Bearded Dragon... Old age or sick?

Question
QUESTION: Hello,  I have a bearded dragon that is 11 and half years old.
I have not changed any of my normal habits with him recently, but he hasnt wanted to eat over this last week.  He still moves around the cage and is in different spots everytime I check on him.. but his eyes are pretty much always closed.  I helped me drink some water and he seemed to like that... he then opened his eyes a little.  He also then opened his mouth really wide a few times, and there seemed to be a lot of "spit" in there.  Also it looked like his eyes teared up a little...
He has shown signs of age for the last couple years,I have to help him eat as the worms and crickets were getting pretty fast for him.  Could he be sick? If so, what can I do to help him?  Or is his age finally getting the best of him?  Thanks in advance for your help and advice...

ANSWER: Hello Ben,

Well, congratulations on having such an old dragon, that is wonderful.  It is hard to know whether it is just plain old age, or another health issue.
We can go over your tank setup to see if anything needs to be changed.
Are you using a UVB light?  If so, what type & brand is it, a fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?  How old is the UVB light?
Do you use calcium supplementation?  If so, how often do you use it, & do you use vitamins weekly?
What are the temperatures in the tank, & what type of thermometer do you use to measure them?  A stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?
What type of basking light are you using?
Can you post a picture of him & your tank for me, that would be helpful.
Have you ever had a blood test done on him?


Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tracie,
The tank set up is probably not perfect, but it has been the same for his entire life(11.5years).  I just use an incandescent bulb. (75W in winter, 60W in summer).
The room he is in gets some natural sunlight.  
For the past few years he only eats a couple times a week.  Either crickets or supermeal worms mostly.  Then occasionally some bearded dragon food soaked in water.
He has been pretty laid back and easy going his whole life.  
For the past week, I havent been able to get him to eat anything.  He doesnt even open his eyes.  If I drip water on his snout, he does drink it.
Usually I know when he wants to eat... If I open the top of the cage he will get excited for the food.  Lately, I dont get much movement when I open the cage.  
He does occasionally move around.  He also occasionally has his mouth part way open.  And also sometimes takes what looks like really big breathes...  all with eyes closed.

If it is just old age, I can accept that, he has lived a long and happy life.  But if he is just sick, I would really like to help him out.
Any advice is definitely appreciated.
Thanks!
-Ben

Answer
Hello Ben,

Well, so are you saying that he has never had UVB lighting, at all?  The room where you mentioned had natural sunlight, is it a screened in room, or a room where it is all glass?  
The UVB does not penetrate through glass, unfortunately.
Do you know what his temperatures in his tank are?  
Let's try to make some changes in his husbandry to see if that will help him improve.  He could benefit from a good UVB & calcium supplementation.
It "could" be old age creeping up on him, but if he has not any UVB his entire life, that over time will cause metabolic bone disease which contributes to poor health.  I am surprised he has done this well if he has not had any UVB lighting.
If you are not using any calcium supplementation, it would be a good idea to use that so his bones can regain some strength.  He cannot absorb any calcium or vitamins without UVB exposure.  
They hide illness for a long time, so it is possible he has been going downhill for some time but you didn't really notice.
Do you have calcium supplementation for him?  I sell liquid calcium, & if he has not had any calcium for a long time, I would suggest liquid calcium for awhile to get his levels up.
Here is my site if you decide you want some liquid calcium:
http://www.bug-de-lite.com/
Here is a site where you can buy the Reptisun 10 tube bulb:
http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-rept

Let me know how he is doing.  Oh how often does he breathe strangely?  He could possibly have a respiratory infection if he is not warm enough during the day.  
He needs a basking temperature of around 95-110, measured with either a digital probe or a temp gun.  

Tracie