VERY SICK LITTLE BOY!!

[Rolandslf]

I am a new Dragon Owner, and had to learn the advanced side of Beardies in a very big hurry. The folks here on the Forum were wonderfull and all I can say is take the advice given.
If you have a 10.0 UVB, Temps on the basking side are around 105 to 109 and around 80 to 85 then conditions sound good.
I may be way off track here, but what light cycle is your boy on, I would advise 14 hours of light and 10 hours of total darkness.

I am sure that your boy is fine, I have a two month old special needs chappie named TRIP who poo's every third day. This worried me in the beginning, but I have grown to accept the fact that this is the way he is.

Lastly, you can be your own worst enemy in this situation by overthinking things.
Trust me, listen and take to heart the general consensus echo'd here.

 

[Rolandslf]

Eish, I meant to say around 80 to 85 on the cool side.

 

[pscaulkins]

It's winter time here so it is natural for a dragon to slow down including juvies. My youngest tried to brumate at 6 months old and my vet wanted me to keep her awake because she was still growing. (BTW, I took Jada to the vet because she hadn't pooped in a week, they wanted to do an enema but I said no because it's to envasive and just soaked her and gave her lots of squash) So I continued to feed her protein and had to bath her for longer periods of time but it was not a steam bath. Just a tub that fits in my kitchen sink. She only pooped a couple times a week and that is okay.

Like Vesta says, don't stress so much about pooping.

Enjoy your beardie!!

 

[packfan74]

I'm a gown woman, married & have lived in the same house 30 yr where I've raised three sons and have owned scores of pets (dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, pigs, turtles, fish, etc.) but this one takes the cake. Have spent more time, money and worry on this little guy than all others combined. Don't get me wrong, I like dragons and would love to own more than one. Can't tell you what self-control it took at last weekend's retile expo not to come home with one of those adorable baby chameleons!

Henry (now 8.5 months old;ish) has now not pooped in 6 days. He has stopped eating on his own completely - which I let go for 4 days until I could'nt stand it any longer. He lost weight and would only drink every other day. I now hand feed him via a syringe, drop by drop, a mixture of baby apple sause & squash laced with vitamins and calcium. I've done this with success for the last 2 days. Next I'm going to try a bit of baby food chicken mixed w/some kind of green veg. (maybe peas) - I'll let you know how it turns out.

Other than that, despite the recent $100 dollar investment into his new lighting system, his viv temps have not changed very much at all. We now have 2 digital temp probes, a 160wt PowerSun vapor bulb with a porcelain deep dome fixtue complete with stand. Viv cool side is averaging 81F and hot side averages 97F; once since getting the new equip., I've seen the hot side get to 100F but not unless I cover almost the entire screen top with thick bath towles. Viv size is only a 36" long x 18" deep x 16" high....?

Henry spends most of his time sleeping on the cool side. He does not sun unless I physically put on his rocks. He puts himself to bed 3-4 hrs. ahead of schedule (basically at sunset - 5:00 PM) despite the fact his light is normally on til 9:00 pm. So, I've given up and started turning the lights off when he goes to sleep but I do keep his heating pad running all nite which keeps that side at 72F until morning; FYI - our night temps here are about 25F/10F with the wind chill - daytime is 35F & sunny. Real cold months are still ahead of us

Right now Henry has finished his daily bath, is a nice tan color, is very alert and currently climbing the Christmas Tree so he can look out his favoriate window to watch the birds in the garden. I'm sure he's going to die in a few minutes but as always, I'm ever watchful and will continue to do my best to keep him with us until I rehome him in the Spring (April-May).

Cheers & thanx 4 the advice, youal've been just super.

 

[zebraflavencs]

I would suggest a fecal exam....
It is indeed possible that brumation could be the culprit here, however, parasites could also be the issue. Thus the suggestion.

