I've spent literally thousands of dollars on vet bills trying to get my bearded dragon back to health, but unfortunately the vet hasn't been able to pinpoint what's wrong or what to do. He is extremely precious to me and I am very attached. I've written out a summary of his health over the past year below. I'm really hoping you can help me figure out what's wrong. I have videos of the "rattling/coughing" noise, photos, etc to help explain if needed.
Daxter is an adult male, about 3 years old. Adopted him in April 2018 off a stranger who couldn't care for him anymore (she said he was 2 years old and healthy). He was active/eating well throughout beginning of summer, was excited about eating veggies every day (either collard greens, kale, endive, bok choy), could eat up to 15-20 superworms 2-3 times per week.
Daxter is an adult male, about 3 years old. Adopted him in April 2018 off a stranger who couldn't care for him anymore (she said he was 2 years old and healthy). He was active/eating well throughout beginning of summer, was excited about eating veggies every day (either collard greens, kale, endive, bok choy), could eat up to 15-20 superworms 2-3 times per week.
- Around August started eating less, started "coughing", energy level decreased
- Diagnosed with respiratory infection and dehydration, was given 3 weeks of oral baytril. Bloodwork showed elevated WBC and electrolytes
- Recovered by end of September: coughing stopped, energy increased. Lost interest in veggies, appetite down to 5-6 worms/feeding, decreased bowel movements (1.5-2 weeks, usually only in bath)
- Consistent until about end of December, when a sharp decline in energy occurred and he began coughing again, no interest in eating at all.
- Was diagnosed with another resp infection
- lung xray showed lung white-out, no other abnormalities with any other organs
- bloodwork did not show elevated white count, but showed low lymphocytes
- electrolytes showed dehydration
- Prescribed excede intramuscular injection, once every 10 days for 3 doses. Prescribed force- feeding: grub pie mixed with veggie burger mixed with Pedialyte given via oral syringe every 1-2 days
- 10 days after first dose, no improvement in symptoms seen, therefore added on baytril intramuscular injection (once daily). After 2 weeks, energy level had markedly improved, coughing decreased to only occasional. Was told to continue giving baytril to complete 6 weeks
- However, after the 2-week mark, energy level began to slowly decline again and coughing started to increase
- Also noted to have significant watering/crusting around right eye, for which vet prescribed tobrex drop x 10 days. This was completed, but no improvement in eye noted, and in fact left eye started to water also
- Noted to spend most time with his head vertical/increase in coughing when sitting flat on the level. Also began having several small bowel movements per day (when he was healthy, it would be once every couple of days)
- At 5-week mark (5 weeks of baytril, 4 doses of excede), marked increase in coughing (was awake all night coughing and in respiratory distress) and making rattly breathing noise, and red sores noted around lips, therefore brought back to vet
- Repeat xray unchanged
- First they put him in a tank and nebulized sterile water for approximately 1.5 hours, and coughing was noted to stop
- They administered subcutaneous fluids as he appeared dehydrated
- They then sedated him with propofol and put a tube into his lung and attempted to aspirate the mucus from the lung, however they weren’t able to get much out at all (only approximately 0.1mL) before blood was noted and they stopped the procedure
- In-house cytology of the mucus sample revealed a large amount of mucus cells, as well as inflammatory cells, no bacteria or fungal hyphae seen (although difficult to tell for sure due to the large number of mucus cells)
- Sent for aerobic bacterial culture which is still pending (results supposed to be in early next week)
- Since then (i.e. Tuesday of last week), has been off antibiotics, and care plan has been to make him comfortable by increasing humidity of tank (put small portable humidifier inside tank and run it for 1-2 hours, 2-3 times per day, humidity increases to about 40%), propping him up on a towel so that his head is elevated, and some feeding but not to the point of forcing him
- Still very lethargic, no improvement in status, eyes are still the same and is still having a few small bowel movements per day (sort of runny, but sometimes solid)
- Basically any time I pick him up and move him he starts to do the rattly breathing/coughing
- 40 gallon
- Repti-carpet (walnut sand during first couple weeks of ownership; switched because constipation)
- Cooler side of tank around 75-80 degrees during day, hotter side around 85-90 degrees
- At night tank maintained around 70-75 degrees
- Humidity around 25-35%
- Ceramic heater used at night, during day has fluorescent bulbs for heat/light as well as UVB 10.0 bulb
- Lights are kept on for 12 hours, off for 12 hours
