VERY SICK LITTLE BOY!!

[packfan74]

Hi - I posted several times afew weeks ago about my sick 7 month old (Henry) who was not eating, drinking or pooping normally.

Up-date: 3 vet visits later (cha-ching) and we still have a very sick little boy on our hands. I 1st took him to the vet in early November, he was given an antiparasitic after confirming via a fecal. He finished his med but I took him back 11/28 because he had not gone potty in 6 days!! Go figure - he went as soon as I got to the vet's office...ha After a quick recheck, we left w/another antiparasitic (Panacur and a stool softner, Lactulose) plus a powdered enternal diet to force feed. We've now finished this 2nd round of meds and he finally went potty again Saturday, 12/4 BUT he's not gone since...today is the 7th!!

BAD NEWS: He's not gone potty since Saturday - he seems to be averaging about once a week since late October. WORST of all, last night I noticed that his face has turned a slight orange/pink color!!! He doesn't eat much and lays lazy eyed on the cool side of his viv.

GOOD NEWS: His belly is still white, he is drinking, he is active when I take him out. He turns a nice light tan color and walks around alert w/tail up. He's got a 10.0 UVA/UVB light tub plus a 100wt heat bulb. Viv temps are 82 cool side/92ish hot side...hotter directly under spot lamp. I also soak him in warm water twice a day for 15-20 min. in a covered container.

Vet is recommending an antibiotic in lieu of blood work and x-rays (which I can't afford, cuz it's another $200 UDS - spent over $300 last month). WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? - should I try the antibiotic or should I cancel Christmas for my kids and go for the lab work?

Very Sad

 

[corrine]

what's the temp right under the light? I know at 7 months Yoyo liked his basking spot at about 109-113*. An increase in the hot side temps may help

 

[packfan74]

Don't really know. Would guess 95-100. Strip on hot side reads between 92-94, but strip is on the side wall of viv about 7-8 inches away from spot light @ center of tank. Spot light is about 6-7 incles above basking rock w/only a screen seperating.

Real concern is , is he is septic or not (due to pink face) and would an antibiotic be the next step? He's pink stripes running from eye to ear (with sightly swollen temples) concern me more than viv temp - or are you saying a higher temp will help with this?

 

[corrine]

Those strip therms can be off by as much as 20* either way that may be the root of your problem. You should invest in a temp gun or a digi therm with a probe both are pretty accurate

.

Real concern is , is he is septic or not (due to pink face) and would an antibiotic be the next step? He's pink stripes running from eye to ear (with sightly swollen temples) concern me more than viv temp - or are you saying a higher temp will help with this?

I don't really know about this but having the proper temps is very important for your dragon.

 

[SoleSky]

Temps are a big deal with reptiles. It helps how much he eats and aids with digestion. Without the proper temps digestion is difficult. Which is why they say not to feed them 2 hours before bed time. Therefore this may be the route of your problem. Ace sells digital thermometers with a probe that you can measure your temps with, only $10. Also make sure you measure the highest point in the viv that your lil guy can bask on. Baby temps should be 100-110* and maybe a little more (110-115 i've seen) depending on the dragon. I'm sure if your lighting/heating is good then your dragons appetite will increase which will probably increase his BM. The parasite issue won't be cured by this but increasing the lighting will probably show a substantial increase in appetite. Just my two cents, i'm sure other people on here could add more. Also I'm sorry your lil guy isn't feeling so well.

 

[Beardie_Mommy3991]

Hope Henry gets better soon! I'm with the others. Try raising the temps a bit and see if that helps.

 

[sublyme]

how often do you put him in the bath? my beardie avoids going all together unless he is in there. nice luke warm bath usually does it for him.. hope he gets to feeling better soon'

 

[packfan74]

he gets two 15-20 minute soaks per day in warm water in a covered container - steam bath style. His schedule is as follows:

Wake up = 7:00 am
Breakfast = 9:00
Bath = 10:00
Playtime = 10:30-11:00
Bath = 3:30 pm
Playtime = 4:00-4:30
Dinner = 5:30
Storytime = 8:00-8:30
Bedtime = 9:00

He is a very sweet guy and much loved, so I really need some advise regarding his pink face......septic...?? Need to hear from some breaders regarding antibiotics - good idea/bad idea?