 

[Pogie]

All i can say is relax.
Ive been through something similar since 20 Sept 2010 with my 14 mnth old.
Yes shes older, but theres no written rule that determines age vs brumation

Mine stopped eating on 19 September, she refused food till 3 October (14 days) She lost weight and i was a nervous wreck.
Had her at the vet and had everything checked out.
Didnt considder brumation as its spring here in SA but it seems that brumation was (And still is) the culprit.
She eventually started eating on 3 October. A cricket today, some salad the next and skipping 3-5 days in between.
I kept up with the soaks and silently stressed.
On 18 November she had her last poop.
She slept 3/4 of the day and went to bed 2+ hours before lights out.
She kept eating on and off skipping days in between.
Yesterday on 14 December, after 6 days of oil and pumpkin treatments, she had her 1st poop in almost a MONTH.

Shes fine, Im gonna stop worrying and continue feeding salads daily, offering live feeders and if she eats them ,she does, if she doesnt she doesnt.

If shes active, great, if not I let her sleep.
Brumation can last up to 4-5 months depending on location and from individual to individual.

So give it time.......
As long as the lighting / temps / and a clean fecal has been done. Henry should be fine

 

[pscaulkins]

Janie is right, a fecal needs to be done to make sure no parasites is the cause. I do my own fecals whenever I think I have an issue so I forget to mention fecals. Also, try blending salad ingredients with feeders and spoon feed it to your boy. I use plastic spoons. It takes a bit for them to get the hang of it but all three of mine love eating their greens in pudding form and eats more then they would if it was salad form (they get both). Someone told me when mine was sick that if I fed them their natural food blended, they will go back to their normal eating habits. It's also healthier for them. Chicken babyfood is high in phosphorus which could disrupt his calcium/phosphorus levels.

I know what you mean, I also have raised two kids and have had numerous pets but beardies are the best even though we stress so much about them.

 

[packfan74]

Yes, I read the diary of Pogie very carefully a week or so ago and though too that the circumstances seem atad similar. I'm considering brumation and frankly that's the only thing that keeps me from jumping off a cliff - the thought that this is some kind of natural behavior and NOT a result of bad parenting allows me to breath.

See, you have to understand, my husband thinks I'm some kind of Dr. Doolittle cuz all animals fall in love with me. I treat them like they are my dearest children and talk to them as if they know exactly what I'm saying (some do). In fact, I've been known to call Henry on the phone to ask him if he's pooped yet when I'm away. I'm told he looks at the phone and tilts his head from side to side listening when he hears my voice.......no, I'm not the neighborhood crazy cat lady! But I can't deny some people think I'm abit daff (in the nicest of ways of course).

I've never had an animal die from illness, deglect, or poor care. But I'm not foolish enough to not realize when I've bitten off more than I can swallow. Don't know about that putting him in a box thing for a week, but I'm going to give stepping back a crack and see how she flies. Maybe he'll snap out of it come warmer weather; which is still 4-5 months away.

Doing another fecal would be moot at this point. He's had two with 30 days and has been on 2 different meds for 14+ days to clear (Panacur was the last treatment; finished that about 10 days ago. Vet doesn't feel another fecal is warrented. They want to do blood work and x-rays. Husband thinks this is all to do about nothing (he hails from a LARGE farming family;mostly live stock). So, I'm going to shelve it for a while. I'm sure I'll make mistakes but at least I'm not giving Henry up TODAY.

Will chat in a wk or so - cheers

 

[zebraflavencs]

Just wanted to mention... the life cycle of parasites tend to extend beyond a 14 day anti-parasitical medication.

The meds may have gotten the adults, and perhaps the nymphs (grown to adulthood) but it doesn't eradicate the eggs. The eggs hatch, turn into nymphs, and then into adults. When ever I have had to medicate with a diagnosed parasite, then I did it for 28 day period. Just wanted to share that.. Not disagreeing with you or your vet.. Just wanted to share that information.
Hope this helps out.