I got... I.... have.... Holy cow... HELP?!

**Queen 'O Green** · #1 11-16-2006, 02:35 AM

I am pretty much out of words right now... My friend called and told me to get over to her house ASAP... and there was an adorable little Bearded Dragon waiting for me when I got there. Oh. My. Gosh. I am sssooooo excited. I've been wanting one for FOREVER but it's just so expensive...

My only problem is that he is extremely unhealthy.... I mean really unhealthy. He's so skinny, his little tail and hips are like sticks and when he flattens out it looks like he's been run over by a car. Poor dear. The previous owner said he is quite old, but that just doesn't accound for this kind of body.

Anyway, my question is thus: I started dripping some water on his nose, as I was told he hadn't been offered water in a very long time, and he instently started drinking... and drinking some more... and then some more... twenty minutes later I was still dripping water, and when I stopped he totally freaked out. So I went and got him some lettus, and he ate the handful I gave him... then started looking for more. Should I keep going until he stops? I put him back in his cage and he is scraping at the glass and looking so pathetic, but I don't want to overtax his system. Tomorrow I'll get some crickets, a couple waxworms and calcidust, but everything is closed tonight. Accept for safeway... I am tempted to go get a little Pedialite in an attempt to help him get back on his feet again.

Anyway... suggestions? Can I give him more water? He drank ssssooooo much already....

**Moshpitrockchick** · #2 11-16-2006, 02:46 AM

He'll know when to stop drinking the water and it would even be okay to add some pedialyte to it.
I would avoid feeding lettuce, its garbage. Feed darky leafy greens and be sure to check out our caresheet:
http://www.herphabitats.com/reptile_...ded_dragon.htm

**jmherp** · #3 11-16-2006, 09:00 AM

Yup as mosh mentioned, don't offer lettuce, other then moisture its worthless, read our care sheet as she posted to and select some good greens for him from this table: http://www.herpcenter.com/articles/S...agon-Diet.html... you also can allow him do soak in a tub of water, water up to his shoulders he will drink it and soak in it and it will help hydrate him... make sure he has adequate uvb light and his temps are right on, it sounds like he was neglected pretty bad and will need all the help he can get now...

BRIZZY · #4 11-16-2006, 10:25 AM

That's really sad, i'm glad he's with someone who is willing to care for him. Yes I do have to agree, lettuce is NO good! I used collard greens, endive, squash, and cucumbers. My Bearded Dragons love the squash. I also think that you should know when it's time for him to stop. If you think about it they are kind of like us. If you haven't eaten in who knows how long and someone offers whatever you can you will, you also know when to stop, sometimes they don't so just use your best judgment!

**venus** · #5 11-16-2006, 02:10 PM

I would also recommend a vet trip with a stool sample to check for parasites.

**Queen 'O Green** · #6 11-16-2006, 02:56 PM

Thank's fr all the advice, guys! I'm a lot calmer right now....

The lettuce I gave him was baby Romaine luttuce mixed with spinich, so it isn't toooooo bad... But it was the only thing I had at the time. I even went to safeway, but they had the produce section shut down 'cause they were waxing the floor. Argh!

Anyway... I went and got him some Dandelion greens today and dipped them in some Pedialyte and he ate some of that. I also got him to eat five crickets and two wax worms that had been dusted. Thank goodness... Now to leave the poor guy alone!

As for his cage. It was just bad. He's got a 40 gallon (no lid) full of sand, of course, a random piece of wood, and one of those hospital heating pads that barely works. No water dish, no feeding dish... and he does have a light, but the bulb hasn't been replaced for years and my guess is it is totally worthless.

I don't have a heat lamp right now, so I put him on top of Bilboa's cage where it is pretty warm. It's the best I can do at the moment. I also dumped the sand, which came directly from the beach, I can tell 'cause it still smells like fish... replaced it with newspaper, got him a lid so my cat wont have a feast (not that there's enough meat on his bones to make a feast), and put out dishes with Pedialyte and Dandelion greens. I can't afford the UV light right now, so we went out in the sun for a while while I fed him. By the way... crickets can climb up cardboard. I didn't know that... I'll be needing another twenty or so...

Anyway. Anything I missed? As soon as I can scrape the money together I'll be taking him to a vet. The nearest one is about an hour away, so it may be a little while before I can get the time off of work for the voyage. Whew!

Also, quick question... His tank is a tall one, so I was thinking maybe I could put it on it's side to give him more room. Can I still put the UV light on top? And will the heat lamp be ok through the glass?

**venus** · #7 11-16-2006, 03:20 PM

I dont think that will work. The glass will filter the uvb he needs and he will not get enought heat from the basking. His temps need to be 105-110. Dnt forget to dust his crix with calcium and vitamins. Romaine has no nutritional value.

**Queen 'O Green** · #8 11-16-2006, 03:50 PM

That's actually fine. I just found a tank on craigslist that should do just fine. It is a bit smaller than recomended, but bigger than what he's been in... and it comes with the heat lamps and everything. Whew.

**venus** · #9 11-16-2006, 03:53 PM

Thats great Capri,,,cant wait to see pics of everything and the little fella

**joeking** · #10 11-16-2006, 08:28 PM

Congrats and I'm glad he's in good hands! And I was reading something about uvb through glass the other day and apparently it filters out a huge amount of it so it's definitly no good...I can't remember the exact amount but I remember being very surprised and as a programmer I thought I should go outside more often lol.

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