 

[Red Ink AUS]

bathing twice a day for a desrt evolve creature isn't good for it.

 

[SoleSky]

Can we see a pic? I know my beardie has red streaks across his cheeks

 

[packfan74]

vet recommended that I give him a bath twice a day while he's having issues going potty. Prior to 1st vet visit, I was bathing only once a week and misting lightly every day or two cuz he wasn't eating his veggies.

Regarding pink face - I don't have a way of attaching a pic (no digital camera / I'm old school). However, the pink stripes (known as a blush) on both sides is something new. It was NOT there day before yesterday....he is NOT a fancy color dragon, just your average bloke.

Plus, his little belly is so bloated he looks like he's going to pop. Vet said I could try force feeding him 1 ml of water; which I've done (and he hated) but he still has not had a movement. Vet said he may be getting toxemia due to his really slow metabolism - basicly his bile is poisoning him cuz, A) he doesn't discharge frequently enough and B) he's got more than he can move at one time...so in other words, he full of _____!

Its so stressful watching him obviously suffer every day but outside of spending another $200-$250 for blood work and x-rays on top of the #300 lasst month, I don't know what to do. Vet said WITHOUT lab work, we can try $40 worth of antibiotics for a week, but he's just shooting in the dark at this point :-( ???

My question remains - does anybody think a round of antibiotics will help??? or is everybody just suggesting I adjust lighting?

 

[packfan74]

Thanks Beardie Mommy3991 for your kind words - I appreciate it.

Sublyme - I'm sure you're a nice guy (I've read some of your other blogs), but considering my little boy is so sick right now & I'm afraid of loosing him, your tag icon is alot scary to me - maybe you can change the color from red to say, blue so its less ....oh, I don't know....in your face maybe; just saying. Other than that, I also appreciate your kind concern.

Still hoping to hear from some breaders.

 

[Vesta]

Hey!!! Have you tried pumpkin to get him to go? Just get a can of plain pumpkin located in the pie filling aisle. I usually warm it up just a bit and place a bit on his nose. He should lick it right off. If he doesn't you can always take a syringe and suck it up in that. I squirt a little in between his mouth.Yo always clenches his jaw when I do that but eventually eats what I put in there!!! LOL!!

I think you might have a temp problem. You can get a thermometer with a probe at a pet store or Walmart really cheap!! That way you will know for sure what the temp is.

I also swear by a rice sock. Take an old sock. Fill it with rice, tie a knot and microwave. Just check on it. A minute is too long in my microwave. Should be just a little warm on your wrist. Lay your guy on it and wrap. MAKE SURE IT IS NOT TOO WARM!!!!

Another thing I have tried and it has worked...was buy a jar of stage one applesauce. Take about a Tablespoon of it, add a little olive oil, warm up just a tiny bit and place on his nose. That has worked for me too!!!

I have a dragon who does not like to poop and all of these things have worked for me at one time or another. But make sure those temps are right!! I'm thinking they are the culprit. I don't think he needs antibiotics. Sounds like those markings on his face are just his coloring. We need a pic to be sure though!!!! Good LUck to you!!!

 

[Vesta]

Packfan...I think I should add that we have all been where you are. Worried sick about your little one. We are here to help!!! You have a large support system here. So try not to worry too much!!!

 

[packfan74]

Thanks Vesta - I would have never considered those two options. Makes good sense though and its exactly the kind of advice I've been looking for!

GOOD NEWS: Henry went potty yesterday - a good 4"er!....isn't funny when parent get so excited about poop, ha. Seems he's keeping on schedule and averaging every 5 days. IS THAT A BAD THING? Or, can this be normal considering each dragon is an individual?

