SocksandLizards
Bearded Dragon Egg
- Messages
- 18
So Gurgi has mouth rot (I HATE calling it that. It makes me think of tail rot and necrosis.) He's been taking antibiotics for 3 weeks now, and he just keeps getting weaker.
I was having trouble giving him his meds, so the vet said I could bring him in every morning during the week so they could do it. However, they aren't open on weekends, and the first weekend I tried after they had started doing it, he aspirated/choked on the probiotic and went into shock.
I FINALLY found an emergency vet with a doctor experienced with reptiles (specifically bearded dragons) some time after he had recovered, and she refused to say anything anything about what happened because he was (mostly) back to normal by the time I got there. She did, however, prescribe him painkillers for the inflammation. I know the shock was probably the biggest factor, but after only two doses (over ~18 hours) of the Gabapentin, he was so lethargic that I wouldn't even attempt the antibiotic. I just kept offering him water and different baby foods (all organic, non-GMO, no added sugar, etc. Carrot, butternut squash, pumpkin, apple [they didn't have banana or mango, but I researched a TON and found that using a bit of apple to try and entice him was okay], and sweet potato) but he wouldn't eat or drink anything. He hasn't eaten since the antibiotics started, but after taking him to the emergency vet, I'm not sure if he's drank anything. I give him fresh (purified) water twice a day, I try to use a dropper on his nose, and I've been trying to soak him. His tummy is hurting so much, though, that when I soak him, he just tries to poop, and even when nothing comes out, he still freaks out and throws a fit for me to take him out.
Speaking of, he still is somehow pooping almost every day, always a nice, squishy, yet firm (not diarrhea) poop with a healthy looking urate.
He still has moments where he shows that he does have strength left, and if I irritate him enough, he'll go back to his normal grumpy self for a second and kick me.
I know everyone says to leave him alone while he's sick, but he's used to being handled a lot, especially at certain times of day. Even being sick and weak, he will not go to bed without cuddles, and after a few days of me not taking him outside to sit with me at all during the day, he starting throwing a tantrum. There have even been a couple of times that he's thrown a fit to run around the living room. I've only let him for a couple of minutes, and then he's run back to me, which he hasn't done since he was little.
The only time he even remotely acts like himself is when he's out with me, especially if I'm irritating him. (He's quite the titty baby and a jerk, so, if I act all sad and scared and careful with him, he'll ham it up, so I poke at his legs and tail occasionally to make him feel like things are more normal.)
I've been trying not to worry since the vet is seeing him every week day to give him his meds (she's a very, very good vet), but he's my baby man, and I'm so scared. He's so weak. His beard is black, but he's so, so, very pale. Almost as pale as he got when he was in shock. And he just seems like he's getting weaker, not better. The vet said the infection is getting better, at least, but I'm scared he won't survive the antibiotics.
Still, he manages to climb all the way up his basking light [pic attached; please don't judge me for the water spots on the outside of the glass--I was cleaning it before all of this, and since he got sick, I just haven't even thought about it], even though he acts like it's a huge chore when he's healthy (he's a lazy brat.)
I keep offering him food and water, and I try soaking him for a few minutes (not every day), even though that seems like it upsets him more than anything. Yes, I make sure the water isn't too hot or too cold, it is well below where he can keep his nose above it without straining himself too much, and I watch him the whole time.
The vet doesn't seem worried at all, but I just can't stand seeing him this way. He's getting probiotics with his antibiotics (though, I'm not forcing it since the day he went into shock), and only ever had those two doses of the Gabapentin because he was too lethargic to take his antibiotics without aspirating.
The specs everyone is going to ask, regardless of the relevance:
Age: ~8.5 years (don't you dare tell me this is all because he's old; every single pet I, or my family, have ever had, has far exceeded their expected lifespan, and bearded dragons can live 10-12 [or 15 from some sources] on AVERAGE in captivity.)
Weight: He was 1.75 pounds at one point (he's fat, but not obese, and can still move without pain or dragging his belly perfectly fine), but the last they told me was 1.46 pounds. I'm not positive, but I think he was ~1.6 at the visit when she prescribed the antibiotic.
