BEARDED DRAGON SURVIVES FIREFLY!!

As I report elsewhere on this site, fireflies are deadly poison to Beardies. However, I was recently contacted by someone whose dragon ate a firefly and ultimately survived. When they first wrote to me, their dragon was (as far as I was concerned) dying, but I suggested an emergency trip to the veterinarian and it worked. Below are the details of the whole incident, along with the name of the veterinarian who saved the dragon - I believe this is a first and worth knowing.

Timeline:

Ate the firefly Wednesday evening
Started to get lethargic Thursday evening (throat and tail turned black)
Got him to the vets early Friday morning, hardly breathing
Brought him home Sat afternoon.

Treatment:

IV epinephrine to get heart started
IV Dopran to stimulate breathing
Fluids to maintain blood volume/pressure
Activated charcoal
Oxygen
ICU unit
Doppler monitor of cardiac function

Owner's comments:

Charcoal was force-fed (mouth still seems sensitive). Back legs still seem weak.
Dr. Ryan said getting them on an IV is extremely important.

Veterinarian :

Dr. Thomas Ryan of Feathers, Scales & Tails
140 Village Rd # 330, Westminster, MD 21157
Phone : (410) 876-0244
E-Mail address: FSTVH@netscape.net

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