My bearded dragon is anemic with low blood count. What can I do?

Dark leafy greens are fairly high in iron but if a liver tumor, will probably continue to bleed. A whole blood transfusion can provide red blood cells but also the constituents to possibly slow bleeding.

Thanks for reaching out about Trudy and including photos. It is hard to evaluate the esophagus on radiographs without contrast media. But the thoracic spine appears arthritic. Do you have the option of having the radiographs sent to a a radiologist for a review, often costs extra? Pain and arthritis can cause gastrointestinal motility problems. Also metabolic disorders (kidneys, liver) can also cause these problems so blood work is recommended. Review and correct husbandry concerns, especially environmental temperature over entire habitat, and UVB exposure. Good luck.

Ideally, she should be examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles. The "bone problem" may respond to treatment such as calcium injections or oral supplementation. The respiratory issue may respond to antibiotics. Soak her in a warm 50/50 solution or water and an unflavored electrolyte replacement beverage. Do this twice daily for 15-20 minutes each. It will help treat or prevent minor dehydration and warm her up. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Increase her tank temps by 5 degrees and keep it on 24/7 until she responds/recovers. Do not force feed her unless you have experience doing so. Euthanizing her at home on your own is never recommended. If necessary, have your veterinarian perform it in the clinic or by housecall.

Thanks for reaching out about Anastasia and including photos. By the pictures she appears very thin and pliable. Metabolic bone disease (calcium deficiency) would be a primary concern. This could be due to inappropriate diet, lack of UVB radiation, too low temperature or metabolic disorders to prevent intestinal absorption. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The open mouth breathing could be due to muscle weakness, pneumonia, as well as other problems. Good luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Moji continues to be anemic, he may need a blood transfusion. This could be due to his immune system destroying his red blood cells in a condition known as Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). Treatment for IMHA typically entails suppressing the immune system along with treating any potential infectious causes. It sounds as if the veterinarian working on Moji is treating him appropriately. Unfortunately, treating anemia can be a waiting game. Blood values need to be monitored every 2-3 days in the initial period and if the red blood cells continue to decline, he will need to be hospitalized for further treatment and closer monitoring. I hope Moji gets better soon. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Poor Newt! Ultrasounds are wonderful tests that are non-invasive that can give you a ton of information as to what is going on internally. It may be that that is the best next step for her to figure out what is going on. I would also make sure that you have tested her for feline leukemia as well as FIV to rule those out as causes for her anemia. Transfused blood doesn't last as long in the body as the cats normal blood, so it is not uncommon to have the red cell count drop a little. Depending on how her numbers were before and where she is now, it may or may not be a significant drop in her numbers. I am more concerned that she is not feeling well again. I think more tests are warranted to figure out what is going on. However, if you are unable to afford the tests or do not want to pursue the next recommended step, I would talk to your vet about doing a trial of treatments to see if Newt improves based on what your vet thinks is going on. There are risks with this as we often are guessing as to what is going on, but sometimes it is what we have to do. Occasionally we don't get to the bottom of what the underlying cause is exactly, but supportive care can help significantly and these animals will improve. Good luck! I hope Newt starts improving soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Enola and including photos. The cloaca does appear infected but that might be a secondary problem. She also appears very thin. Diet and husbandry needs to be reviewed to provide an optimal healing environment. A fecal examination for parasites and bacteria should be performed at a veterinary office, as the pet store has zero medical knowledge and now one week has been wasted. A veterinary visit is necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment. Short (10-15 minute) warm water soaks can provide some transient comfort and might stimulate defecation. Systemic antibiotics (oral or injections) are probably required, no only topical. Good luck.