Length: ~19"
Tank size: 40 gallon (since he gets to come out whenever he wants, he's never been interested in his tank, so I've just left it that size) [AGAIN, please don't judge me for the water spots on the outside of the glass--I was cleaning it before he got sick, and I just haven't even thought about it since]
Heat light: Lucky Herp 100w; it is on top of the grating above
Temp: 92.5 (YES, I KNOW that everyone has their own opinion on the proper temp, and experts across the web never completely agree, BUT this is the temp he will actually sit under, and except for when he's sick, his eating, drinking and digestion are perfect, so please don't ignore everything to make a stand on what temp YOU think is best, because I can show you countless experts who disagree. I follow what HE wants. Not what you want.)
UV: ReptiZoo HO T5 UVB Lighting Combo Kit AT28 (there is also a small coil bulb next to the heat lamp, which I was hoping might make him feel better.)
Length: ~33"
Age: ~3-4 weeks
Food: Right now, I am offering him his favorite food (outside of treats): Zilla Omnivore Mix with Calcium (he's incredibly picky and doesn't like new things, but this is the one thing that he will always eat, and his health has always been perfect [except for a brief spell of constipation, which happened because I changed his diet, and he wasn't getting calcium from eating.])
Antibiotic: Enrofloxicin (Baytril)
Probiotic: Bene-Bac Pet
(I believe they have also given him Meloxicam [1.5ml] to help when the inflammation appears worse)
I'm positive that I've left something off or mentioned something that somebody will hone in on regardless of its relevance, without reading anything I've said. I'm not here to get bombed by judgement on things that clearly aren't hurting my almost 9 year old dragon, who I would literally die for. I've researched and listened and watched the same as you, but the difference is that I care about HIM and his health and comfort rather than shaming people.
All I want is some comfort, some advice to make him feel better, and some just general advice *from actually listening to what I said and not focusing on one thing without considering the rest.* (Every single time I get on here or any other forum, all I see is judgement from people who don't care enough to actually listen.) If you genuinely have a suggestion after listening and considering the facts I've given about his general health and happiness, I'm more than happy to listen.
I'm positive that I will drop dead from grief if anything happens to him. It's killing me to see him like this.
I was having trouble giving him his meds, so the vet said I could bring him in every morning during the week so they could do it. However, they aren't open on weekends, and the first weekend I tried after they had started doing it, he aspirated/choked on the probiotic and went into shock.
I FINALLY found an emergency vet with a doctor experienced with reptiles (specifically bearded dragons) some time after he had recovered, and she refused to say anything anything about what happened because he was (mostly) back to normal by the time I got there. She did, however, prescribe him painkillers for the inflammation. I know the shock was probably the biggest factor, but after only two doses (over ~18 hours) of the Gabapentin, he was so lethargic that I wouldn't even attempt the antibiotic. I just kept offering him water and different baby foods (all organic, non-GMO, no added sugar, etc. Carrot, butternut squash, pumpkin, apple [they didn't have banana or mango, but I researched a TON and found that using a bit of apple to try and entice him was okay], and sweet potato) but he wouldn't eat or drink anything. He hasn't eaten since the antibiotics started, but after taking him to the emergency vet, I'm not sure if he's drank anything. I give him fresh (purified) water twice a day, I try to use a dropper on his nose, and I've been trying to soak him. His tummy is hurting so much, though, that when I soak him, he just tries to poop, and even when nothing comes out, he still freaks out and throws a fit for me to take him out.
Speaking of, he still is somehow pooping almost every day, always a nice, squishy, yet firm (not diarrhea) poop with a healthy looking urate.
He still has moments where he shows that he does have strength left, and if I irritate him enough, he'll go back to his normal grumpy self for a second and kick me.
I know everyone says to leave him alone while he's sick, but he's used to being handled a lot, especially at certain times of day. Even being sick and weak, he will not go to bed without cuddles, and after a few days of me not taking him outside to sit with me at all during the day, he starting throwing a tantrum. There have even been a couple of times that he's thrown a fit to run around the living room. I've only let him for a couple of minutes, and then he's run back to me, which he hasn't done since he was little.
