Dave+Amy Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Hey guys, haven't been on the forum in ages battling uni and crisis at home with Tequila. We noticed that he stopped eating locusts (which he usually doesn't go without) and stopped eating altogether and thought maybe he was heading towards bromation, but when I picked him up 2 weeks ago he went bent really badly (still a visible lump on his spine) - after Dave took him to the only vets that can treat beardys in Wgtn (Kelburn) we were told that Tequila's chances were quite slim. He had calcium deficiency and his bones didn't show up as well as they should have on the xrays and he had two definate broken back legs and possible spinal injury, his lack of diet was due to his bodily functions shutting down Have been syringe feeding him his calcium meds every morning and force fed him brussel sprouts and carrots and parsley and buk choy for a while now, gut loading him with crickets dusted with calcium powder too for the last 2 weeks and he's got his colour back but still not using his legs or tail - he drags himself (in his confined container) around with his front legs and he's finally pooing again. But out of all this he's finally taken to veges and not being picky anymore! The vets can't do anything more until we get his bones back on track...we're hoping his spine can self correct and that it hasn't done him too much damage but otherwsie he's on the mend...fingers still crossed though! has anyone else's Beardy gone through this and survived? because the vets told us that this was a common problem with people's young beardys that they bring in and most don't survive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herperjosh Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Hey guys, haven't been on the forum in ages battling uni and crisis at home with Tequila. We noticed that he stopped eating locusts (which he usually doesn't go without) and stopped eating altogether and thought maybe he was heading towards bromation, but when I picked him up 2 weeks ago he went bent really badly (still a visible lump on his spine) - after Dave took him to the only vets that can treat beardys in Wgtn (Kelburn) we were told that Tequila's chances were quite slim. He had calcium deficiency and his bones didn't show up as well as they should have on the xrays and he had two definate broken back legs and possible spinal injury, his lack of diet was due to his bodily functions shutting down Have been syringe feeding him his calcium meds every morning and force fed him brussel sprouts and carrots and parsley and buk choy for a while now, gut loading him with crickets dusted with calcium powder too for the last 2 weeks and he's got his colour back but still not using his legs or tail - he drags himself (in his confined container) around with his front legs and he's finally pooing again. But out of all this he's finally taken to veges and not being picky anymore! The vets can't do anything more until we get his bones back on track...we're hoping his spine can self correct and that it hasn't done him too much damage but otherwsie he's on the mend...fingers still crossed though! has anyone else's Beardy gone through this and survived? because the vets told us that this was a common problem with people's young beardys that they bring in and most don't survive. whoa sorry to here about him i hope he gets better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 maybe a good wakeup call for everyone with beardies,young ones in particular,the calcium requirements to build a robust skeleton in such a fast growing animal are huge.Calcium ,calcium and for desert?more calcium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 good to hear you got in touch with vet....so the carrot was the cause? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweetysmum Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Hi Dave and Amy, so sorry to hear about Tequila. My young fella has been through the mill too, but with another very serious problem, and Calypso just wants to send Tequila all his love. Also I wanted to thank you for putting the thread up because i have been so busy trying to work out how to get food into Calypso, (have been using a syringe as well) i have been forgetting to add calcium in with it. So thank you for that, and all the very best to you both and Tequila. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Hey thanks everyone, Tequila's getting used to his daily calcium meds now and readily taking to food but we're still hand feeding 'cos of his disability at the moment..he's getting too active for his confinement dragging himself around and he's getting quite fast too Mincie - it wasn't a stuck carrot but we're thankful that we took him to the vets anyway, Dave was guttered but I told him it was his fault and now I'm in charge of feeding duties. Mystic - he's looking really good (his colouring is definately back) and we see occassion twiches with his legs but there is definately one hind leg that's not doing much, we'll haven't deal with that after we've built Tequila up a bit more. Sweetysmum - did your beardy go through a similar thing? I'm finding our beardy quite resilient despite everything, hoping like mad he'll regain function of both hind legs and tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Mincie - it wasn't a stuck carrot but we're thankful that we took him to the vets anyway, Dave was guttered but I told him it was his fault and now I'm in charge of feeding duties. poor Dave cops the blame :lol: . Live and learn though and its great he's active (the beardie not Dave ) and hopefully makes a full recovery. As long as temps are good and uv light close enough (uv especially important to aid digestion of calcium) then can only get better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Sorry to hear about your beardie but glad he's on the mend. When I was younger I had this problem with an Iguana. I got the iguana from the pet store and followed the directions the store owner told me...feed it carrots, and lettuce and some crickets (not ever mentioning a calcium supplement). So I did... Half a year down the line, the poor little guy was running around the bathroom and when I came to get him I noticed he was dragging his back legs! I freaked out b/c I thought maybe he had licked some cleaning products or something and rushed him to the vet. The vet took x-rays and told me that his bones were very very brittle from lack of calcium, and he had broken his back while running around! I was gutted but still hoping I could bring him around. The vet gave me a bottle of liquid calcium which i would dose him every day via syringe into the mouth and some powder I was to put on all his food. Unfortunately my little guy didn't pull through, but it does sound like your vet has also come up with a similar treatment, so that is good to hear. I was upset and felt guilty for a while too. I should have researched their diet properly, i was also mad the store owner told me the wrong information. Anyways...I was young and I learned from my mistake... Years later I owned a beardie before I came to NZ and I had her for several years while going though uni. I made sure that she had the best diet and researched food that was really high in calcium. Mesclun mix (you know that salad mix...) is REALLY good. It has collared greens, kale, baby spinach, and mustard greens, dandelion greens etc. which are very high in calcium. The breeder of my beardie told me how amazing it was and would start her baby beardies on it early. I NEVER fed my beardie any other kind of lettuce (like iceberg, romaine, or fancy) from my lesson with the iguana because