Infection??

[jakedierr]

Hey everybody! So my dad bought a bearded dragon earlier this year. He wasnt very informed on how to take care of them properly. I tried to give him advice but i guess he didnt take it. Im not always at his house so i cant take care of it all the time. Im trying to take action and make sure she is eating right and in a suitable environment. Im currently watching my dads house for him and I noticed some crust and some poop around the beardies vent (or whatever it's called). It looks like an infection. I dont want it to die! I was wondering if anybody knew the problem so i can get meds for it. Please let me know, thanks!

 

[Canicke]

Dont know. But - get it cleaned up first. Give him a good soak. How long since last poop? What did it look like? Is the wound pussy? It may need to be drained. Definetly needs treatment - might try some topical like betadine. Keep us posted

 

[maxxdout]

Oh poor baby I'm glad you're helping.out with him. Hopefully you can get him on track with care.

 

[maxxdout]

And maybe completely clean and disinfect his cage too while you can. I found a cheap solution to greens. I buy bagged spring mix. I do buy collared greens too andother yummy stuff, but it gets the job done if price is a concern. As far as bugs, breeding is the only cheap way out. It gets costly. But VERY important

 

[PatsyB]

First off I'll say, a vet visit should be in her future!

With that said my first thought is it looks like it might be a prolapse. I've never seen it in a bearded dragon but my frog had one once and it was like a bubble coming out of his butt.

I would start by giving your girl a bath and gently cleaning the area to try to get a better look at it. If it is a prolapse a cool sugar bath would help get the swelling to go down. Dissolve a couple tablespoons of sugar in some warm water then add cool water and let him soak. If you don't have sugar, organic honey will work too. After a bath you can also gently rub some KY Jelly or Vaseline on the bubble that might help it go back in. Prolapse happens when there is dehydration so I would also do daily baths for him until this goes away. I'm not sure about the skin infection but like Canicke says maybe something topical like Betadine.

Also, is she kept on calci-sand? Looks like the tops of her feet are stained from sand. Sand should be used only if they are at least 15 inches and calci-sand is the worst! If swallowed it will clump inside them, kinda like clumping kitty litter and they won't be able to pass it (another thing that would cause prolapse).

 

[Canicke]

Way good info, Patsy.

 

[PatsyB]

Way good info, Patsy.

I've read way too much! Gotta be prepared for anything.

 

[Zaiden07]

I would recommend having a nice long conversation with your father.

 

[jakedierr]

Thanks everyone. Yes i will talk to my dad when he gets home. Sorry for the late reply I've been busy. I gave her a bath this morning and cleaned up the area. She started to try to take a poop in the bath and she looked constipated. It was barely coming out. She was on some sawdust substrate (I know it's very bad). I told my dad to use paper towels and I wasn't sure about the sand being safe. She is now in a big plastic bucket for the moment with some waxworms and her lights ( I thought waxworms would be good because they're soft) until I clean out her other home. What should I do if she is impacted? Im starting to think thats the problem.

 

[Zaiden07]

If she is impacted, soak her in warm water every 20-30 minutes and gently massage her stomach while she's in the bath, that should be able to break down whatever is in there.

 

[Zaiden07]

If possible, try to get her to drink some warm water, I find that helps as well. Have you considered a vet trip?

 

[jakedierr]

Okay I will continue soaking her today until she poops. She did drinl some warm water during the first soak. I am definitely considering a vet visit. Does anyone know an estimated cost for a visit?

 

[Zaiden07]

It depends on the vet, I have 1 vet who charges 20 for a visit unless there's medication then he only charges for the meds and then I have another vet who charges 55 for the visit plus whatever the medication costs plus any disposal they do. Where are you located?

 

[diegothediggy]

Gud info there patsyb u really got it all goin on. But yeh nice long soaks little belly rub. Wots the temps of the viv. U can get tile real cheap stops impact keeps temps up n its really easy to clean. I got mine for not even £2 a tile.

 

[jakedierr]

Im from Southern California. I'm gonna make some calls to a few vets and figure out the prices. Im definitely going this week just to make sure she's okay. Thanks again for helping. I'll update the thread once I see progress. Thanks again!

 

[Zaiden07]

Im from Southern California. I'm gonna make some calls to a few vets and figure out the prices. Im definitely going this week just to make sure she's okay. Thanks again for helping. I'll update the thread once I see progress. Thanks again!

Oh nice! I am too haha well best of luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[PatsyB]

Besides soaks, feed unsweetened apple sauce with a drop of olive oil, that should help get things moving along.

I'm thinking you may have yourself a new pet

 

[PatsyB]

How's the little one today?

 

[jakedierr]

She's doing a little better. I saw two big poops in the cage this morning. I've been really busy helping a friend move so I haven't been able to take care of her 24/7, but now I have some time. I just let her soak for awhile earlier and I noticed that it does look like a prolapse. She's been taking big gulps everytime I put her in the bath so she's definitely getting hydrated. Im going to try and do the suger and cooler water tomorrow and some vaseline. Im hoping to go to the vet this weekend or at least by next tuesday (that's when my dad comes home).

 

[PatsyB]

Poops are good! I would try to do the sugar soaks. If the prolapse won't go back in on it's own the vet will have to push it back in and possible do stitches.