Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, my beardie (the one with head tilt) is still at the vet. They said it was an inner ear infection. I called on him today and they told me there was no change. I told them I was going to call back in the morning and the lady tells me that there will be no one there to answer the phone. There is only kennel help in on Sundays. Now my question is, Who is going to be looking after my dragon?! In my opinion, his "condition" is critical. They told me to call back Monday. And stupid me, just says, "oh, O.K." So, anyways, I am going to call Monday morning and have them tell me EXACTLY what they are giving him, how much, what they are feeding him, etc. Also, after talking to people, nobody has ever heard of a beardie getting an inner ear infection.......? I have a friend looking in a large reptile veterinarian book about for me.
Sorry, I jusr needed to vent......

WHere did you take him? I just left a job at a vet and there was also no one there to monitor the animals on the weekends. We have had many herps die due to the lack of care the vets gave to the herps. I live in WI, so don't worry if you are not in this state. I have emailed Kingsnake and asked that they be removed from the herp vets list due to the lack of knowledge and care that clinic has with herps.
-----
Be well
Tiff =)

I have an awesome vet that I have always taken mine to. Even while I was working at a different clinic. let me know.

Tiff
-----
Be well
Tiff =)

I'm in Indiana. I'm beginning to think this vet doesn't know as much as he claims to know about reptiles, though he is listed with ARAV. I have another vet in my area that I found out takes "exotics" Though he is located in an affluent (and I mean very affluent) area and is known to be expensive. But what can you do? If he's gotta go, he's gotta go, and I gotta pay. I'm just kicking myself for being such a weeny and not being more proactive for him (not sure if thats the correct word I should use) But I have decided that I am not going to be like that anymore! I am his voice.

You know I read your post yesterday, and did not reply because I figured you were getting help from a professional, and they should know more then me, so I chose to stay quit on this one. I'm also having a hard time swallowing that ear infection diagnosis to be honest with you. The first thing I thought of was Calcium deficiency. The dragon had the head tilt and the flipping over. A few this year I have seen have been having the same problems with their dragons. I believe in the last month 3 people have posted here with dragons having the stargazing symptom and the twitching, and flipping on the back. You might want to mention a possible calcium problem to the vet and see what he says. It can't hurt the situation any. Good Luck.
-----
Mystical Dragons

That also was somebody elses first thought. ugh. At that stage it's probably not reversible, huh? They did ask at the vet if I was dusting his food, and I told them several times that I had dusted them, but that I had just gotten him 2 days before, you'd think they would be witty enough to figure maybe before I got him they weren't dusting........? I am going to mention that Monday morning. Thanks for the advice.

that can have an effect on the reptiles and head tilting, but there are so many other things that can to and in them are bacterial infections (if that is the case, whether inner ear or not, it will help)

Bearded dragons do have tympanic membranes and cavities, along with eustachian tubes that go from the ear to the throat to drain debris and fluids, those COULD have been inflamed or infected and causing a head tilting problem and the flipping. inner ear infections cause a loss of balance in all animals, they act like a drunken sailor on shore leave and they feel the dizziness.

In reptiles, bacterial, viral infections, injury or growths are often the cause of most head tilting and flipping. Support measures such as anitbiotics are about all that can be done for secondary infections til they run their course.

Also, I know that the Vet clinics here have on call doctors that are in and out all weekend and the maintainance staff are there to feed and care for the animals and call the Vet if there is a problem, they are usually very good about this with the clinic's I know. Most are college students working there while attending school in a related field and placed there on Grant and scholarshop work study programs.

I know it is hard to be apart from your animals, but I also believe that most clinic are very caring, they did not go into the animal medical field for the money, they did because they care about animals.

I read your post from yesterday again and you did say you fed him 6 crickets with calcium and vitamins. My first thought was calcium problem but you did give him calcium that day so I'm not so sure any more, but would mention that to the vet. Also has he gone to the bathroom? If the crickets you fed were to large it could push on the nerves in the spine and cause the same symptoms. Also how hot is his basking spot and was he basking after he ate? If that spot is not hot enough he could be having trouble digesting the food, or may not have been able to process the calcium. Did the calcium contain D3 and did you provide uvb lights for him? Those symptoms to me could be caused by to big a prey, calcium deficency, and possible but very rare in reptiles the ear infection (never heard of ear infections in reptiles). If he deals with mostly domestic animals he might not have thought about the first two calcium or to large a prey cause this is not a problem most domestic animals have.
-----
Mystical Dragons

I bought a book today on Bearded Dragons. More specifically, "The Bearded Dragon Manual" In the trouble shooting and health section I came across inner ear infections! It says, and I quote, "Symptoms- head tilt, balance off, altered gait, flipping. Most common cause- Inner ear infection, also seen with head trauma, over heating, bacterial meninigitis, toxins and viruses. Treatment- Need vet. exam as inner ear infections require systematic antibiotics and central nervous system disorders may require steroid anti inflammatory drugs. An accurate diagnosis and aggressive supportive care are vital"
This is encouraging because I was beginning to doubt my vet because nobody I had talked to had ever heard of inner ear infections in beardies before. He certainly exhibits the symptoms. Just keep your fingers crossed that his condition improves.

Yes, I dusted the crickets with calcium. And I have a UVB bulb for him. His basking area is at 99-102. And the cooler side stays about 75-80. The day I got him, his head was cocked to the side. The following day, he was fine! Like nothing had ever been abnormal, same with the next day, and following morning. Then I fed him the dusted crickets, and a couple hours later he started with the head tilt and flipping action. He has poo'ed a couple times and it looks normal. Not runny, "solid" and white urate. He also poo'ed about 1/2 hour or so after he ate the 6 crickets.

Well, I wish you luck with the little guy. That is a great book. I would suggest to your vet what others had thought about the situation. Sure wouldn't hurt any. What you did for the short time you had him home all seems correct. To tell you the truth I never ever heard of a dragon getting an ear infection actually any reptile for that matter, but I'm sure it's possible if it wasn't kept properly before you got him. Please keep us updated on the poor guy, and find out what treatment the vet is using to treat it, and post it. Since this is a rare problem I'm sure people could learn from your experience with this. Good luck, and please keep us posted.
-----
Mystical Dragons