its mostly just water. I would sometimes also dust a little calcium powder on her mesclun mix and other veggies. I also fed her lots of crickets, mealworms, silkworms, butterworms, etc but I dusted about 85% of them with calcium powder (aka diet supplement) everyday especially the crickets. Apparently cabbage, broccoli and bokchoy are also good but i never tried them myself. Anyways, I think your treatment is really good the only thing I would change is to substitute some of the carrot feedings for now with the mesclun lettuce. With a bit of luck Tequila will be better in no time! Already sounds as he's getting stronger Goodluck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ysolla Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Recommend grating the carrot and further chopping it up, then mixing it in with the mesclun salad. Which is truly awesome! Sometimes they get fussy about the mesclun, and the carrot is a nice sweet treat through it. If you don't chop it too fine then they still have to chew a bit, which is good. I also make up a fruit smoothie (only in summer though) and put a dollop in the middle with their supplements in it. Sure fire way of knowing they get the supplement, and a wee treat for them too. Smoothie is usually a mix of banana, melon, small amount of honey, grapes, apple, pear. Hope Tequila hopes to get better, sending positive vibes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 carrots ok as treat maybe once or twice a week. squash is better for bulking the salad up every/every other day. JMO just cut the squash into cubes and chuck in a blender. one squash goes along way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted July 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 it's a bit hard to feed him live insects atm - because we have to hold him flat on one hand while using the other hand to bring food to his mouth. He's been gobbling down fortified cricket pellets called Jurassic Diet - for juvenile beardys (that's just easier to hold than a live locust or circket. noticing a giant lump where tail starts (right after legs) looks like it's not aligned but that's going to have to wait until Tequila gets through his calcium before the vets will see him again. I thought Mesclun wasn't that good for them? so spinach is ok? 'cos the vets said not to feed too much spinach or brocolli cos too much protein isn't good and he can get digestive probs? he gets to lick strawberries as a treat when he's been eating his food properly - that's one thing he loves lol. where do you get kale from? Haven't seen it in the supermarkets. Lesson learned though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweetysmum Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hi Amy, Calypso had a tumor growing in his left eye, and had to have his eye removed. His appetite still hasn't come right he will only eat an odd thing every now and again, and he also has trouble because when he sees his food and turns to eat it he can't see where it's gone even though i hand feed him his live food. Poor wee man. Thank goodness for syringes. I've just got him some cockroaches which he has never had before, so am keeping my fingers crossed he will like them. Glad to hear Tequila's got an appetite. I'm sure it won't take long for him to build himself up again. Calypso and Sweety say hello. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogod Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Sorry to hear about your beardie, terrible thing to happen. I hope mesclun salad isnt bad for them , feed it to mine every day. Good luck with him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 I would dispense with the spinach,seem to remember reading somewhere it inhibits calcium absorbtion in some way?can`t remember details at the moment but will check it out and repost later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ysolla Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 carrots ok as treat maybe once or twice a week. squash is better for bulking the salad up every/every other day. JMO just cut the squash into cubes and chuck in a blender. one squash goes along way I only give reptiles salad once or twice a week anyway. Once a week over winter generally, twice in summer. In summer sometimes we'll chuck squash or apples in. Squash is brill! Mesclun is brill too, hold the spinach, Repto is right about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 You are right to be cautious with spinach. Mature spinach actually binds calcium and can cause problems with digestion. Baby spinach is better but don't over-do it either. There is a bit of a debate with beardie owners about it, but most agree its good occasionally. Mesclun is great otherwise...just pick out most of the spinach when you feed it, or avoid it in the bin at the supermarket. It depends on the batch they get in, sometimes it has too much baby spinach ratio to other greens, but just try to target the other stuff. Kale is typically included in the mix Broccoli and baby spinach shouldn't be given regularly, but is good to boost the their diet occasionally. Carrots are tasty and have Vitamin A, but not calcium. All other lettuces are useless. I would dispense with the spinach,seem to remember reading somewhere it inhibits calcium absorbtion in some way?can`t remember details at the moment but will check it out and repost later. I thought Mesclun wasn't that good for them? so spinach is ok? 'cos the vets said not to feed too much spinach or brocolli cos too much protein isn't good and he can get digestive probs? he gets to lick strawberries as a treat when he's been eating his food properly - that's one thing he loves lol. where do you get kale from? Haven't seen it in the supermarkets. Lesson learned though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted July 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 cool thanks for that peeps ..will get a pic up of him soon so people can tell me what they think of his back and his tail in terms of healing etc. Will be popping over to the supermarket later on tonight for a bag of mesclun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 hi Dave and Amy, first I am so sorry to hear about Tequila, Doza and our thoughts are with you. Am glad he is on the mend. We have been away and this is the first time I have had a chance to get on the computer. Take care and hope things get better. Big hi from Doza.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted September 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Tequila's almost fully recovered - been gut loading him with calcium powder as well as his liquid calcium feeds, seems like just having two front legs doesn't seem to hinder his movement at all lol still runs pretty fast! Almost time to let him have live insects again now that he can chase them again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 That's great news!!! Woot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 hey Aquilam_11 -I just clicked on who you are! you took our class for a few 372 marine labs! thanks for all the advice..he's definately stronger now, the bites brings a tear to the eye every so often when he mistakes my index finger for food and tries to rip it away from my palm lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquila Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Hehe..well i didn't 'take' it but helped TA it u mean right? I'm sure we've crossed paths before ...the bio department is only so big at Vic. Ouch! Well with any luck aim will get a bit better soon! All the best, Milena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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