End of life behavior? Stroke?

[teddywilson]

CW: Video and images of symptoms may be distressing to some, they are not graphic​:warning:

I have posted about my lil man, Mike, before on here regarding how to care for toad head agamas [Phrynocephalus mystaceus]. At this time Mike is roughly 7 years old, I never put him through brumation so that should be considered when taking his age in to account (brumation can extend their life since they essentially go on pause, I personally didn’t feel comfortable risking messing it up and potentially causing his death very prematurely). He was wild caught, estimated to be maybe 3 to 6 months old when I first got him- this was before captive bred was really available (in the US), even now there aren’t many but you can find them at least.
I know this species’ lifespan isn’t super well known, in the wild it is estimated to be roughly 5-10 years so he is right in the middle of that. I believe some captive individuals have lived to be 15 (I do not know if they were put through brumation or not, but I would assume they were).

Over the past few weeks I have noticed his overall speed seems slower, granted he is still fast but those who know this species can probably tell from the video that his movements seem slugglish. The past week specifically his back legs appear less mobile, I have also noticed he no longer fully burries himself in the sand to sleep at night, only partially does so. Most of his back and his back legs remain exposed. I assumed this is all age related, maybe some arthritis?
A couple days ago I came home from work to find him laying on his back, I thought he was dead and quickly picked him up. He was alive and very angry that I was holding him. On inspection he appears fine, nothing seems off. His behavior seems much more defensive now (normal for him when being picked up), usually he runs right up to the doors and would eat insects right out of my hand, I could even give him a few head pats. He would run away when he was sick of me.
Now his interest in food seems diminished, he ate 2 days ago, pooped yesterday. Offered him food yesterday, he took it but then let it fall out of his mouth and wasn’t interested in it anymore. I offered food again this morning, he struck at it a few times but missed and lost interest. He is still basking and moving around his enclosure, but I have found him randomly laying on his back multiple times.
I have tried misting him with water but he just seems irritated by it rather than actually drinking. I have not seen him raise his backend up like they usually do to drink, leading me to think he may not be able to lift it like that anymore. He has been displaying a lot of head bobbing/stomping which normally I would only ever see if I gave him a big insect that was taking him a little longer to eat (like a happy dance). He also appears to be squinting, which I know can be stress related. His lower eyelids seems a little puffy but his eyes look clear. I know that can be a sign of a lot of things but I have given him a drop of liquid vitamin in case it is a deficiency.

This recent behavior seems like such a sudden shift- almost overnight- making me wonder if maybe he has had a stroke? Or is this normal end-of-life behavior for this species?

Nothing in his enclosure has changed, it has remained the same setup since I got him essentially. Just the usual bulb changes, and cleaning the sand. I have a uvb meter and his levels are within range.

Picture from the second time I found him on his back

Video sveral minutes after that picture, just before recording he ran and flipped over

stroke or end-of-life behavior?

[armiyana]

Awww poor little guy. He’s so cute.
I’m pretty sure I’m seeing that back leg weakness here too. He shuffles almost like he’s on a tile floor and not on a substrate. Still makes a heck of a clip tho.

It’s so frustrating at times because different species can react so differently over time and there really isn’t enough study to learn about late life changes in most species.

Most of the time I see posts about lizards flipping themselves it’s a beardies or leopard gecko with MBD. That can be at any age.
A few times it was age related changes with the liver. There could be something like a liver or kidney issue affecting your little guy and when that’s the case, neurologic changes can happen too. That’s at least the best idea I have for the situation if nothing has changed in care or habitat.

Just to make sure… No tumbles or falls recently that could have affected his spine? Degenerative disease or arthritis is a consideration with age as well, but a high jump could have worsened it.

[teddywilson]

No falls, nowhere high enough he could have fallen in his enclosure. Highest point in his enclosure is about as tall as he is long, but even then he would just fall on to the sand. The leg weakness was also a gradual thing, not all of the sudden.

Liver issues was something I was thinking as well, especially with the puffiness in his lower eyelids. I remember reading something about that being a symptom in bearded dragons. Also had a beardie that had puffy eyes, vet confirmed he had liver cancer causing his liver to not function properly.

I wouldn’t be able to know if it’s MBD related without an xray, I think blood work can hint to it but without seeing the bone density itself it isn’t certain.

I’m debating if a vet visit would be worth it, on one hand he is pretty old, fragile right now, and the stress itself could do him in. And if it is just “he’s dying” that would be a lot of stress on him for no real reason. On the otherhand maybe there’s a chance it’s something treatable and he could live another few years?
I’m leaning more towards it not being worth it, he likely would have to be sedated to do any kind of imaging on him, even blood work probably. I think sedation would very likely be too much for him.

I did get him to eat two dubia roaches earlier, so his appetite seems better I think he might have just not wanted the mealworms. I also picked up hornworms for him to help hydrate .

[teddywilson]

Update as of today, he is much less coordinated and very lethargic. I am heavily leaning towards this being a stroke/something with the brain. I noticed him gasping, something I have seen a handful of times with lizards that are actively dying. No vets are open all weekend, if by monday he has not passed on his own I will take him in to be euthanized. For now I will be leaving him alone aside from flipping him over when he ends up on his back.

[caron]

I am sorry he is suffering and right now your hands are tied. These situations are tough for anyone. It sounds like he may go on his own since this is only Friday. Best wishes to you both……

[athleticshoelace]

I am so sorry. THis must be incredibly hard for you. He seems like a lovely feisty lil guy. We know age comes for all our animals eventually but to see that or the associated illnesses must be really difficult. I think you’re doing all you can for his comfort right now. I hope whatever it comes to, things go smoothly without undue stress.