Reptile & Amphibian Forums

mini convulsion-like movement while doing it...

What does this sound like to you guys?

Sounds like a good time to go to the vet NOW. Too many different possibilities and not enough info to even attempt an answer here.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

OF COURSE she's going to the vet. But i'm worried NOW. I dont need someone to tell me to take her to the vet. Thats not why I posted, or what I posted asking. But thank you for your insight anyway.

I need to know what illness(s) would cause that behavior/reaction. Impaction? Coccidia? Neurological?

Impaction, calcium deficiency, vitamin deficiency, neurological, adenovirus, genetic defects, inbreeding, advanced resperatory infection, injury, kidney failure, liver failure, do I need to go on? It's what they do when they are dieing. Taking it to a vet now is the best advice you're going to get. It needs a full check up, fecal, and bloodwork. With the information you haven't provided (age, temps, substrate, food, supplements, etc.) it makes it impossible to rule out any of these.

Sean
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Heart Mountain Herps

I agree with Sean. I might be new to beardies, but I have worked for a vet for 11years and those signs are agonal breathing and muscle spasms that usually are unfortunately followed by death. An emergency vet (after-hours)is the best bet.

joi

The dragons I had that died of adeno would do that the day they died..... (some of them) I agree on an emergency vet. Have you noticed any "rolling" when you pick it up? Has it seemed dizzy? Any other health problems at all in the past week? What have you been feeding it? Suppliments? Substrate? Are there any hard lumps below the rib cage on either side? Appetite loss? Have you tried a good warm soak? How much water have you been giving?
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

almost forgot, she always has a dish of fresh water in her enclosure as well.

And when I pick her up shes normal. No rolling or convulsions.

Ray

This is her (Babs) and Pumpkin...

Not about the beardeds but it that a douge de boreaux with the bearded if so we have two females also.

I know you are going to get her to a vet as soon as possible, but until then, remove her from whatever she is in and the room she was in and take her to an area that has the freshest air in the house.. believe it or not, that often is the bathroom.

Although it could be cardiac... it also could be she has been exposed somehow to something toxic either in her tank (like using bleach and fumes from the heat lamps. or something she might have ingested (like a flying insect or spider)

and if you have access to any O2, it will not hurt her and will help

Let us know how she does
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www.reptilerooms.com

Just want to throw this out there...just in case. You should definatly still get to a vet and have her checked. It is very likely something serious...but

We have gotten several dragons in that the owners thought were having convulsions and sick, but it turned out they were just showing normal breeding behavior. This can include open mouthed back arching and hissing gasping noises. But I haven't seen a female do this when there was not a male within site. It usually looks like slow push-ups with the back end held up high and the back very arched. It has scared many new dragon owners.

I am not saying that this is what your dragon is doing...its just a possibility. Get to the vet no matter what.
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Hey, Thanks A TON to you guys/gals that helped w/ positive feedback. I REALLY needed it. My little girl has a vet appt. for Monday. I just hope they'll be able to diagnos something so we can get her back to 100% again.

But just to give some more insight on her surrondings and daily life:

Temps: 75-80 cool side, about 100 deg. hot side (basking)
She has an overhead heat lamp as well as a UTH. She uses them both about the same.

Substrate: well sifted playsand

Age: 1 1/2 yrs

Diet: crickets or superworms about 3x weekly. Either collard, mustard or turnip greens, or Kale, everyday, mixed w/ adult BD pellets(moistened).

Supplementation: all insects are always dusted w/ either T-Rex ICB or Rep-Cal Calcium w/ D3. I switch it up from time to time. I also add the Rep-Cal Vitamin dust as well. Veggies everyday are sprinkled w/ a little angel dust... (LOL, JUST kidding... : ) Their sprinkled w/ T-Rex VMF and occasionally VGF.

Day/Night cycle: 12 on 12 off, w/ a timer.

Recent treatments: about 6 months ago she was treated for coccidia. After treatment tested w/ low to no trace.

Questionable/Possible cause: She looked pregnant so I fed her about 3 pinkies in a 3 week span. This was about 1 1/2 months to 2 months ago. Still, at times, looks like she has eggs, but i've noticed no digging.

Note: shes also made a noise that sounded like she was trying to hack up something. So it's like shes gasping for air, and other times like shes trying to clear her airways (???). I'm sorry I can't be more descriptive.

I have tried the warm baths. But she started doing it again shortly afterward.

It is good that you are getting her to a vet, but Monday seems a long time to wait. If the problem is respiratory, she could be dead by then. Unfortunately dragon's don't aways get sick beginning of the week, always at the end. I would still try and get her to a vet this weekend, if you can't do it today. Sure it may cost more but you have to weigh that fact to possible losing her.

If you feel she may be with eggs, you should be able to feel them by gently feeling her sides and tummy. You could put in a proper lay box (rubbermaid container with clean potting soil (ie no pesticides, fertilizers or other chemeicals added) mixed with vermiculate and damped so it holds its form. Warm it under a lamp and then introduce your dragon to it.
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PHLdyPayne