Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All.

My water dragon has been sick for about 2 weeks now. He is getting weaker and weaker every day. I know that I have to bring him to a vet to get real help but I can't afford it.

Anyways, I'm fairly sure he has an infection. I have read on various sites that?most vets will just automatically presribe baytril first and them move to other solutions if baytril doesnt work. Does anyone have any experience administring baytril themselves. I can only find baytril pills for cats and dogs.

Please help if you can.
Thanks.
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
1 Corn Snake
1.1 Water Dragons
2 African Frogs
1 Toad
1.0 Degu
1.2 Chihuahuas
0.1 Cat

Although baytril may be a medication widely prescribed, you first need to know for sure that your dragon has an infection (what makes you think that it has an infection?). If the infection is a sore/bump/etc., it needs to be properly cleaned out by a vet and a culture of the "pus" needs to be done to determine the bacteria involved so that the dragon can be given the appropriate medication. If you simply give it medication, the infection will not be cured if the sore/etc. is not cleaned out properly.

Also...the weight of the dragon determines the dose of medication required.

How important is this dragon to you? If its not important enough to look after properly, then I would recommend that you don't get another pet until you decide to look after it properly. IMHO its not fair to the animal.

If you talk to the vet its possible that a payment plan can be worked out.

Hi, thanks for your response.

No there are not any sores or bumps on my lizard. He is just very listless.

I have read from multiple sources that Baytril is the first thing presribed by vets, then they move to other options if that doesn't work. If I feel my lizard is in dire need of a vet, I will take it. But as of right now he is still alert and strong enough that I feel I have time to try and cure him myself.

If any one has any experience using baytril please let me know. The only kind I can find is sold for cat and dogs. I have no problem doing the conversions to use an amount safe for my lizard. My question is about the baytril itself. I have read that it tastes very bad if given orally.

Thanks in advance.
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
1 Corn Snake
1.1 Water Dragons
2 African Frogs
1 Toad
1.0 Degu
1.2 Chihuahuas
0.1 Cat

You said..."He is just very listless"...he could be listless for some other reason than an infection....and even if he has an infection you don't know if its bacterial or fungal or viral....and baytril doesn't treat them all. Medications are hard on the lizard's system (renal, digestive) so I wouldn't advise that you just give him an antibiotic because you think he has an infection. He could have parasites or the listlessness could be the result of a husbandry-related issue (temps, improper supplementation, improper light, MBD, etc.). I do not advise that you just guess at what is wrong with him...you may do him more harm than good.

You said..."If I feel my lizard is in dire need of a vet, I will take it. But as of right now he is still alert and strong enough that I feel I have time to try and cure him myself"...but in the first post you said..."He is getting weaker and weaker every day. I know that I have to bring him to a vet to get real help but I can't afford it". Most lizards don't show that they are in dire need until its too late...and you already said he is showing signs of a health issue.

Are you sure your water dragon is a male? If its a female, she might be carrying eggs (and they do/can even if unmated) and becoming eggbound if she has no suitable place to lay them.

I had the same problem about a month ago...
Someone gave me a water dragon, and it was very lethargic. I tried UV light, heat lamps, and nothing made him feel better. I was not a water dragon expert, so I thought it was an infection or parasites. The vet said it was metabolic bone disease, and he had not received enough calcium for quite some time. They gave him a few shots of calcium and tube fed him and kept him in an incubator. I had to take him home because of the expensive vet bills. They told me what I could do was get "meat" baby food and mix a calcium supplement in with it (and I also use some start right calorie supplement for reptiles). I use a syringe to feed him, and he has been doing better and better. In fact, he is quite spoiled. He opens his mouth right up to receive food. We also feed him gut-loaded crickets.
Well, hope this was helpful.... Good luck!
Niki