Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been reading up on CWDs for some time now. I just bought one today, or as most would say, saved one from a local pet store. Just wondering though, should a water dragon, as a baby, breath through his mouth like he cant get a good breath? Is this normal? I have not seen any reading on it yet, and I have searched all over for some sort of answer. I hope someone can help me here, I am worried for this little guy.

-Joe

Oh, one more thing...

When he opens his mouth, it looks like his slavia is thick and gooey. Dont know what to do, hope someone has some advice!

-Joe
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Father of:

1 Bearded Dragon (with an attitude)
1 Chinese Water Dragon
1 Spotted Gecko
1 Golden Gecko

SOunds like an upper respritory infection, he needs to go to the vet for antibiotics. Without proper treatment URI can be fatal.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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sig file edited 1/29/05 [phw]

Breathing through the mouth (mouth gaping) is usually caused by the following:
1.temperatures are too high
2.humidity is too low
3.respiratory infection because the temperature in which he has been kept were too low for too long.

If you rule out #1 and #2 you need to immediately increase his temps to 88F round the clock and schedule a vet visit. Depending upon how bad the infection is and how long it takes to get into a vet, he may be better and you can cancel the appt. If caught early enough, they can recover on their own. If the infection has persisted for a while he will need antibiotic treatment or you may lose him.
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dianedfisher@yahoo.com

My 3 CWD-Avanyu, Tripod and Drago

If you see mucus it is probably an upper respitory, often just raising the temperature is enough to cure it, keep it in the high range 85-95. That means that the warmest spot should be around 95 and the coolest spot around 85. Reduced stress by not handling him and make sure that you plenty of water available and spray him down twice a day as well. Plenty of water is when he can submerge himself completely and doesn't have any problem getting to it. Taking him to the vet should be the only time you handle him until he gets well.

I agree with all of the above. Raise the temps and schedual a vet appointment. Even if he does recover before the appointment a check up is a good idea for any new reptile, especially one that was from a petstore, and especially iof this is your first CWD.

Bring a fecal sample with you and make sure to tell the vet every detail of your CWDs home life including cage size, cage matrial, high temps, low temps, humidity, feeding schedual etc...

good luck!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats