My CWD gapes quite a bit

[cheechyman]

I have a young WD, about nine inches total, and for the last month, "he" has been doing a lot of mouth gaping, as well as trying to climb the glass and digging. He has all the lighting he needs, I mist at least twice daily, and his heat is usually perfect. Does anyone know if this is common or is it something I should have looked at?

[Patrick Kubeja]

cheechyman said:

I have a young WD, about nine inches total, and for the last month, "he" has been doing a lot of mouth gaping, as well as trying to climb the glass and digging. He has all the lighting he needs, I mist at least twice daily, and his heat is usually perfect. Does anyone know if this is common or is it something I should have looked at?

You may want to double-check the temps. I do not really know the gaping is normal I would say no if your guy is doing it all the time it could be a couple of thing a respiratory infection or something else here is a website to check out www.icomm.ca/dragon/dragontips.htm#mouth

It may help you determent what going on with your guy

[waterdragon]

I have heard (and went through it with my dragon) that when they are young (7 inches or so) they will gape a bit. However it sounds as if your dragon is a bit more mature in age if its 9 inches. I would guess if he/she is doing it quite often that you take it into the vet to see if its a respritory infection. Its better safe then sorry, most of the time its very late in the game when they show signs of illness. I am a worry wart so whenever pooka acts funky she goes to the vet, I only pay like $35 for an office vist I think, and that usually includes a followup appointment or two. Money well spent.

[matt]

Also the climbing of the glass and digging sounds like maybe that the WD might be a little on the stress side, with the WD's that I have taken care of, I have found this same type of behavior and I notice that when they got moved to a bigger enclosure it was reduced it didn't stop but it was greatly reduced. Also in the bigger enclosure I was able to place more items for them to climb and that really seem to help with the reducing of the glass climbing,

I agree with the vet check, just make sure that they know what they are talking about with herps.

[cheechyman]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to take Cheech (my WD) to the vet as soon as I can, hopefully things will work out. Also, how do I post a picture? He is so cute, I have to show everybody! Thanks again!

[Patrick Kubeja]

Hey cheechyman

If you go to the link page on the Site here there is a link that says Photobucket if you click on the link it will take you to the page were you will have to sign up for a account and you can post your pic’s in there and it will down size the pic’s for this forum. Can not wait to see some pic’s of your guy!!!!!

[cheechyman]

Okay, Cheech WAS diagnosed with some resp. infection, and was prescribed Baytril. He still gapes his mouth, but way way way less. I noticed he had some goo in his mouth a little while ago, and just as i thought, it was mouthrot. He has medicine now, but has only been taking it for a few days now. Well, anyway, I have a new problem... I just got home from work today, and took him out to look at his mouth, and he wouldnt hold on to my fingers like he always does, he just sort of let me pick him up, but left all four legs sort of sprawled out. He sort of hops around too, not really walking like usual. I noticed that he was twitching a little bit, but nothing violent or anything. I also layed him on his back and he just layed there, and followed me with his eyes, but never moved. I had to turn him over. One last concern is that while he was on his back, i noticed that the lower half of his belly was sort of a dull brown. He just got done shedding not too long ago, or so i thought. Is this a fungal infection or shedding? I'm going to call the vet and try to get him in tomarrow, but any feedback would be greatly appriciated. Thanks!

[Marie]

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Marie