• Hello guest! Are you a Bearded Dragon enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Beardie enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your dragons and enclosures and have a great time with other Bearded Dragon enthusiasts. Sign up today!

Respiratory Infection

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
Hi, the meds were baytril for 7 days!
My beardie will likely be seeng thr vet tomorrow. Out of curiosity though, I've heard cases of people using a nebulizer and collidial silver for treating RI? Is it possible to do this?
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,341
My beardie will likely be seeng thr vet tomorrow. Out of curiosity though, I've heard cases of people using a nebulizer and collidial silver for treating RI? Is it possible to do this?
Nebulizer yes not sure about the silver- NO ENEMAS at the vet please!! I have passed the message on to her
 

Drache613

Juvenile Dragon
Messages
381
Hello,

How is your dragon doing since being on the Baytril? Did his appetite stay the same?
A 7 day protocol isn't bad at all. Has he improved with his breathing also?
Be sure you have been keeping him hydrated after the antibiotic round, since they have
a tendency to dry them out.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie
 

Drache613

Juvenile Dragon
Messages
381
Hello,

I forgot to add that you can definitely use Colloidal Silver for nebulizing, it is pretty effective.

Tracie
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
Hello,

How is your dragon doing since being on the Baytril? Did his appetite stay the same?
A 7 day protocol isn't bad at all. Has he improved with his breathing also?
Be sure you have been keeping him hydrated after the antibiotic round, since they have
a tendency to dry them out.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie
he's not on the medicine now.. this was a few weeks ago. During the medicine, he was perfectly normal appetite wise. He loves eating. Even after the medicine he was still having the popping

He is going to vet today though, since I couldn't yesterday.. so I'll see what they give him now
 

Julee1971

Juvenile Dragon
3 Year Member
Messages
784
Hi, I need some guidance. My bearded dragon has been struggling with RI once more, and it has happened far too many times than I've liked it too. He's gone to the vet so many times and seen an exotics vet to get the issue fixed.. only for it to come back. I really wouldn't like to take him back to the vet once again because of this, and if there's any possible way is there at home treatments. Of course, if it's an absolute must.. he will revisit the vet, but I want to prevent this.

I'm not sure what's causing this, part of me thinks it has to do with humidity, but it's quite hard to gauge it. I have zoomed humidity+temperature trackers on both side of the tanks. I'm not sure if they're inaccurate, though. On the cool side, the humidity averages around 30. On the warm side, it reads as 22 right now. I expect it to be lower because of the heat, of course, and I'm aware humidity is good around 20-30(40?)%, so im not sure why these issues keep reoccurring frequently. I've even previously tried placing a wet rag into the tank on the warm side, and even still he falls ill, so I stopped.

My bearded dragons tank is 40 gallons, and he's about a year old. He has a tube uvb bulb that sits on top of the tank, but I've made sure to place something to get him closer, as I know the screen cuts off a lot of the effects from it. His heat bulb is 100 watts. The vets have commented that he is very physically healthy.

As for his diet, he regularly eats collard green as a staple, sprinkled with calcium 5 days a week and vitamins 2 days a week. He'll get something along with them sometimes, such as cucumber, bell peppers, and very occasional parsley. He eats Dubai roaches as a staple, which also get dusted when needed. The vet suggested occasional soaking, which is done, where the water is never too high for it to enter his nostrils and ear holes.

I really need help!! I can't have him getting sick anymore, and I want to get down to the issue.
He needs a Vet ASAP to get antibiotics for the RI infection!! Refrain from giving him baths and never ever leave food or water in the enclosure over night.
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
He needs a Vet ASAP to get antibiotics for the RI infection!! Refrain from giving him baths and never ever leave food or water in the enclosure over night.
He's going to the vet today. Food isn't left in the tank.

Although, when doing research I read that it was okay to give beardies a soak as long as the water is low enough to where it's not over their shoulders? Even I was suggested it's okayby the vet themselves. My bearded also doesn't like going to the bathroom in his tank and will only do so in water
 

Drache613

Juvenile Dragon
Messages
381
Hello,

How did things go at the vets today? Did they want to put him on medication again?
If he has a respiratory I would be cautious about giving too many baths so he doesnt
get chilled. You can give a bath a few times per week, early in the day to allow for him
to get warmed back up for the day.
I totally understand them only wanting to go potty in their bath & not in their tanks.

