Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, this is the bitter sweet part about working at a pet store. We take in animals that people don't want anymore, and we get to see a lot of results of neglect. This time, someone has brought us a half dead bearded dragon. They said it's a year and a half old (it's only about 8 inches long). It's too weak to walk much, and it's lower jaw seems to be pliable (probably the result of too little calcium or improper lighting...most likely both). It's eating a couple mealworms and waxworms, as well as some small slices of fruits like grapes. It can't catch or swallow the crickets yet, and it's so weak, greens stick to its tongue and it can't get them off to swallow. We're also giving it pedialite 3 times a day. We're giving it the fruit flavored (it preferred it over the normal)...is there anything artificial in it that would cause problems? Also, is there ANYTHING else we can do to help it recover? We have it under high UVB lights, the temp/humidity is perfect, it's out of the way so customers can't disturb it, it gets the worms and grapes fed to it twice a day (as much as it'll eat), and the pedialite 3 times (usually 2cc at a time). Anything else? Thanks so much!
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1.1 Albino Nelson's Milks
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.0.1 Albino Corn
0.1 Mex Mex
0.1 Northern Blue Tongue
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Cuban Tree Frog

Oh, man...how sad! I can only parrot information that I have read in the beardie forum, as I have no experience with rehab of malnourished dragons, but: Pedialyte has been used with success by a few of the members on the forum, and fruit flavor seems to be popular! I have heard of people pureeing greens to feed babies that can't eat them well enough on their own. Kale, mustard greens, collards etc. I have also heard people using baby food, ie:turkey or the like, as it has lots of protien and is squishy. The only other thing I can remember from the forums is liquid calcium supplement. Try the BD forums, look for Reiko or Christy....They have experience with this.
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1.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 corn snake
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish
1.2 cats
3.1 kids
1.0 husband

If it were me....and what works for me for iguanas I have taken in....
I took rabbit pellets (soaked soft) (alfalfa...good protein and all) greens like kale/collards/dandelion etc and warm water (you could use the pedialyte) and calcium/vitamin powder and puree it in a blender. I used a 10cc syringe with the nib cut back so it wouldn't clog as much and syringe feed the puree. Be careful it doesn't come out chunky or it may gag them. With a beardie you could add gutloaded bugs to the blender too. Mix up just enough to feed that day, as I don't think it will keep well. I had an ig in similar shape....though it made no attempt to even eat. The only reason you knew it was alive was an occasional respiration. I opened its mouth by gently pulling it's dewlap, prying was out of the question since due to MBD it's jaw was jelly and broken. I syringe fed one ig for four months. She lived another year and a half before dying of organ failure due to all the neglect. But that year and a half she was able to be a pretty happy ig, climbing and all after her breaks healed and her energy came back.
Good luck.
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Sonya

If it's still feeding on it's own, there's still hope. The only thing I would suggest other than what you are already doing and what has already been suggested is to try giving some subcutaneous fluids to get it hydrated again. Lactated Ringer's works good as well as plain Sterile Saline Injectible. You'll need help from a vet for that, but I think it would help tremendously. Strained baby food and pedialyte is a good diet during supportive therapy. Temperature will be critical during this time, also.

Ok. I got to work today, and she seemed a bit better. She's put on some weight and become a little more active. Our shipment of feeders arrived, so we've got some more waxworms for her. Now there's some kind of other problem. She's active enough to eat the worms from a shallow bowl, but it's like she can't control her tongue enough to actually eat it. I had to hand feed them to her. Is this normal for such a debilitated animal? Also, her jaw is REALLY flexible...almost like it's not even there. I'm guessing some kind of MBD due to poor diet and lighting. All in all, she seems a lot better than a few days ago when she came in. Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll see if I can get a blender in there. I don't have one, so hopefully the manager's got one at home to bring in for a bit :-P no use buying a new blender if there's one we can already use.
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1.1 Albino Nelson's Milks
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.0.1 Albino Corn
0.1 Mex Mex
0.1 Northern Blue Tongue
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Cuban Tree Frog