The only time he even remotely acts like himself is when he's out with me, especially if I'm irritating him. (He's quite the titty baby and a jerk, so, if I act all sad and scared and careful with him, he'll ham it up, so I poke at his legs and tail occasionally to make him feel like things are more normal.)
I've been trying not to worry since the vet is seeing him every week day to give him his meds (she's a very, very good vet), but he's my baby man, and I'm so scared. He's so weak. His beard is black, but he's so, so, very pale. Almost as pale as he got when he was in shock. And he just seems like he's getting weaker, not better. The vet said the infection is getting better, at least, but I'm scared he won't survive the antibiotics.
Still, he manages to climb all the way up his basking light [pic attached; please don't judge me for the water spots on the outside of the glass--I was cleaning it before all of this, and since he got sick, I just haven't even thought about it], even though he acts like it's a huge chore when he's healthy (he's a lazy brat.)
I keep offering him food and water, and I try soaking him for a few minutes (not every day), even though that seems like it upsets him more than anything. Yes, I make sure the water isn't too hot or too cold, it is well below where he can keep his nose above it without straining himself too much, and I watch him the whole time.
The vet doesn't seem worried at all, but I just can't stand seeing him this way. He's getting probiotics with his antibiotics (though, I'm not forcing it since the day he went into shock), and only ever had those two doses of the Gabapentin because he was too lethargic to take his antibiotics without aspirating.
The specs everyone is going to ask, regardless of the relevance:
Age: ~8.5 years (don't you dare tell me this is all because he's old; every single pet I, or my family, have ever had, has far exceeded their expected lifespan, and bearded dragons can live 10-12 [or 15 from some sources] on AVERAGE in captivity.)
Weight: He was 1.75 pounds at one point (he's fat, but not obese, and can still move without pain or dragging his belly perfectly fine), but the last they told me was 1.46 pounds. I'm not positive, but I think he was ~1.6 at the visit when she prescribed the antibiotic.
Length: ~19"
Tank size: 40 gallon (since he gets to come out whenever he wants, he's never been interested in his tank, so I've just left it that size) [AGAIN, please don't judge me for the water spots on the outside of the glass--I was cleaning it before he got sick, and I just haven't even thought about it since]
Heat light: Lucky Herp 100w; it is on top of the grating above
Temp: 92.5 (YES, I KNOW that everyone has their own opinion on the proper temp, and experts across the web never completely agree, BUT this is the temp he will actually sit under, and except for when he's sick, his eating, drinking and digestion are perfect, so please don't ignore everything to make a stand on what temp YOU think is best, because I can show you countless experts who disagree. I follow what HE wants. Not what you want.)
UV: ReptiZoo HO T5 UVB Lighting Combo Kit AT28 (there is also a small coil bulb next to the heat lamp, which I was hoping might make him feel better.)
Length: ~33"
Age: ~3-4 weeks
Food: Right now, I am offering him his favorite food (outside of treats): Zilla Omnivore Mix with Calcium (he's incredibly picky and doesn't like new things, but this is the one thing that he will always eat, and his health has always been perfect [except for a brief spell of constipation, which happened because I changed his diet, and he wasn't getting calcium from eating.])
Antibiotic: Enrofloxicin (Baytril)
Probiotic: Bene-Bac Pet
(I believe they have also given him Meloxicam [1.5ml] to help when the inflammation appears worse)
I'm positive that I've left something off or mentioned something that somebody will hone in on regardless of its relevance, without reading anything I've said. I'm not here to get bombed by judgement on things that clearly aren't hurting my almost 9 year old dragon, who I would literally die for. I've researched and listened and watched the same as you, but the difference is that I care about HIM and his health and comfort rather than shaming people.
All I want is some comfort, some advice to make him feel better, and some just general advice *from actually listening to what I said and not focusing on one thing without considering the rest.* (Every single time I get on here or any other forum, all I see is judgement from people who don't care enough to actually listen.) If you genuinely have a suggestion after listening and considering the facts I've given about his general health and happiness, I'm more than happy to listen.
I'm positive that I will drop dead from grief if anything happens to him. It's killing me to see him like this.
