Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Darwin has been keeping his left eye closed since late yesterday. I have spritzed and rinsed as well as looked with a 16x lens but see nothing. He opens it for a few seconds then closes. I have not seen him doing the eye bulge so he does not seem to be trying to get something out. I don't think it is a rush off to the vet problem (vet only in on Thursday) and I have some erythromicin opthalmic ointment (from when Luna had an eye thing) Wondering if I could/should use. Any reason NOT to? Btw, expiration date still OK.

thanks!
lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

If there is no discharge, swelling, redness or other indications of infection or irritation in the eye, I would not put anything on the eye at all. Not sure if the cream you have is safe to use for bearded dragons so I recommend not using it at all unless perscribed by a vet familier with bearded dragons.

Some dragons develop something called lazy eye, which pretty much is what you described, not opening one eye all the time. However I can't remember if this is a real problem or just something peculiar about some bearded dragons. A search on the forums under lazy eye might bring up the past posts relating to it.

For now, I would just monitor your dragon and see if the dragon continues to keep his eye closed, you see any swelling, discharge or crustiness around the eyes, etc. If you do, then take the dragon to a vet as soon as y ou can. To be on the safe side, you can take him to a vet thursday, as that is the only time he is available.
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PHLdyPayne

Thanks for your opinion, it makes sense. Just like us "Don't share prescriptions with other people!" That's why I asked, I knew I'd get good feedback. I also posted this on the cham forum (they are my "main" forum and your cohort, PHEve, pretty much said the same thing (as did others). I really think he is just betwixt and between brumation and one eye was better than none! lol!

He is doing fine, so I think it is just a quirky, time of year blip. I decided not to bring him to the vet, but brought a fecal in case he goes into brumation full force (had a parasite load in Sept. Not high, but high enough to give meds for a few days). Today's came back fine.

Thanks again!
lele

>>If there is no discharge, swelling, redness or other indications of infection or irritation in the eye, I would not put anything on the eye at all. Not sure if the cream you have is safe to use for bearded dragons so I recommend not using it at all unless perscribed by a vet familier with bearded dragons.
>>
>>Some dragons develop something called lazy eye, which pretty much is what you described, not opening one eye all the time. However I can't remember if this is a real problem or just something peculiar about some bearded dragons. A search on the forums under lazy eye might bring up the past posts relating to it.
>>
>>For now, I would just monitor your dragon and see if the dragon continues to keep his eye closed, you see any swelling, discharge or crustiness around the eyes, etc. If you do, then take the dragon to a vet as soon as y ou can. To be on the safe side, you can take him to a vet thursday, as that is the only time he is available.
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>>PHLdyPayne
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Its interesting that erythromycin was prescribed for an eye problem since its used as an acne medication for people and its very strong. I do agree that if there's nothing wrong other than him just keeping that eye closed that I wouldn't use any meds on it because it could actually create a problem that wasn't there before and you never know what kind of reaction your beardie will have to the medication. If there's something in his eye that you can't see more than likely his body will flush it on its own so just keep an eye on it lol. Sorry I know that wasn't funny and it wasn't meant to be but thats the way it came out.

Funny is OK

I think he was just winking at me! lol! No, I think he is bordering on brumation. I have/will not use the meds. His fecal came back fine, which I checked as I lull him into sleepy days.

Erythromycin is also given to people in pill form, something I cannot take b/c it upsets my stomach, for strep throat. When the vet first gave me this for Luna as an eye ointment I was surprised since i only knew it as people medicine, but didn't know it is used for acne, too.

thanks,
lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

I know that a lot of the medications that people use can be used for animals but I never thought that erythromycin would be one of them. Then again I won't come within 10 feet of the stuff because I'm highly allergic to all medications that have mycin at the end of them but when I took it for a rare skin condition that I have it was in pill form. I do know that the medication that I have to take now when my skin goes crazy is used to cure kennel cough in dogs so you really never know until you come across a problem where you need it as to what people take that can be used for animals as well.