I doubt it would be a calcium defeciency based on your statements and what lack of calcium actually does to the bones IMO it is a respority related illness what exactlly did you clean the enclosure with? and how did the Bluie die?
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You mention its fed 'chunks' of...and list carrot, this is not a sound idea im afraid.
Its very difficult for them to digest veg like carrot. My money is on impaction which is in the process of causing hind limb paralysis.
Having had a dragon operated on to remove a chunk of undigested carrot in the past, which was having the same effect, your inclination to consult a vet immeadiately is wise.
Root type veg is best served (if at all) finely shredded, making it easier to pass if not digested.
Alternately calcium deficiency can produce like symptoms, but is less common, and in my opinion, usually associated with complete lack of UV, be artificial or sunlight, and lack of supplimentation exabberated by incorrect diet, such as feeding spinach etc, which bind calcium.
Your lizard is in a very delicate condition, so be extra gentle with handling and avoid the stomach if possible.
I wish you and your dragon the best.
Its very difficult for them to digest veg like carrot. My money is on impaction which is in the process of causing hind limb paralysis.
Having had a dragon operated on to remove a chunk of undigested carrot in the past, which was having the same effect, your inclination to consult a vet immeadiately is wise.
Root type veg is best served (if at all) finely shredded, making it easier to pass if not digested.
Alternately calcium deficiency can produce like symptoms, but is less common, and in my opinion, usually associated with complete lack of UV, be artificial or sunlight, and lack of supplimentation exabberated by incorrect diet, such as feeding spinach etc, which bind calcium.
Your lizard is in a very delicate condition, so be extra gentle with handling and avoid the stomach if possible.
I wish you and your dragon the best.
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the jungle guy
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VET asap dont waste time on here, im sure a vet as said prior would not knock you back in a emergency
JAS101
Very Well-Known Member
what vet are u taking him too? ,
1issie
Well-Known Member
Ohhhhhh
,i feel your pain vets the best idea.
Keep us posted........
Hope all goes well
,i feel your pain vets the best idea.Keep us posted........
Hope all goes well
H
harley0402
Guest
Im sorry to hear about your little buddy, i hope he gets better. But about the vet thing... my puppy got the parvo virus and all the vets in my area would not treat her because i didnt have any money and wouldnt have for the next few days, i had to let her go and wait, just kept her warm and inside and she pulled through on her own and in about 5 days she was all better. Alot of vets are only in it for the money. Sad to see but true.
Slateman I tried to PM you, but can't. I did post helpful information in one of my posts above, outlining the signs with hypocalcaemia/nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism/calcium deficiency. I'm also disapointed that Harley's comment was still left in, when its just as irrelevant as mine?... Sorry, would have said this in a PM if I could have...
Am I able to re-post my information so it may help LadyJ?
"I know you said you don't think it could be calcium, but its what it sounds like most to me... Lizards with hypocalcaemia and subsequent hyperparathyroidism often present to vet clinics with neurological signs... With a lack of calcium, the bone is resorbed to maintain adequate calcium concentrations in the blood. This leads to the weakning of the skeleton that everyone knows about. But calcium deficiency also causes an increase in the threshold potential of nerves and muscles, so you get twitching, and it increases the neuromuscular excitability, leading to tremors, disorientation and ataxia (can't walk properly). In adults, other signs inlude tremors, seizures and tetany leading to flaccid paralysis (they go all floppy). If it does turn out to be this, it is life threatening at this stage, and requires Calcium gluconate injections and rehydration. Then husbandry needs to be checked to see what went wrong to start with.
The advice from the others is all I can really suggest- keep your beardie warm, and try as hard as you can to get him to a vet! try and keep stress to a minimum, if possible. I really do hope he pulls through for you, but I honestly think you need to get vet help on this one! (and from the sound of it, you're trying to, if you aren't there already ) "
Am I able to re-post my information so it may help LadyJ?
