MBD in the very early stages and we can help him to regain his health. Am I on the right track? Is there anything else I can do?
Draco my 2.3 yr old BD may have mild MBD. I was uninformed and thought I was doing things correctly. I had a 5.0 UVB, was feeding kale as a staple under the impression it was a high calcium green, and I have not been using a calcium supplement. Pretty much creating the perfect recipe for MBD :-(... I noticed last week Draco couldn't lift his back. He could use his legs and arms but couldn't lift his back up off from the floor. I learned that night about MBD. I'm pretty sure we lucked out here and it was an impaction/dehydration and not MBD as he passed a large compressed stool the following day after his episode. There are no twitches, no seizures, and after a few baths and UVB change he's back on all fours and looking much better! He is thin though and still seems to be a tad weak. When I take him out he will explore on all fours but in his 40g he slithers around on his belly. I need to correct this whole calcium deficiently thing and get him back on track before issues grow & become worse.
So far these are the changes I've made this past weekend-
Swapped out the 5.0 for the 10.0 UVB.
Changed his heat lamp just incase.
Bought some Phosphorus Free Repcal calcium dust with D3.
Bought some Repcal min/vit. No vit A.
Bought some Collards and tossed out the Kales.
Ordered some Pheonix Worms (which just arrived today and he seems to enjoy!)
Restocked the crix and have been gut loading them with collards/calcium cricket quencher food.
This past weekend/week -
Every other day he has been getting a bath for about 10 minutes.
I've been feeding about 10-15 crix dusted with calcium w. D3 each day.
He gets a bowl full of collards and cucumbers each day rinsed. (He's being stubborn about eating his collards though :-( )
Today he got about 10 small Pheonix worms.
He is under weight so I'm trying to get his calcium intake up and his weight up.
I have some Q's.
How many crix should he get weekly/daily at his age (2.3)?
How many times weekly do they need to be calcium dusted?
How many times weekly do they need to be dusted with vitamins?
How many phoenix worms should he get weekly/daily?
What other high calcium greens should I be offering or might he like? (since he's not digging the collards)
What other worms should I be feeding to increase calcium? (roaches not allowed here)
How many baths should he get weekly?
I know ideally he should get a calcium shots from a certified vet, but as stated before we don't have that option. I'm hoping we are catching any MBD in the very early stages and we can help him to regain his health. Am I on the right track? Is there anything else I can do?
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thank you though. You can see why I'm frustrated about the whole vet thing :-/ ...I was actually really excited when I came across one site that recommended an all around vet that also took in herp clients right in my town! of all places, my little town! I called eagerly, and again no luck, that vet also left :/...very frustrating.
