Seizures

Sometimes low calcium in bearded dragons caused Metabolic Bone Disease where the body robs calcium from the bones, making them weak and rubbery. Sometimes, though, low calcium causes full body seizures that are terrifying to watch. 

Tonight a friend brought me her son's juvenile beardie who had been having seizures for 2 hours. The only way to stop his seizing was through an injection of calcium glubinate (which I have on hand and used to save the life of Yoda). 

I also have him some calcium syrup to help get calcium into his bloodstream quickly too. So far his seizures have stopped though he still has some trembling. His bones are firm and he has no indication of MBD. 

He's in a sick tank with a brand new UVB light. Tomorrow I'll get him in the direct sunshine too for some intensive sun therapy. Hopefully he'll be able to go home by Sunday or Monday. 

There's a couple possibilities for what happened. Baby beardies grow so fast that if they are borderline deficient in calcium, a single growth spurt with sink them into deficiencies. It's possible his UVB light was ineffective and he hasn't metabolized his calcium and it's also possible he needs a different calcium. 

I'll send him home with some vet- grade calcium syrup too. Some dietary changes/additions and a new ZooMed UVB tube and he shouldn't have a seizure repeat. 

Update on Neville & Yoda

Neville with Yoda on top

Neville & Yoda both got adopted out when they were barely over 7 grams. Now are both over 60. Look how cute they are!

Yoda, rescue number 18 *and* the Start of Hospice Care

Today I brought Yoda home to die. He is a tiny beardie, only 6 weeks old and weighs only 7 grams. He has been having full body seizures for the past 24 hours and I don't think he's strong enough to survive. His owner tried everything he could to get him healthy and keep him that way, but it wasn't enough. Sometimes beardies are just genetically flawed.

Having some sun time

I gave him a bath to get him to drink a little

He's a tiny little guy 

 After getting him out of his bath, he had a full body seizure. He went completely rigid while shaking and then flipped upside down. Poor little guy. It's heartbreaking to watch.

Sometimes beardies can't be saved. Sometimes beardies just die. Sometimes all you can do is make the end peaceful & loving.

So once again I am doing hospice care for an animal.

----------------UPDATE 9/12/13-------------------

Yoda is still alive. He is healthy and happy and headed to his new home on Saturday. Crazy, huh? Even though he had all the right supplements & lights, his body was not processing calcium. I gave him calcium syrup & an injection and he never had another seizure. By the next Wednesday, he was running around and active. He's been eating like a champ -- only when I give him roaches-- and has a new lease on life.

Crazy, huh? You just never know sometimes.