I'm headed to a Reptile show (Northern Virginia Exotic/Reptile Show = Manassas, VA(US) this weekend in hopes of picking up some reliable equipment such as lighting, temp gage, etc. I'm looking forward to it cuz the show will also have a couple of forums on care, husbandry, breeding, ect. not to mention lots of vendors. We're doing the whole family thing, plus my kids are bringing along friends who are interested in becoming reptile parents too ;D

Thanks again Vesta, I feel a bit better now - big :-*

 

[Vesta]

:-* Back at cha!!!

YEAH for POOP!!! ;D I know just how you feel!! I was a nervous wreck for 2 years trying to get my guy back on track!!! Thinking every day would be his last. (He is a special needs kind of Dragon) I really enjoy him now instead of worrying every day would be his last. Enjoy your little one!! And BEST WISHES!!!!

 

[packfan74]

NEW DILEMA.. ...OMG!!!! Every SINGLE person I talk to, gives me a different answer, opinion or suggestion. From the vet, to the tech, to the pet store, to breeders, owners, to equipment vendors. Not one single person is telling me the same thing.

Went to the reptile Expo today[/font]. Breeders were telling me to stop everything I'm doing and put Henry in a shoe box for a week! At the end of the week, check on him, give him a bath of half water, half Pedialyte, if he's not up, alert and tank dancing afterwards, then put him back in the box for another week; and so on.

Vendors were telling me to completely change out my entire lighting system, including the color of my substrate (which is brown reptile carpet). Spent another $100 USD.

I'm so confused now :-\ - don't know what to do. Either follow these NEW directions OR keep on keeping on by offering him food, water, heat & light. Do I force feed if he's not eating on his own ??? If so, do I force the baby food thing (an alternating combo of apple sauce, pumpkin, squash, or peas) OR do I do the powdered diet the vet perscribed ??? Do I not worry about his BMs every 4-5 days ??? To bath or not to bath; that is the question. Do I not stare at him for hours every day and wonder what the hocky sticks I'm doing wrong :......... :'(

I can tell you one thing, this is IT, if things don't turn around, I can foresee rehoming - final answer. We can't continue at this level. I have tried everything possible, spared no expense and still seem to be coming up short.

Very very sad :'(

 

[Vesta]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! The same thing happened to me!!! You are over thinking everything just as I did!! Take a chill pill. Advice from someone who has been where you are!! Do not worry so much about the pooping!! It is more than likely your temps. If you have a reptisun 10. Your lighting is good. If your temps are betweem 110-115 your temps are good. I soaked Yo twice a day for 20 minutes or more his first year. It did not bother him in the least. Just stick him back in his nice warm enclosure. Do NOT stick that Dragon in a box. DO NOT change his carpet!!! It is fine. DO NOT rehome your Dragon!!! Enjoy him more and worry less!!! The problem is if you keep going on these forums and read one negative post after another you get to worrying about your little one. I KNOW because I did the same thing.(Just ask these guys) If you are worried about him eating. Sandy taught me to put his salad in a blender with some crickets and blend away!!( It was gross ) But I had a speacial needs dragon. Did you get a thermometer with a probe yet? What are your temps? That will effect his eating and pooping!!!

Not sure how old you are but I am talking to you like your mother would. I worried sick about Yo. Had panic attacks and came on here EVERY TIME until one day someone said "HE IS FINE" and it finally sunk in!!! He was FINE!! Let the poor little guy get used to being in a new home. Try not to move things around in his enclosure. Let him be and get used to his surroundings and make sure your temps are right!!!

And when you are worried. Come on here and I'll give you another one of my Mama "PEP TALKS" Kiss that Dragon for me!!! :-*

 

[SoleSky]

Agreeing with Vesta. Although research is good, sometimes it's better to just learn things on your own. Every dragon is an individual and some like things others do not. Just give it some time. You have all of the essentials down you just need to relax and your dragon will relax. Take things step by step. I worried too, everybody has been there good luck

 

[sublyme]

during the colder season when mr baby is less active he tends to sleep alot and use the bathroom about once every 4 or 5 days give or take.