ill dragon

Question
QUESTION: Hi Tracy

We have a 4yr old female bearded dragon.  We are on the road for a few months and have all of our pets with us. On 7/17 our dragon was fine in the am.  In the afternoon I noticed that her head was tilted.  I found a reptile vet who was able to see us that evening.  By then the dragons head was down and her eyes closed.  

The vet felt it was an ear infection or less likely parasites in her brain.  She sent us home with baytril, the wormer meloxicam, and an anti-inflamitory Panacur.  After 5 days she was no better and we went back.  The vet switched us to injections of Fortaz, 9 total. We have given her 6 of the 9 needles 1 every 3 days.   

She still has the severe tilt and she hardly was moving and when she did, it was in circles.  Yesterday she got dose 6 and when I put her back in her cage, she rolled over, belly up.  I rightsided her and propped her head with a folded washcloth.  Since that time she has not moved at all from where I put her.  Her eyes are open and bright, but she is clearly very ill.

From what I am reading on the web, it sounds now like a brain tumor.  We are talking about it may be kinder to put this sweet lizard to sleep.  Do you have any thoughts or ideas that might help us.  She is only 4 and is our sons special pet
Thank you
Michele

ANSWER: Hello Michele,

Well, let's go over your tank setup first.  
I do have an initial question though.  Did the vet do any blood test or a fecal on her before pouring all of those meds down her?  
The symptoms of running in circles, & head tilt are classic for either hypglycemia or hypocalcemia.  Yes, it can also be due to an inner ear infection, but they really don't get ear infections all that much.  Also, malnutrition can cause head tilt & so can dehydration.
So there are several things that we need to address.  First, I do not think that she needs to be on all of those meds without first doing a bloodtest to check her levels, & to determine the type of infection.  
What type of UVB light do you use, is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light?  How old is it?  
What type of basking light do you use?
What are the temps in the tank, & how do you measure the temps?  Do you use a digital probe, a temp gun or a stick on thermometer?
Do you use calcium on a regular basis, at least 3 times per week?
What type of foods do you feed her?  Do you offer water regularly?  
Just to let you know, the baytril & the fortaz especially are highly nephrotoxic so I highly recommend, at the moment, that you discontinue the use of the Fortaz, until you can get a bloodtest.  
The problem is that you need to know exactly what it is that you are treating.  
Was he a reptile vet??
Don't give up on her yet, let's go over everything first to rule out things one by one.  

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Thanks for the very quick response.  
No, the vet did not do either fecal or blood testing.
The UVB is a flourescent tube purchased about 3 months ago from our local reptile store.  For her basking light, we have 2 100 watt bulbs.  The temp in the basking area is usually at 100 degrees and I use a temp gun.  
We feed her superworms and salads made usually with dark lettuce, carrots, apple, and squash.  Her salads  get dusted with calcium almost all the time.  She gets sprayed several times daily and soaked in the sink a couple of times a week.  I also soak her salads after I chop it up.  The vet is a reptile and exotics vet, a seperate part of a much larger pet clinic.  I will stop the meds and will call Monday am regarding blood or fecal.  
Michele

Answer
Hello Michele,

What is the brand of the flourescent UVB tube bulb, it should be stamped on the base of the bulb?  What type of UVB light did you have before this one?  What was the brand then?  
What brand of calcium do you use?  
What type of dark lettuce do you use, is it collard or mustard greens?  
Are you sure that your basking temps are only 100 degrees?  Using 200 watts of heating is ALOT of heat.  Where are you measuring the temps, directly underneath the basking spot where she basks, or just in the general area?  
The basking spot specifically needs to be 95-105, & the cooler end should be around 78-82.  The ambient temps only need to be 82-85 but no higher.  
Can you send me a picture of your tank setup?  
I definitely think she needs a blood test & fecal to more specifically determine what in the world is going on.  
I am glad to hear he is a reptile specialist, however, he should have tested before just dumping meds into her which bothers me.  Reptiles are very sensitive to medications & they can be extremely hard on their systems.
Let me know how she is doing.  Are you able to get any oral fluids into her?
Please doublecheck your temps & the basking temps, by measuring directly beneath the basking light.  How old are the batteries in your temp gun?  
I have a feeling your temps might be too hot overall in the tank, but am not positive.  

Tracie