Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everybody!
I'm new at this and I'll list everything I can so forgive me if it's long. Zen is 11 years and 8 months old and is ill with several symptoms. He has had a blood test for both kidney failure and calcium deficiency but has tested negative for both. This is the third time he has been sick and he's worse.
He is currently on Metronidazol, Bayril (oral), and Calcionate liquid but nothing is working. He has mucous in the back of the throat, has obvious breathing problems but doesn't wheeze. His ribcage moves in and out in a really obvious manner even when he's not moving. He has muscle twitches all over but mostly toward his lower abdomen, along his spine and rear legs and base of his tail. This normally indicates calcium deficiency but the Calcionate hasn't done squat and his blood test was of course, negative.
He doesn't want food unless it's baby food through a syringe and has runny stool. The freakiest thing is that his eyes bulge out! The longest episode was twenty minutes long but it could mean he has cancer, has an abcess, or could be related to heart disease according to other vets. His last x-rays are about 4 months old and don't show MBD or any breaks, cancer, etc.
He tested negative for parasites and was given a preventative drug to make sure. What's even more irritating is that his age is blamed but he's only been sick once before and had completely recovered. This relapse is nasty and I think it's covering up the real problem and all my vet did was treat symptoms. I left for college and he seemed to recover but in December I found him with his mouth open and his eyes bulging while he was sunning in the sunroom. The poor guy just keeps getting weaker and the vets I've talked to are trying to find noninvasive tests and perhaps find another drug to help him. Stress is the worst thing for him right now but I'm terrified of something like the adenovirus.
The only thing my current vet and I know for sure is that his sypmtoms may be showing up indicating respiratory illness, digestive issues, and vitamin deficiency but his problem has to be much more serious.
He has a heat lamp, under tank heater, and uvb/uva lamp that is still good.
the vivarium is 75 gallons, 4'long, 2'high and about 20" deep. He tends to stay where it's warm and it's at 80 degrees F.
The substrate is vita sand and it sucks (he doesn't have an impaction)
I've dusted bugs with Herpevite and Bone -Aid.
He hasn't lost much weight but I can tell the poor guy is miserable. He's been pretty cooperative with taking everything but Baytril and that's because it's nasty.

I'm new to Beardie's so I can't help much. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry and I hope he gets better soon.
Rebecca

Most likely it is respiratory infection. His basking temp is way too low, it should be at least 95F. (between 95-115F). Ambient temps should be 80-90F.

Did the vet check his white blood cell count? If that is high, it is a good indication of infection. A new x-ray would be a good ideal as well, it could show problems in the lungs, such as fluid build up, lung parasites (though haven't heard of dragons getting these) or other lung irritants. Do you smoke in the house? (or anybody who lives with you?) Smoke can cause problems in the lungs of animals as well as us.

Are there any strong perfumey stuff around his cage? (ie glade air fresheners, potpourri etc) Do you use strong chemicals in the cage when cleaning? If you do, are you rinsing the cage out completely to ensure no harmful fumes remain in the cage? All these things can cause irritations in the lungs.

Now that you removed the vita-sand and bone aid stuff out of his cage, what are you using for a substrate now? Are you providing good levels of UVB?
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PHLdyPayne