Worried about Oscar

[staylor]

The past 3 days he has been gaping a lot more then normal but not all the time. Since he was doing this I thought maybe he could too hot/cold so I took his temps and they are only 98.6 at the basking site (this is his normal temp). He has been sleeping a little more then normal but eating more then ever. He is pooping normally. This morning he was flat on the floor with his back legs behind him and his front 2 out to the side until about 4 hours after lights on. He is normally wide awake and begging for food the second his lights come on. And tonight I took him out to listen to his breathing since his mouth was open a tiny bit while napping (lights still on). I did not hear any wheezing. Then when I was holding him he coughed, I don't know how else to explain it.

What are your thoughts? He is 5 almost 6 years old.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Sandra... I know that as dragons age, things start to slow down, change... Just as in any other species.

I would just keep watching, making notes.. Those are your most valuable assets at this point. Perhaps others will have more insights to help.

 

[staylor]

He really hurt my feelings today. He was laying on the floor again 2.5 hours after lights on so I decided to pick him up and cuddle him, he was ice cold. While I was holding him he gave me a full puffed black beard. He has done that to me when he is eating but NEVER during cuddles. Now I can add grumpy to his list of symptoms. I am at a loss here. He is eating and pooping so in one sense he is ok but then he is gaping, grumpy and laying on the floor a lot more then normal.

 

[renich]

Has been sleeping away from the basking area. Could be that it is taking him longer to warm up if he is waking far away from it.

Keep an eye on him. The cough could be nothing, but it could be a respiratory infection. If he continues to eat and poop, you are probably good.

 

[ladyknite]

He is eating and pooping so in one sense he is ok but then he is gaping, grumpy and laying on the floor a lot more then normal.

Rule of thumb: He won't eat if he's ill. Keep observing as everyone suggested.

 

[staylor]

He sleeps on his basking platform. When the lights come on he moves to the floor under it, he will go back sometimes but most times I move him back b/c he is cold to the touch. I only heard the one cough. He ate 5 supers and a whole bowl of salad already. I just can not believe he puffed his beard at me while I was holding him.

 

[renich]

Sounds like he is not a morning dragon. Glad he ate for you.

 

[Red Ink AUS]

The past 3 days he has been gaping a lot more then normal but not all the time. Since he was doing this I thought maybe he could too hot/cold so I took his temps and they are only 98.6 at the basking site (this is his normal temp).

What are your thoughts? He is 5 almost 6 years old.

Jack the temps up to 110 see if that makes any difference in his behaviour.

 

[staylor]

I will try this. Do they shed inside there nose? Today I pull what looked like a shed out of one nostril and it seems the gaping has stopped.

 

[Red Ink AUS]

I will try this. Do they shed inside there nose? Today I pull what looked like a shed out of one nostril and it seems the gaping has stopped.

Yes.. looks libe boogers hanging off their nostrils lol.

 

[staylor]

Yup...I saw it and pulled it out. No wonder the poor thing was opening his mouth, that thing was clogging his poor nose.

The lack of basking is still there. If he is hiding from his heat source what would increasing the temps do? Not saying I will not try just wondering.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Is he also avoiding the UVB, Sandra ? Just wondering...

 

[staylor]

not sure how to tell if he is avoiding the uvb. He is hiding under his basking platform. I was thinking about this last night and was starting to wonder if he was setting himself up to brumate. I am going to read into this later today when I have more time.

Is that what you were thinking too?

 

[li]

I would not pop his temps up that high if his normal is 98* or so. Maybe pop it up to 100-105* tops. He isn't used to high temps and that could cause more problems.
Yes shedding can occur in his nose...they are called nose plugs and like the rest of his body you should never pull them. Put him in the tub and drop water over his nose until they soften up. They will fall out on their own.
If he is eating and pooping and it doesn't smell horrible, he could just be slowing down. If either of those change, then I would suggest a check up.

 

[staylor]

His "booger" was hanging out and came out with no resistance, it was just sitting half in half out. Going forward I will drip water on his nose to get it off. Maybe he is just slowing down, he is an old man. Once we get a couple more paychecks in I am going to take him for a check up and fecal just b/c I think he should have one at his age and b/c he has had a change in behavior. It will give me peace of mind. I am still having a hard time with him puffing his beard at me when I was holding him, he has NEVER done anything like that to me, he normally loves being cuddled. I know they have bad days too but it shocked me to have him do it.

 

[renich]

Bernie changed too as far as loving to cuddle to leave me alone! I noticed it after he turned 2 or so. They just like to lounge around.

Keep an eye on him. Since his behavior is odd to you, I'd go with your gut. These guys are silent creatures and often they have been sick for quite some time before the symptoms are apparent to us.

Play around with his temp. It is totally a judgment call. Some dragons like it higher than norm and some don't.

 

[staylor]

He is still gaping so the booger/nose plug was not the problem. I am starting to wonder if he is just old and finally acting old. I am going to watch him a little more and see what happens. I am not sure if upping his temps is the thing to do since he is hiding from the heat and those are the temps he has had for at least 3+ year that I have a history on. But at this point I am willing to try anything to get my love bug back and acting normal.