Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys. My little beardie, Peanut has stopped eating for the most part since starting Albon a few days ago (she was diagnosed w/coccidia). I know the meds can make them feel full. She did eat 2 crix today, and 3 yesterday, but that is a big drop from her norm. I did buy a product called Acidophilz . Do you think I should use it? My vet had never heard of it. Also, to keep nutrients in her, I got some Strawberry Ensure, and have been mixing it w/chicken sticks baby food. The Strawberry I got, I thought she would like the flavor. Is this OK to give to her? Please help. Thanks.

I did buy a product called Acidophilz . Do you think I should use it?
yes
My vet had never heard of it.
My first thought was to get a new vet, but then I realized he may not have heard of the brand name acidophliz , not acidolphilus which is a probiotic and recommeded by many vets to be given to dragons during any antibiotic treatment to restore the good bacteria the Albon is also killing off that the dragon needs to start the digestion process so they know they are hungry. Albon is an antibiotics, a sulfa based drug.

Also, to keep nutrients in her, I got some Strawberry Ensure, and have been mixing it w/chicken sticks baby food
I believe ensure is a milk based product and bearded dragons can not digest milk products very well. Strained chicken baby food through an eyedropper/syringe and diluted pedialyte or diluted gatoraid would be easier on its tummy right now and most seem to take that fine once they have a taste of it, but don't force it into their mouths, a drop on the nose or lower the side lip and place a drop there will ususally give them a taste and they will start licking, but don't force it past the teeth, just lower the lip toward the back slightly and place a drop there.

It is not unusual of a dragon to slow or stop eating when on Albon, what is the dose and freguency he is giving the dragon?

about the ensure, not milk based. i used it when mine got sick, they really like the strawberry. but would also use pedialyte to "wash" it all down. here is a tip, instead of buying the big bottle of pedialyte but the "freezer pops" they are the same thing but instead of 1 big bottle that will need to be tossed soon you get 16 little "pops" that you can use as needed.

Hi, the vet said to give the first day, 1cc, and for the next 5 days .5cc then a recheck. I checked w/the vet who said that Ensure is not a dairy product, it is lactose free, but I will give the pedialyte a try. Also, I called the vet yesterday to let him know she was not eating, he said to decrease the dosage, which I did to .3 cc yesterday. She did eat a couple of crix yesterday, but nothing like she used to. He told me she was loaded w/coccidia when I brought her in, which is funny, I really thought my other dragon would be the one w/problems, his poop smells awful. They are kept in separate enclosures in different rooms, but boy have I been doing a lot of hand washing! I am also cleaning Peanut's tank daily, with Chlorhexidine and also using a bleach and water solution (I am switching her between two tanks). Took out all the wood basking areas, I know coccidia can hide in porous materials. Thank you for your advice. I will try the pedialyte.

Ok, I have now tried this mix. I gave it to Peanut, she seemed to like it. I blended collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, a little yellow squash, a little baby food peas, juvenile dragon food pellets, baby food chicken, a little water into a liquid, and then sprinkled with calcium powder. I was able to use this concoction in the eye dropper. She seemed to really like it. What do you guys think? She also ate two more crickets.

in good!

I am checking the web and some old emails about the ensure, I may be getting it mixed up with something else (old age does that to you) but I thought it was something we were told to avoid, but for the life of me can not remember why... I will check today and get back with you

Actually, after I read your post, I checked on a couple of other boards also. It seems Ensure may be lactose free, but it does contain milk proteins still, which are not really good for them. I have stopped w/the Ensure, and will pick up some Pedialyte today. I need to anyways, I have a little one home w/me today from daycare because he is throwing up. Poor little guy (my son, and the dragon too).

along with corn syrups also, looking at that and also some home made human baby formulas they have a lot in common.

What you are blending and making for her now sounds like a good balance and it is really great that she is taking that in, that appears to be a good rich diet