Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i recently got a young (not juvie) frilled dragon. he's doing fine..has a good apetite and eats like 7 crickets with pleasure..but i noticed that he either regurgitates 2 or 3 crickets or he passes them half digested. the first day i fed him he threw up/passed 3 and yesterday he only did 1. its getting better but i think i know what the problem is. he has some dried up shed on his left hind leg going from half his thigh over his knee to the other half of his leg. its unnoticeable though. and he has some more shed on the end of his tail. i figured this can contribute to his digesting problem. i remember reading about terminal ingestion in bearded dragons or any other lizard for that matter i guess..it is a bit related in the sense that the hind legs become paralyzed so i tried to make the relation there. anyway....i got some
vitamin E oil to help take off the shed because i read the ingredients on shed-ease and the zoomed brand and it had vitamin E in it so i just went and bought that instead. also i read that vegatable oil can be used for mites and will help a bit. i dont like the idea much cause its pretty flammable so is it ok to use mineral oil instead?... well..thank you for any help in advance.
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1.0.0 frilled dragon- monster
0.0.0 firebelly toad- doodlebug
1.1.0 white's tree frog- popeye, jack
0.1.0 southern painted turtle- ms.tortle
0.3.1 crested gecko- crimson, lucky, red, jefante
1.0.0 pinto hedgehog- dante

The regurge problems can usually be from protozoal, parasitic &/or bacterial problems. Also, incorrect heating can be a cause. This may require a vets attention.

As far as shedding, why not give a warm water bath to loosen the skin? Draw water 82-86 deg.F only to shoulder level on the dragon & soak for 20-40 minutes. Frilleds live in a semi-tropical environment, so some humidity is a requirement. I wouldn't use oils like that, unless you are trying to suffocate some mites.

yep...the first thing im going to do is take him to the vet when i get paid. i dont think its parasites but it can be some sort of bacteria...thats what i thought. i soaked him last night and he drank some water too..hehe.....so his tail is shed free...now im just concerned about his knee. i used a bit of oil yesterday just in case he had any mites ...but i know he doesnt anyway...doesnt hurt to be safe tho. his temperatures are fine and everything else is good. i just think it might be a little bacteria...thats all.
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1.0.0 frilled dragon- monster
0.0.0 firebelly toad- doodlebug
1.1.0 white's tree frog- popeye, jack
0.1.0 southern painted turtle- ms.tortle
0.3.1 crested gecko- crimson, lucky, red, jefante
1.0.0 pinto hedgehog- dante

oh...and he also isnt regurgitating anymore...i guess it was stress? but his feces doesnt really look like it totally should. its looks OK but im still taking him to the vet.
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1.0.0 frilled dragon- monster
0.0.0 firebelly toad- doodlebug
1.1.0 white's tree frog- popeye, jack
0.1.0 southern painted turtle- ms.tortle
0.3.1 crested gecko- crimson, lucky, red, jefante
1.0.0 pinto hedgehog- dante

Assuming you don't know exactly what this lizard had to go through prior to you obtaining it, it might be safe to assume that it is both is dehydrated and hasn't eating much or anything in a while (from stress and/or lack of offering food).

The result quite often is the digestive tract is someone contracted and not ready for a meal of any considerable size. This theory collaborates with the symptoms getting better once the animal has had time to relax, drink, and sit in a tank with better husbandry than the petstore, exporter ect.

This might be one of the few times where I'd say perhaps wait on the vet visit for a bit. Only assuming that the regurgitation has ceased, and the animal is bright, alert and spry, then there may be more benefit in letting it stay home and get accustomed to it's new surroundings. A fresh stool sample could of course be brought to the vet in the mean time, to get things started.

Ian

that is exactly what has been happening. he is getting better every day! and... his stool today was normal..no more regurgitation and im soaking him everyday. this morning i noticed that the shed on his knee finally broke so hopefully in the next day or so it will be off. he seems to be a little dehydrated but in soaking he drinks and ive caught him in the water bowl drinking also. so everything looks good so far. im still going to atleast do a fecal just to make sure. thanks for all the help and i will keep you posted. --Lari
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1.0.0 frilled dragon- monster
0.0.0 firebelly toad- doodlebug
1.1.0 white's tree frog- popeye, jack
0.1.0 southern painted turtle- ms.tortle
0.3.1 crested gecko- crimson, lucky, red, jefante
1.0.0 pinto hedgehog- dante