OK, as you all know Pogie hasn’t been herself for the past month or so. At first I attributed it to her becoming an adult. Then to insufficient UV. But this week she hasn’t eaten ANYTHING except 3 cricks and 1 silk over 3 days and yesterday and today NOTHIING.
I started calling around for a vet to give me some meds advised by a friend. The exotic animal vet refused and said I had to bring her in and tests had to be done and then the meds. It would cost around R500 – R600 and I don’t have that kind of money.
So I called my Dad and he started calling vets he knew, eventually we were refered to a guy who actually is CLOSE to me. I called them and explained what I wanted and that I have a teeny bit of money if he could help. He said certainly and he also confirmed he did treat bearded dragons as they are the only other place in Gauteng (About 500 Km radius) who does treat exotic animals. And he was going on holiday @ 6PM and if I could make it before that he’d help me.
What a rush, I grabbed her carrier and heated her beanie bag and off we went.
Now this Vet I like, he seems to know his stuff (Much more than the one I saw in March)
He first got a full background from when I got her, then weighed her (Thank goodness she hasn’t lost anymore weight since Friday last). I told him what she weighed at her 1st vet visit on 17 March (71 gramms) and today she is 381g. He then felt her tummy and under the arms and got this look – I thought OMG here it comes, eggs.
He then started asking what Ive been feeding her and I said mainly cricks and about 7 silks so far. He then gave me the news.
She is in the early stages of Hepatopothy (Hope I spelled it correctly) – In short she has an enlarged liver and its the start of Fatty liver disease BUT we caught it early.
Apparently some dragons can not handle groth spurts well and since she only gained about 70 gm during her 1st 7 months and then 300+ during her next 6 Months her liver was stressed and under severe pressure. Her bones also cant keep up with the groth spurts she had in May/ June. He also said it was a long time coming about since her eating went from 40-60 daily to 10 (So it wasn’t adulthood afterall)
Now this enlarged liver has similar symptoms as we would have only she cant talk and tell me.
She is probably nauscious and that is also why she wont eat. Her body is telling her her liver is overworked and needs to rest. He gave her a Vit B injection and antibiotics (I have to take her back on Sunday and on Wedesday for the rest of the antibiotic treatment as it is injected not given orally).
He also gave her a dewormer and something he referred to as an injection of LIVER SUPPORT to get her liver to recuperate and function normally again.
So basically shes sick
He also said she probably wont eat till her liver is better, and when she does it should be little at a time as not to stress the liver again.
I think I left stuff out IDK Im just so worried right now, will post them if I remember
He did also add that otherwise and considdering her life so far SHES IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
OMG why do I feel so guilty? I know it depend on dragon to dragon but it feels like its my fault that I fed her too much
I started calling around for a vet to give me some meds advised by a friend. The exotic animal vet refused and said I had to bring her in and tests had to be done and then the meds. It would cost around R500 – R600 and I don’t have that kind of money.
So I called my Dad and he started calling vets he knew, eventually we were refered to a guy who actually is CLOSE to me. I called them and explained what I wanted and that I have a teeny bit of money if he could help. He said certainly and he also confirmed he did treat bearded dragons as they are the only other place in Gauteng (About 500 Km radius) who does treat exotic animals. And he was going on holiday @ 6PM and if I could make it before that he’d help me.
What a rush, I grabbed her carrier and heated her beanie bag and off we went.
Now this Vet I like, he seems to know his stuff (Much more than the one I saw in March)
He first got a full background from when I got her, then weighed her (Thank goodness she hasn’t lost anymore weight since Friday last). I told him what she weighed at her 1st vet visit on 17 March (71 gramms) and today she is 381g. He then felt her tummy and under the arms and got this look – I thought OMG here it comes, eggs.
He then started asking what Ive been feeding her and I said mainly cricks and about 7 silks so far. He then gave me the news.
She is in the early stages of Hepatopothy (Hope I spelled it correctly) – In short she has an enlarged liver and its the start of Fatty liver disease BUT we caught it early.
Apparently some dragons can not handle groth spurts well and since she only gained about 70 gm during her 1st 7 months and then 300+ during her next 6 Months her liver was stressed and under severe pressure. Her bones also cant keep up with the groth spurts she had in May/ June. He also said it was a long time coming about since her eating went from 40-60 daily to 10 (So it wasn’t adulthood afterall)
Now this enlarged liver has similar symptoms as we would have only she cant talk and tell me.
She is probably nauscious and that is also why she wont eat. Her body is telling her her liver is overworked and needs to rest. He gave her a Vit B injection and antibiotics (I have to take her back on Sunday and on Wedesday for the rest of the antibiotic treatment as it is injected not given orally).
He also gave her a dewormer and something he referred to as an injection of LIVER SUPPORT to get her liver to recuperate and function normally again.
So basically shes sick
He also said she probably wont eat till her liver is better, and when she does it should be little at a time as not to stress the liver again.
I think I left stuff out IDK Im just so worried right now, will post them if I remember
He did also add that otherwise and considdering her life so far SHES IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
OMG why do I feel so guilty? I know it depend on dragon to dragon but it feels like its my fault that I fed her too much
So working out those 2 diets had me busy, and Im still not sure which is best LOL