HELP!!!!!!! I'm Really Worried about My Beardie

[Chez]

Hi People.

I'm worried that I may lose my Beardie.  I've had Thor since he was a baby (5 weeks old).   He will be 5 years old in September.
He's been a happy, healthy, playful and affectionate beardie his whole life, and I've never had a problem with him until now.

He has just stopped eating.  He won't eat any of his veggies, or any of his live food.  Nothing.

He's become quite lethargic, and just want's to sleep all the time.  When I did get him to move, I noticed he was having trouble with his right hind leg. 

I've also noticed that he doesn't seem to be rehydrating properly when he has his baths.  I've been bathing him 3 times a week this past two weeks to see if it would make a difference, but it hasn't.  I bought some Lectade and bathed him in that.  That seemed to pep him up for a couple of days, but he still wouldn't eat anything.  I thought that maybe his new UVB bulb was faulty.  So I went and bought another one.  That hasn't made any difference at all.

I took him to the vet the other day and took a poop sample with me.  She stated that his poop was ok.  She wasn't concerned about his weight loss (but I am!!!).  He was approx 1.3 kilos.  When she popped him on the scales he was down to 1 kilo.  That's a big drop to me.

She's given me some antibiotics to give him once a day.  She's also given me some critical care powder, that I have to mix up, and give him several doses of it a day.  I have to do this for a week.

But, now he seems worse.  He seems to be having trouble with both his arms and legs now.  I don't know what to do.

Do I continue to give him these meds.  Is it these meds that are making him worse!!!!!!!!!!

Please, I need some advice as to what to do with him.  I'm worried that if I take him back to the vet, that it might make him even worse.

What do I do??  I can't bear the thought of losing him.

Best Wishes,

Chez

[Beardo]

When you noticed the lack of movement did it seem shakey? What do you supplement?

[Chez]

Hi,

Yes, his limbs are a bit shaky at times.  But, he's started really limping, and his right arm and hand seems to be giving him more trouble than the others.  But, he seems to be having some trouble with all his limbs all of a sudden.

It's really scary!!!


I use Nutrobal calcium & multivitamin supplement.  Ive used it his whole life.

But, because he's not eating right now, he isn't really getting any supplement at the moment.

I managed to get 1 locust covered in his dust down him today.  That just isn't anywhere near enough!!

I'm really puzzled, he's never been like this before.


Chez

[Beardo]

That sounds rough, I'm a little inexperienced in that area but im sure you will get some good input here. I have to leave town now for a few days but I'll be praying for your little guy.

[Chez]

Ok, thank you anyway for responding to my message.

I really appreciate it.

Chez

[perfectly_flawed]

How often have you been giving him the calcium? How often does he get the vitamin?
What brand and rating is the UVB light? How close to it can he get? Is it a tube, coil, or MVB?
Has he been pooping okay before this began?
What substrate is he on?

What did the vet find that they're medicating him for? What is the name of the medication? What dosage and how often are you giving it?

[zebrajanie]

Chez, you'll want the calypso or cuttle fish bone calcium... Also,,,I see nothing about a UVB.  What do you have, and how old is it ?
Do you have any other dragons ?

[Chez]

Hi,

I only have Thor.  I don't have any other beardies.

I use his calcium & vitamin dust 3 times a week coating his live food with it.  I was told never to use it any more than that as he would suffer from overdose.

This past couple of weeks I've been coating his salad as well, thinking that if he doesn't eat his live food, then he will eat his salad and get his dust that way.

But, as he hasn't eaten anything at all, that method backfired on me didn't it.

This Calypso that's been mentioned.  How often can you use that?  Do you use it daily?  or do you use it like Nutrobal?

His UVB - I have always used the Arcadia Compact D3 (8% uvb) bulb.

I replaced it again about two months ago.  I replace them every six months or so.

Anyway, because he's been off it this past few weeks, I thought that just may be this one could have been faulty.  Against the advice from the supplier, who insisted that the bulb would not be faulty, I went and replaced it anyway just over a week ago.

But, I was unable to get my Arcadia bulb.  So I was advised by the supplier to use the Repti-glo 10% uvb.  This one is a coil bulb.  And, it hasn't made the slightest bit of difference.

He's never more than 12 inches away from his uvb bulb at any time.  Unless of course I get him out to play and for exercise.

His pooping - he's never been an every day pooper.  He's always been an every other day pooper.  Now and again though, he has been known to go about a week before pooping.

His substrate is sterilised & ground volcanic ash.  This substrate is finer than playsand.  Again, I've always used this without any problems whatsoever.

The antibiotic that the vet gave me is called Baytril.  I have to give him 0.1 ml daily.  She prescribed it as a precaution.  She wasn't totally clear.  The critical care powder, I have to mix up and give him several 1 ml doses daily.

[Lizard]

What is the UVB rating for the light? if its not 10.0 you'll have to get a new UVB light that is 10.0 any thing less then that won't cut it.

I would ditch the sand like stuff for the bottom that kind of stuff if they ingest it can cause alot of problums. I would recomend going with a Reptile Carpet at least.

Do you have a basking light? If so does it give off UVA? if not I would recomend getting a Basking light that gives off UVA.

[Chez]

Hi,

Thank you for your message.

Yes, it is the Repti-Glo 10.0 uvb output bulb.

Yes, his basking light is a spot bulb that gives off UVA.

I get both his basking bulb and his UVB bulb from the same suppliers.

I am already looking to ditch the substrate and get some Repti carpet.  In the meantime, until I can get some, I'm going to put him on paper towels