hey guys,

Ive posted about this a couple of times in the past, but I have a 2 yr old male beardy thats been a fussy eater for a long time. he slept all summer long in his half log hideout, only coming out for a while and eaten even more seldomly. For some strange reason he's out more now that its winter but he still doesnt eat like he should. I feed him a staple of superworms (zoophobas) and supplement the diet with fresh greens and veggies and crickets. He gets the usual calcium/vitamin supplements and has full access to UVB. Plus, his basking spot stays around 110-115 degrees F. I change the bulbs every 6 months religiously. He seems a bit on the thin side if you ask me but not at a state to where it's extremely noticible.

Since I work as a veterinary assistant ive been able to talk my boss into drawing blood from him and sending it off to the lab for a reptilian chemistry profile. He's not an exotic's vet and isnt interested in finding out much about them, but he successfully bled my dragon.

Anyways, here's the chemistry results:

glucose-159 mg/dL
total protien-7.2 g/dL
AST (SGOT)-24 U/L
Calcium (verfied by repeat analysis)-12.7 mg/dL
phosphorus-5.6 mg/dL
CPK-2849 U/L
Uric Acid-3.5 mg/dL

this probably doesnt mean much to most people in here but just in case somebody has veterinary experience with reptiles, i'd like to know what yall think. I havent had time to consult the nearest exotic's hospital but I will get on that as soon as I have time.

Thanks for your help,

-Adam

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-Adam

"Help Protect our Planet from Overcollection, Purchase Aquacultured Livestock and Captive Bred Herps"

Have you had a fecal done?

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

don't know about reptiles but I can tell you that if I saw those values for a patient of mine (people) I would say that the sugar (glucose) was slightly high and that the patient had likely had a heart attack... Glucose for people is usually supposed to be no less than 80 and no greater than 100-120(depending on who you ask). The CPK (with human labs) is usually a cardiac marker that we use to see if someone has had a heart attack or not... It may have a different meaning for the reptiles...
Good luck figuring out your BD!

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Zola has always been in the same boat, inactive unless you are offering him bugs. His temps have always been stable and within range but I jus covered the top of his cage with wood (as opposed to screen) for the winter and his temps went up about 3 degrees and he is infinitely more active and is defecating on hi own and basking and bobbing.

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Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it.

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he's had numerous fecals, i put him on panacur a while back (months ago) to treat capillaria parasites who's ova showed up in his fecal. The fecals that followed were all negative after the panacur treatment was finished.

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-Adam

"Help Protect our Planet from Overcollection, Purchase Aquacultured Livestock and Captive Bred Herps"