Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I didn't have the money to take my little beardie to the vet after the cat bit him. He is eating very finicky and the swelling seems to be subsiding in his eye to where I can actually see that it is still there. The top of his head doesn't look swollen and I can barely tell that he has a slight puncture on the top of his head. I've been soaking him daily and trying to hand feed him and I believe he is going to make it.

do you have a vet you have been to before?
if not do it now, most vets if they have seen you before will work with you on payments for emergency calls.

on one hand your bd just might pull thru and I know it's been tough.

but do take it to a vet and have it examined.

one thing that you may not be able to "see" untill to late is infections that came from the claws and or teeth of the cat.

this can make the dragon ill such that he is alive but not feeling well or wanting to eat. and that plus the infection can kill him... slowly and with much suffering.
but your bd can't tell you how he feels.

you need blood tests to find internal infection.
also he could have broken or fractured bones that you can not see that can also become infected and cause problems.

if you can not handle the vet then please seek help from local reptile resuce folks... really. as the owner you must be able and willing to care for the bd with vet trips from time to time.

take this in the kindest way please....
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The infection is also known as "cat scratch fever". If the wounds were deep enough your dragon will die without proper care. The fever sets in within 3 days I think. I had a dog that was scratched by a cat fairly deep and was sick for a week before someone said it was the cat scratch that caused it. I took it to the vet and that is what he called the infection. Lethargy and very poor appetite were the first symptoms my dog showed.
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

Well, the incident happened on Friday and someone posted a figure of 250.00 for an emergency pet visit!?! I paid 40.00 bucks for the beardie and even though he might really need to go, I can not afford to pay 6 times what I paid for the beardie when I have so many other animals to take care of. The cat has no claws so it couldn't actually scratch him, but the wounds he recieved were probably just as bad coming from his mouth. I've seperated him from the larger female he is enclosed with, hand feeding him some greens and lob. roaches and seems to be feeling better. I've upped the temp to 105 on the warm end and 85 on the cool end, soaking him twice a day until he is up to par. This is all I can do for now. The exotic animal vet isn't in until Tuesday and I've never seen her before so I will give her a call then. I've got a dog about to have pups that takes priority right now and I have budgeted what I feel is just enough money to raise these pupies before I sell them.

I'm sorry to hear your little guy got bit. I understand the money end of your situation. I had a 8 week old bitten (in the eye)by a cat as well. I didnt seek a vet for the similar reasons.8 days after the swelling/infection set in. I just wanted to let you know her 3 weeks of treatment only ran about $40 including meds.I simply explained my problem and the vet worked with me. I certainly hope your guy wont get any infection but cats really are filthy animals and carry lots of bacteria. It cant hurt to have it looked at.

Good Luck
Betty
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Heart Mountain Herps

>>> I've upped the temp to 105 on the warm end and 85 on the cool end.

Well the basking temp is supposed to be around 110-115 so I'd up it to there and then up the cool end to the 90 degree range just so the little one doesn't get too cold.

Also I know this is true with most people but it might also work for the bearded. If you ever get the flu you know you need to stay warm to fight it. The flu is basically a bacterial infection invading our bodies and it foreign to our systems thats why we get a fever because he kills off foreign bacterial bodies. Keeping your bearded warm might kill off any bacterial infection he might get from the cat that you have.

If your cat is up to date on his/her shots then you might not have to worry about the wound.

You said you were expecting puppies? Well I suggest the cat stay away from them also, if he/she can puncture a bearded's head, then just imagine what it could do to those puppies.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

I personally feel that if you can't afford the vet visits for an emergency such as your bearded being attacked by your cat, you should not have all the pets you have now. Maybe if you sell your cat, spay your dog you will have money to take care of your animals when they need a vet right away. For the beardie's sake I hope waiting several days before you take him to the vet Tuesday, hasn't ensured it is to far gone to be saved.

Well to be honest with you, I can afford to take the bearded dragon to the vet, and I can afford to pay a vet fee of $250.00, but I am chosing not to do so. I am not attatched to the 2 month old bearded dragon as I am my cats and dogs that I have had for a very long time. I would never sell my cat to pay for a bearded dragons vet bill. I have a pair of Chihuahua's that are registered and are just old enough to breed now so I plan on making some good money off them. I am a firm believer that you shouldn't own anything you cant take care of if it had an emergency, but I don't think it's a good investment to spend a couple hundred dollars on a 40 dollar lizard. I am an animal lover, but they are animals and not children. The little guy is getting some extra special attention and that's it. They don't have vets in the wild to take care of lizards that get attacked, they live or they die. I'm sure this guy will make it, but if he doesn't I'll only lose a couple hours of sleep.

I can agree with you on some parts of your post.

But here's what I'm saying.

Different people take different amounts of time to get emotionally attached to pets.

If my animal was injured and it needed a vet, I'd say you know what I really don't need to breed my dogs this year at all, this animal I bought needs help. Even if it was a freakin fish I'd still get it help.

I have a strong attachment to all of my animals. NOT just the ones I've had for over 2 months.

Like this: I just got Iris, my female saharan uro in September. I love her to death! I can't imagine if anything would happen to her, and I've had her less time then you've had your BD.

I don't know how you were raised. But I was raised by good parents who taught me that animals need loved to. Even if you've only had them a few days they still need to feel loved.

I suggest you do one of two things:

A. Take the BD to the vet and get him/her help now.
B. Give him/her up to someone who can spare some sort of EMOTION for the little guy/gal.

I don't know who all on this forum would do this but I would: I'd walk around the earth just to gather money, if I didn't have any, to take my animal to the vet. I'd sacrifice my schooling if I paid for it, to take any of my animals to the vet.

If you can't spare emotion for a baby bearded that's injured I feel sorry for you.
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2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

Yeah, he's fine now. Glad I let him tough it out. It will probably make him stronger in the future!

Cat bites and scratches are highly loaded with bacteria. I was bit by a cat once and in four hours had red streaks up my arm. Emergency room visit and a night in the hospital with iv antibiotics. Please do what is advised and get your guy to a vet.

Cats saliva is loaded with bacteria. he might make it but I think he might not. it depends on how large and deep the cut is, and where it is. Im not for sure, but i have had the same problem, with cats and beardies. i recommend taking him to the vet if you want him to live. My vet bill was 160.00 but thats still extremely expensive. I dont think you should Sell your cat, and spay your dogs. thats crazy, a lizard isn't going to compare to the love for the animals you have had for a long time. Hope he makes it!
~lauren

Hi
i gues am lucky my vet not charced me much.
some times its even free.
and if you asked can i pay later then its always ok.
if you have a vet with her/his heart on the good place for animals/people then you know you have a good vet.
then you know he not only doing it for the $$$$$$
www.herpvetconection.com
byeeee