Beardie not voluntarily eating and on panacur for pinworms, now on Baytril,still not eating on her own

Question
QUESTION: Hey Tracie! You helped me out last year with my beadie Ruby and a head injury sustained by a larger beardie. Our sole beardie now was daignosed with Pinworms by a stool sample. I just finished her 2nd dose of Panacur...1st dose 2 weeks ago and now 2nd...she is not eating on her own...I am trying to be gentle and open her mouth and put in 2-3 superworms,a few peas or carrots,thawed, and bathe her every other day and she poops/pees... but she looks not so active,recently her cage mate died, 3 weeks ago, and we brought her with us last week to NC on our vaca...she had a lot of warm and natural sun there,but did not eat well...I am ordering Acidophiliz+... if it's easier you can call me,just let me know..you are in Fla right? Anyway, "Beardie" is nearly 2yrs, 344 grams and @ 14"...she is in a 75 gallon tank,1 curly UVB and 1 long UVB, 2 reg lightbulbs for heat,temps @ 95+ on basking end, @ 80 on cooler end...am using black night bulb,60 watts...now newspaper,before other beardie death,sand... not big on fruits or veggies ever really...diet of supers and crickets ...prefers supers...when should I get a repeat fecal done? I am worried about her! Thanks! Stacey from upstate NY

ANSWER: Hello Stacey,

I remember you.  :-))

Which UVB light are you using then, since it is a curly one or coiled one?  
I would recommend getting a new UVB light though as the coiled ones are not good.  How old is the long UVB tube that you have & what brand is it?  If it is older than 6 months, I recommend getting a new one.
What are you using to measure the temperatures, a stick on type of thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?  
Are you using a probiotic since she has been on medication for pinworms?  I usually suggest giving probiotics just to help with digestion because medication has a tendency to mess up their normal gut flora.  What is the dosage she is being given?  
Oh sorry!  I just noticed you are ordering Acidophiliz+.  Where are you getting it from?
I would also start giving extra oral fluids, if you can get her to drink from a dropper.  You could also start trying to give some baby food as well, if she is not eating very well right now.

Tracie



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

QUESTION: Hello again! Since we emailed earlier this week, I decided to be proactive and put Beardie on Baytril,20 MG/ML , o.08ml 1x/day for 14 days, with the Vet's approval. I spoke with him on the phone and yes I have surfed the net a bit and am hoping if she should indeed have a respiratory infection,let's try it. Not sure if the popping sound she makes has been there before or not, but seem s to be when she swallows and puffs her beard out a little momentarily.She also seems puffy/bloated,although she seems to have this body build. The next course of action he suggested was either a blood test to check her kidneys or an xray to rule out impaction...150$ is the cost on that! I also ordered and recieved Acidopholiz+ and gave her a dropper 1x a day so far. I have been giving her some baby food/calcium in a syringe...not a big amount, maybe    . I have been giving her a bath 1x a day and this is when she pees/poops, but does not seems to drink as per usual. Her urate was a bit stringy tonight. The poop part was light brown and normal shape. Can keeping the glass tank covered with blankets to keep the heat in,cause stale air and a respiratory infection? How low can the tank temps go at night if she is sick? I say if,because her activity level is way down and I have not seen her eat any supers or interest in a cricket. How much fluid can she have /day/babyfood/day or Acidopholiz+? It is from Pet Authority. If you think it is easier I can give you my # or my home email...also, what should I look for as signs of distress or what to expect next? Can she have an URI without nose bubbles or mucous? THANKS!!! A worried beardie mom :0) Stacey from upstate NY

ANSWER: Hello Stacey,

Sorry for the delay, had some things come up.
How is the Baytril working out?  Continue with the acidophiliz for the length of the medication round & perhaps another week or so afterwards.  The dose is correct, no problem.  A 14 day cycle is not too bad.  
I agree, a blood test would be a good idea if this does not help out.  However they are expensive!   
She could have a respiratory infection even without having mucous in the mouth or nose, so if she does have the start of one, this should take care of it.
It sounds like she is well hydrated though if her urates are that soft, which is good.  
I would keep her around 78-80 overnight to boost her immune system right now.  the humidity should be no higher than 30% if you suspect a respiratory infection.  You don't want to cover it during the day though she will get overheated.  At night you can cover it but you do need to leave a portion of it uncovered for ventilation.  
Is she enjoying her baby food I hope?  
Has her beard been dark at all lately?


Let me know how she is doing.
Tracie


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

QUESTION: Hey!

No worries,I am trying to remain calm through out this long process. Yes hr bear has gone dark numerous times and she seems to sit only on the heated end of the tank with her moth agape, hopefully she is just venting,a lot. The hot end is up to 100, I got a new thermometer/humidity reader all in one from Walmart,no temp gun though!:0( I could not find it at my Walmart at all! I am giving her a dropper FULL of Acidopholiz+ once each am, not 3 drops as they stated.Should I also add soem calcium to her babyfood slurry? I am getting @ 2 droppers of baby food , @ 2ml worth, once a day and may bump it up to 2times of feeding that amount as i am not sure what is too much for her 344 gram weight and near 2 years of age. I also am trying to place a few lettuce leaves, the nutritious kind, in her moth or a few peas or corn,as they are easier to handle/readily available. She does not really voluntarily open for me and I truelly am being very gentle with her mouth...I use my fingernail on my thumb to gently pry it open and work the syringe in and carefully squirt it down as not to choke her. She is SO tolerant...I hope she keeps it up! She still seems bloated but I worry more as to when she might be interested in feeding on her own again. I also put in a square dish with vermiculite in it in case the issue is potentially related to unfertilzed egg laying. I also added a Pothos plant at the cool end. I am hoping it will filter the air and read it was ok for them. I do need to keep the tank covered because if I don't it gets so cool and seems not to get hot eneough on the basking end. I do leave areas open for air to circulate...also I tried not totally covering it last night and it went down to 69 degrees on the end with the 60 watt black night bulb! I am hoping the blood test is only @ 40 dollars, but need to check with the vet 1st. He has been great to give me a lot of advice either through email or phone and is helping me keep costs reasonable...at least that is my opinion. If it is a respiratory infection,ballpark,when should she appear better or what would signs of getting well look like? Yes,the humidity of the tank seems to be @16%...love this new digital thermometer! I have it resting on the bottom of the tank in the hot zone, actually right under the lights. The other side of the tank is @ 73 degrees. She seems to be keeping one eye shut as she "vents", but she does not seem to pause much while venting. Just checked temp, is said 102. Hope you are well and Mahalo many times over! Stacey :0)

Answer
Hello Stacey,

How is she doing this evening?
GREAT you got the digital thermometer.  Is it the type with a probe?  Can you post a picture of it for me?  Hopefully it will be as accurate as the type with a probe.  The 102 sounds a lot better.  How long is she gaping for?  If she is gaping too much for too long of a period of time then she could be getting too hot.  
What wattage of basking light are you using?  Just make sure she doesn't get too hot at night.  
That is fine, the acidophiliz is safe, so you can give .5 to 1ml per day for her.  You can add some calcium to the baby food that will help her out.  It sounds like she doesn't mind getting some baby food though!  She should start eating though as soon as she is feeling better.  How long is she, 14 inches?  I think he weight is pretty good then if she is only 14 inches, or is that not including her tail?
Do you think she could be retaining eggs possibly?  Has she had an x-ray?  Has she ever laid any eggs?  
 
Can you post a picture of her?  
Oh yes, I am in Florida.  :-))

Tracie