"I know you said you don't think it could be calcium, but its what it sounds like most to me... Lizards with hypocalcaemia and subsequent hyperparathyroidism often present to vet clinics with neurological signs... With a lack of calcium, the bone is resorbed to maintain adequate calcium concentrations in the blood. This leads to the weakning of the skeleton that everyone knows about. But calcium deficiency also causes an increase in the threshold potential of nerves and muscles, so you get twitching, and it increases the neuromuscular excitability, leading to tremors, disorientation and ataxia (can't walk properly). In adults, other signs inlude tremors, seizures and tetany leading to flaccid paralysis (they go all floppy). If it does turn out to be this, it is life threatening at this stage, and requires Calcium gluconate injections and rehydration. Then husbandry needs to be checked to see what went wrong to start with.
The advice from the others is all I can really suggest- keep your beardie warm, and try as hard as you can to get him to a vet! try and keep stress to a minimum, if possible. I really do hope he pulls through for you, but I honestly think you need to get vet help on this one! (and from the sound of it, you're trying to, if you aren't there already ) "
L
LadyJ
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Not sure how my posts would be not relevant but...
I have taken him to the vet, he's still with us... although it did get incredibly violent. He survided to be rushed to the vet afterhours and although they weren't specialists it was the only thing and with the cost of a specialist I could probably buy 20 more beardies (I know how horrible that is and I would do anything to save him but... not if it's going to limit my options for tafe and cost me into a few years time, I'm a student and working).
The vet couldn't tell ne what was wrong... she mentioned an infection and he was given a small dose of anti-biotic and calcium shots, his temperature is good (37) and his weight was fine, the vet said he was in otherwise great condition and the husbandry sounded good.
He's currently in his bare looking enclosure wrapped in his favourite blanket and breathing, blinking and not gaping. I'm going to attemot to get some fluids into him when the oppurunity presents itself and he will be fed on baby food via syringe. He's going back to the vet on Tuesday if he's still with us to get another shot and a check-up.
When I mentioned 'chunks' I didn't mean mass slabs... I know that's asked for trouble, anything solid is generally grated or chopped into tiny bits.
Thank you so much everyone for the support - I don't know what I would have done otherwise and I'll keep updates.
I have taken him to the vet, he's still with us... although it did get incredibly violent. He survided to be rushed to the vet afterhours and although they weren't specialists it was the only thing and with the cost of a specialist I could probably buy 20 more beardies (I know how horrible that is and I would do anything to save him but... not if it's going to limit my options for tafe and cost me into a few years time, I'm a student and working).
The vet couldn't tell ne what was wrong... she mentioned an infection and he was given a small dose of anti-biotic and calcium shots, his temperature is good (37) and his weight was fine, the vet said he was in otherwise great condition and the husbandry sounded good.
He's currently in his bare looking enclosure wrapped in his favourite blanket and breathing, blinking and not gaping. I'm going to attemot to get some fluids into him when the oppurunity presents itself and he will be fed on baby food via syringe. He's going back to the vet on Tuesday if he's still with us to get another shot and a check-up.
When I mentioned 'chunks' I didn't mean mass slabs... I know that's asked for trouble, anything solid is generally grated or chopped into tiny bits.
Thank you so much everyone for the support - I don't know what I would have done otherwise and I'll keep updates.
Sel
Very Well-Known Member
Sounds promising, hopefully the anti biotics and the calcium shot has saved him Good job..
Good job..
Wally
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Good to hear.
PeppersGirl
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Great news... Hope he's better soon
1issie
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Yay,he's pulling though!!keep us posted.
L
LadyJ
Guest
Well, now it's only his blue lights on to keep it warm and dark, I've removed al the 'clutter' and he's got a few hides and a raised towl where he basks.
He's taken water drips from my finger and is up and about! He's walking around very shakily... very cautious, slow and delebrate.
The only thing is... his eyes. His pupils don't react to light and he isn't reacting to me waving my finger at his eyes, he won't blink until my finger is touching his eye. But he does seem to be making his way around, so that's a good sign.
