Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This past Tuesday I received a citrus female dragon. She is very sweet, but would not eat. After agonizing for a few days we took her to the vet. She has two parasites, Coccididosis, and capillaria, and an infection. I was relieved that I can medicate her and she may get well. I came home and tried very unsuccessfully to find info on the illnesses. I am giving her her three perscriptions, Metronidazole benz., panacur, and albon. (expensive) I read on the rioreptiles website about a slurry of baby food butternut squash and vitamins, so I mixed up a small amount and she ate @ 1 ml from a baby syringe. I bathed her after because she was so dry I felt like she was dehydrated. She is exhausted and sleeping in a corner of her home now. Am I doing this right? Am I doing everything I should? Plz help!!! ;o

I would not give her any more baths/soaks. At all unless she laid in her own feces.

She will get her fluids from the food and syringe. Give her repti-aide with mashed live insects. Through the syringe also. Try to put a lot of the juices from the insects and not so much of the exoskeletons right now in the syringe.

Is she super skinny?

Yes she is super skinny! But she is doing better today. She has eaten 2 and 1/2 syringes full ( about 4 tsp, and she nibbled some greens. She started to get her color back.
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Kevin & Jessica

You will need to keep giving her syringe food until she sizes up. Keep her temps up a little bit and make sure she can get to a pretty hot spot to digest. Watch her stool as this will allow you to see what is going on with her internally.

Wet runny stools are typical if they are on any antibiotics, they will have no appetite but you will need to still feed the dragon. Dont feed her untill she has made a bowel movement. Lots and lots of consistent feedings. Give her fluids through the syringe and no more baths.

Once a week is plenty. Keep her very warm with a towel over her at night. Try to have her night temps around 70-75 is ideal not lower if you can.

Use the repti aide and the aciddophiliz are both decent products. The acidophiliz is not going to do anything until the dragon is off antibiotics and medication though. Be persistent.

You gotta work hard to bring them back if they get ill like that.

The towel isn't going to keep her warm, reptiles cannot generate their own body heat. It is also best to let the temperatures cool at night to prevent excess stress. I wouldn't let the temp go over 75F at night, around 70F is better for night time drops.
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PHLdyPayne

For a sick dragon I would keep the temps up at night slightly if possible. My house is set to 74 degrees for night temps. This is plenty cool enough... I have very healthy dragons.

A towel would help if it's drafty. I take care of a sick dragon like a little kid and tuck them in at night. Fluff their pillows... read them a bedtime story that type of thing.

I personally prefer to treat one thing at a time, it's just easier on the animal. What type of infection does she have?

The Metronidazole is an antibiotic also known as Flagyl. I'm not a supporter of this choice since Fortaz is newer and has no side effects. The only downside is it's an injection given every 3 days rather than oral. That's also a good side because it has no impact on the animals digestion or appetite.

Coccidia is common in beardies and should only be treated when a significant infestation is present. It is treated with Albon. Albon comes with the rick of causing the incurable Yellow Fungus Disease so a probiotic should be used after completion. Here is the best product.

http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=227

You'll probably have to buy it online since I've never seen it in stores.

Capillaria are roundworms and are treated with Panacur. Panacur is a safe drug with no issues.

The baby food should be fine for now. I think the baths are OK every couple of days if it entices her to drink. Albon also dehydrates. I would try dripping water on her nose at least once a day to see if she'll drink also.

Now, all these problems were most likely caused by poor husbandry. Can you supply a picture and information on how you have her set up now? Good husbandry now will make the biggest difference on her recovery.

For now she is by herself. She can't be mixed with other dragons in the big enclosure. We are using a 20 gallon tote temp. She has a basking light and uvb. She also has a rock to perch on. She is a hider so I am not providing her with a cave for now. As for substrate we are using a baby changing pad as they are very washable and she may have the runs. She was very afraid when we first put her in a tank to I think the tote will be best until she is well. She just decided to go to sleep for the night. She looks so much better now.
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Kevin & Jessica