Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone..Just wanted to let ya know Pogo died sometime this afternoon. I just got home a few minutes ago and found him wedged in between his rock formation upside down. Eyes bulged out, and fluid coming from his mouth. I immediately took him out and tried to pump his chest but I think it was way too late. He did take one last breath. Man what a shock. Strong little big man he was. Between 3 bouts of coccidia that we finally battled he was a champ all the way....Later Buddy!!!

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Keith Ecklund II
Northeast Ohio
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.5 Fire Bellied Toads

Sorry to hear that. I'm having my first experience with my 2 yr old having mouth rot, and he gave us a scare. I believe he was near death, but he's going to make it now after 2 vet visits. Maybe this will make you feel better about this being your fault or not - the vet said that reptiles don't usually show signs of their illness until a month after they get sick. Mine had pretty bad mouth rot and showed no sign of a health problem until last Saturday. Anyway, sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry for your loss. I know it can be stressful to have a sick dragon (and in this case lose one). I have to ask though, how big was Pogo? He looks HUGE in that image

n/p
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Keith Ecklund II
Northeast Ohio
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.5 Fire Bellied Toads

We really can't tell you anything until you tell us exactly how he was kept. What size cage, temps, what was in the cage, what he ate, what he was fed, etc. etc. etc.

Also, when you say he was wedged between the rock formation, what do you mean?

All was well in the husbandry department. Pogo had coccidia when I bought him from an expo. It took a while to get rid of but even the most established owners in here will tell you how hard it is to get rid of. Pogo's diet and enclosure was about as good as it could get. As a 11 mos. old he was already 19 3/4" long and 490 grams...And that's after 3 bouts of coccida.
When I said wedged I mean exactly that, wedged. Obviously a rock formation isn't going to be precisely put together in such a way to eliminate nooks and crannies. Well I believe he was trying to maybe crawl down in between thinking he'd get through and well this is what happens. I am not sure how long he was upside down. hours possibly. but his body was completely vertical trying to get squeezed down in that crack with his head pointin, almost touching the floor
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Keith Ecklund II
Northeast Ohio
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.5 Fire Bellied Toads

I usually don't let people away from a post like this without describing everything exactly, but I think I know how your little guy died.

Bearded dragons don't have strong lungs in the first place, and they're designed in a way that they can't breath when they run (from what I've read), which is why they only run/walk short distances and then stop. I have also heard that dragons and other lizards cannot breath when upside down. It sounds like he tried climbing down but got stuck and restricted his lungs. It sounds like he may have suffocated.

That's just my take on the situation. i didn't read the other posts in this thread because I've been busy lately, so I don't know if someone already suggested this or not, but it's a possibility.

I totally understand, its a real lousey feeling. Just lost my guy last month.

You may never know what happened, I'm sorry for your lose.

Hope ya feel better soon.
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PHEve / Eve

and it's a different kind of miss from when a hamster dies. It was weird because even though he wasn't a dog or cat he had this thing about him that I guess only a dragon could have...Anyway guess I better get a move on...thanks
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Keith Ecklund II
Northeast Ohio
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.5 Fire Bellied Toads

sorry bro that sucks, I had my first two die about a 6 months after I got them from a fatal-dumb-as-all-he**-rookie-mistake, (fed newts to my first 2 citrus/german giant breeders), the first one died right away the second one my daughter discovered dead in his tank about 2 weeks later. tore her up. my condolences....

Wow, that's a shock Keith. I'm so sorry you lost Pogo. Nothing is harder than not knowing why it happened. It's a lot to deal with, but you have to understand that it was not your fault. Pogo didn't show any signs of illness and most likely lived a very good life right up to the very end. You were there for him and have a lot of good memories of the little guy.

You're in our thoughts and prayers. Best of luck to you.

Hugs and head bobs,
Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

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Signature file edited; [phw 8/31/04]