Thanks SO much yet again everyone, he's going into the vet Tuesday to get some follow-up work and will be fed baby-food enriched with calcium via dropper for a while.
He's taken water drips from my finger and is up and about! He's walking around very shakily... very cautious, slow and delebrate.
The only thing is... his eyes. His pupils don't react to light and he isn't reacting to me waving my finger at his eyes, he won't blink until my finger is touching his eye. But he does seem to be making his way around, so that's a good sign.
Thanks SO much yet again everyone, he's going into the vet Tuesday to get some follow-up work and will be fed baby-food enriched with calcium via dropper for a while.
mysnakesau
Almost Legendary
Hope he is getting better. Sounds like he could do, he has survived so far. Good to hear. Don't worry too much about him being non-responsive. He has been through hell and I am sure in time he will be back to his normal self.
I wonder if this is what happened to one of our older boys. We bought a 2yr beardie and one day noticed his beard go very black. This is apparently a breeding sign. But the next day he was dead. We took him to our reptile vet for an autopsy. Vet said he could see nothing to give him any suggestions. Pathology came back with little more to offer than heart failure. He was a very healthy lizard. I wonder if he died of a broken heart We just bought him from someone who had him since he was a baby.
I wonder if this is what happened to one of our older boys. We bought a 2yr beardie and one day noticed his beard go very black. This is apparently a breeding sign. But the next day he was dead. We took him to our reptile vet for an autopsy. Vet said he could see nothing to give him any suggestions. Pathology came back with little more to offer than heart failure. He was a very healthy lizard. I wonder if he died of a broken heart
We just bought him from someone who had him since he was a baby.1issie
Well-Known Member
Go rem!!!!!!! hope it all clears up fully.
L
LadyJ
Guest
Hope he is getting better. Sounds like he could do, he has survived so far. Good to hear. Don't worry too much about him being non-responsive. He has been through hell and I am sure in time he will be back to his normal self.
I wonder if this is what happened to one of our older boys. We bought a 2yr beardie and one day noticed his beard go very black. This is apparently a breeding sign. But the next day he was dead. We took him to our reptile vet for an autopsy. Vet said he could see nothing to give him any suggestions. Pathology came back with little more to offer than heart failure. He was a very healthy lizard. I wonder if he died of a broken heart
Oh my... god, seeing his beard go black like that, it was the first time I'd noticed. It went completely black moments before the 'episode' and that's when it happened. So sorry to hear about your boy... not knowing is the hardest part.
As for the sight, it's not looking great at the time being. I'm glad he's very slow and cautious, but heh's still bumping into walls. The shots couldn't have caused anything could they? He was given a tiny dose of calcium and an anti-biotic I can't recall off the top of my head.
The absence of a pupillary light reflex and lack of menace response (i.e. pupils don't respond when a light is shone in his eyes, and he doesn't blink when your finger is near his eye, only when you touch it) indicates a cranial nerve issue. Whether its directly due to hypocalcaemia, I wouldn't have thought so, but potentially that the seizure has caused damage. Ring your vet and ask, if possible... To me though, the ocular signs are a more severe problem
Does he lack both consensual and direct pupillary light reflexes? - shine a light in one eye, and see what the pupil does in this eye = direct reflex, but if you shine it in the eye and see what the other pupil does = consensual reflex. When you shine a light in one eye, both eyes should constrict at the same time. Different combinations of presence/lack of direct/consensual reflexes in either eye can sometimes help indicate where the problem is.
Also has he lost vision in both eyes?
Does he lack both consensual and direct pupillary light reflexes? - shine a light in one eye, and see what the pupil does in this eye = direct reflex, but if you shine it in the eye and see what the other pupil does = consensual reflex. When you shine a light in one eye, both eyes should constrict at the same time. Different combinations of presence/lack of direct/consensual reflexes in either eye can sometimes help indicate where the problem is.
Also has he lost vision in both eyes?
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