My bearded dragon is not opening his eyes

Question
QUESTION: Hi there, I'm hoping I can get some information about what to do with our poor baby CJ.  It started in August, and we've tried to find a vet in the city to take him to but have been unsuccessful to find any.  I guess the one vet that specialized in reptiles is gone.  Anyway it started out where he had one eye shut, my son would clean his eye and put him in the tub, but eventually his other eye shut.  So now since about September he's had both eyes shut, he won't eat.  We've tried to hand feed him, but he won't go for that at all.  He had sand in his cage so we took it out and put paper and mist him every day.  My son will hold him and he sits on his shoulder, but basically he sits in his cage and does nothing.  He has now not eaten for 3 months, he has no bowel movements.  Since we put the paper down in his cage, the paper is clean and that was weeks ago.  I'm getting concerned.  I was going to go to the pet shop and see if they could recommend something.  I know he usually hibernates at this time of year.  I did read something about UV lights causing problems, and I did change the UV light this summer.  I thought I had the same type, it looks the same but maybe it's not.  It's not a long tube it's a coil type light.  

What would you recommend?  I know my son is trying everything... I can't see him living too much longer without eating.

ANSWER: Hello Valerie,
How old is your son's bearded dragon?
So you did change the UVB light?  What type & brand are you using currently?  You have a coil type of light then, they are horrible lights.  I need the particular brand of it, please.  Right now, go ahead & turn off the coil light. Are you using a bright white basking light or a colored light?   
Can you post a picture of him?  
What do you take the temperatures with, a stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?  What are the temps?
Good you changed the sand out in his tank & replaced it with paper towels.  
Do you supplement calcium?
Right now, I would not mist him daily, either.  His immune system is suppressed & that can lead to respiratory infections.  
What type of foods do you feed him?  Start with getting some chicken & or turkey babyfood & mix some squash babyfood in with it too.  Get a plastic dropper to get some food into him.  You can mix the calcium in with that as well.
I will go into more depth once I hear back from you.  

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Thank you Tracie.  I will get some babyfood tomorrow when I'm out.  I believe we have some calcium that we were putting on his crickets, but if not i'll get some of that too.  The basking light is a 75 watt white light.  I think he is 3 years old if I remember correctly.  He's been really doing well.  I've tried taking a few photos of him to show the guy who sold him to us, but it was not working out very well.  I am going to see if my son will bring him out to take a picture tomorrow.  I'm not sure how to post a photo here, but I'll try and figure it out.  I don't know the brand of light UV light that we have.  Interestingly enough the one we had initially burnt out and I got a new one from the pet shop.  So I'm thinking this might be the problem now.  I will see if I can figure out what light I have in there now.  I've turned it off and I will get information for you.  He is in the basement and it can get chilly down there but he's been fine until now.  He has a heat rock in his cage as well.  I'm not sure what the temp is in it, i'll have to double check.  



ANSWER: Hello Valerie,

Let me know how things are going.  
He does need calcium 3 times per week, even as an adult.  
If the UVB light is older than 5 months or so, it is probably getting old.  The best UVB tube bulb is the Reptisun 10.  Do not get any Zilla/ESU light, or Reptiglo 10 tube or coil lights, either.  There are not very many good tube bulbs out right now.
All coil UVB lights are bad, so don't get any of those.  :-))
You can save money & get the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb from:
www.petmountain.com

Good you are using a bright white basking light instead of a colored light.  

Keep me posted.

Tracie



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

QUESTION: Hello Tracie,

Ok so we attempted to feed CJ tonight with a dropper.  It was not the easiest thing, but he did eat a tiny bit.  I mixed some calcium into the baby food and my son got him to open his mouth.  

We also went to the pet shop and the only UV lights they have are Reptiglo.  They don't carry anything other than that product.  There is a reptile store but they were closed so I will go visit them another day.  We will try to feed him again tomorrow.  He didn't eat much especially when he's used to eating about 10 large worms a day.  We took some photos and so I'm attaching one on here.

Answer
Hello Valerie,

How are things going today?  Good I would like to see a picture of him.  I hope you can get it attached with no problems.
At least CJ did eat just a little bit that is better than nothing at all.  
If you cannot find the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb at the reptile store, then do order it from online from the  www.petmountain.com   they are so much cheaper than from the stores.  I had a feeling that the store most likely only carried the Reptiglo products.  Reptisun is kind of hard to find, but it is MUCH MUCH better quality.  
I hope he gets to feeling better soon.  Keep me posted on him.


Tracie