Tracie
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
Hello,

How did things go at the vets today? Did they want to put him on medication again?
If he has a respiratory I would be cautious about giving too many baths so he doesnt
get chilled. You can give a bath a few times per week, early in the day to allow for him
to get warmed back up for the day.
I totally understand them only wanting to go potty in their bath & not in their tanks.

Tracie
The visit was good. He was prescribed 5 injections of baytril.. one every 5 days in thr bicep. He's a bit lazy today after it, but I'm not too surprised
 

Drache613

Juvenile Dragon
Messages
381
Hello,

How is your dragon doing now, still a bit lazy?
How did the vet want the Baytril given, once daily, or every few days?
Anytime medication is given, it does tend to make them more tired or lazy. I would recommend giving
a probiotic for him also, since the Baytril is a bit harsh on the system.

Keep us posted on him
Tracie
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
Hello,

How is your dragon doing now, still a bit lazy?
How did the vet want the Baytril given, once daily, or every few days?
Anytime medication is given, it does tend to make them more tired or lazy. I would recommend giving
a probiotic for him also, since the Baytril is a bit harsh on the system.

Keep us posted on him
Tracie
Yes, still lazy. Baytril to be given one shot every five days. He's about to get his next today.
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
Yes, still lazy. Baytril to be given one shot every five days. He's about to get his next today.
I'm still noticing popping and open mouth breathing, but I won't make a judgemental until he finishes the medication. Just to be sure the humidity on the warm side being 20% and 21% on the cool side is okay, yes?
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,341
I'm still noticing popping and open mouth breathing, but I won't make a judgemental until he finishes the medication. Just to be sure the humidity on the warm side being 20% and 21% on the cool side is okay, yes?
How are you getting those humidity readings? A digital probe hygrometer is best--Exo Terra makes them -- placed on the center back wall of the tank - 20 and 21% isnt bad -- let him finish his meds - how long has he been on them?
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
Yes, still lazy. Baytril to be given one shot every five days. He's about to get his next today.
He started Tuesday on his medication. He was just given his second shot out of five. He's getting the readings based off This type of gauge

If these aren't okay, could you send a link to those readers?
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,341
He started Tuesday on his medication. He was just given his second shot out of five. He's getting the readings based off This type of gauge

If these aren't okay, could you send a link to those readers?
That probe is fine---take the probe for the humidity and place it on the back center wall of the tank and get the reading then- optimal is 40-50% so the 20% if accurate is ok but I wouldnt let it drop below that- the meds have not fully kicked in yet and I would get him some probiotic for the stomach -- Tracie has a website for this stuff I will post link https://bug-de-lite.com/Category/Pro-Biotics
I have used the Reptophilus when Blaze was on the meds for parasites --
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
That probe is fine---take the probe for the humidity and place it on the back center wall of the tank and get the reading then- optimal is 40-50% so the 20% if accurate is ok but I wouldnt let it drop below that- the meds have not fully kicked in yet and I would get him some probiotic for the stomach -- Tracie has a website for this stuff I will post link https://bug-de-lite.com/Category/Pro-Biotics
I have used the Reptophilus when Blaze was on the meds for parasites --
It tends to drop under sometimes.. but not significantly. Usually 18% at most..

Which probiotic would you think is fit for this?
 

Sadie

Bearded Dragon Veteran
3 Year Member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
12,341
It tends to drop under sometimes.. but not significantly. Usually 18% at most..

Which probiotic would you think is fit for this?
I went w/ the liquid -- easier to give -- they are all good but we can ask Tracie
@Drache613
 

Benbenz

Hatchling Dragon
Messages
81
I went w/ the liquid -- easier to give -- they are all good but we can ask Tracie
@Drache613
Alright, I'll wait to see what she says, but do you think I should put a water bowl back in his tank? I don't know how accurate his readings are on the humidity gauge, so I'm getting one of those exoterra ones to check as well
 
Top