Why does my bearded dragon have trouble walking?
If your bearded dragon is suffering from a Metabolic Bone disease, it will have trouble walking. MBD is caused due to lack of vitamin D3 and/or calcium in the body. Wrong lighting, liver disease, malnutrition, feeding wrong foods and lack of gut-loading + dusting live food are main causes of MBD.
When to take a bearded dragon to the vet?
Take your bearded dragon to the vet if you suspect impaction. If your bearded dragon has broken its bones, it will have trouble walking, using its legs and will be limping. Your bearded dragon can break its bones from falling. Another reason yet again, can be MBD.
What are the physical signs of impaction in bearded dragons?
Physical Signs of Impaction in a bearded dragon. Trouble walking (stiff or awkward gait) Shaky or imobile rear legs (possibly dragging them around instead of using them to walk) Weight loss. Unhealthy appearance. Tender belly. Lumps between spines. Bulge at point of impation.
What does a bearded dragon look like with MBD?
Your bearded dragon’s bones will become covered with a fibrous tissue that will make them look swollen. With more progressive MBD, your dragon will be limping or just laying down, as well as shaking/twitching. Its legs will be most likely extended straight and look swollen.
Can a bearded dragon walk on its back?
A bearded dragon that is healthy will use both of its front and back legs equally to move around. Your bearded dragon shouldn’t be limping, having trouble lifting its legs or move them to walk around. While most bearded dragons love laying with their stretched legs and doing splits, they should be able to walk normally.
What are the signs of an unhealthy bearded dragon?
Soft or runny stool could be a sign that your bearded dragon has a possible internal parasite or an inadequate diet. Feeding a bearded dragon lettuce can cause a runny stool and cause malnutrition. A yellow tinged urate (the end of the poop that is usually white) can be a sign of dehydration.
Why does my bearded dragon have leg paralysis?
If your bearded dragon has swallowed any food or object that was larger than the width between the eyes, it might start getting convulsions. Consequently, this can lead to body shock, shaking and leg paralysis. Make sure not to house your bearded dragon on any loose substrate.
Take your bearded dragon to the vet if you suspect impaction. If your bearded dragon has broken its bones, it will have trouble walking, using its legs and will be limping. Your bearded dragon can break its bones from falling. Another reason yet again, can be MBD.
Is there such thing as an unhealthy bearded dragon?
There are also times when an unhealthy bearded dragon may start showing signs or symptoms of a condition without you really knowing it. Unfortunately, an unhealthy bearded dragon can not tell us what is wrong. It is very important to pay attention to tell-tale signs that something might be amiss.
When to worry about a bearded dragon laying eggs?
If you suspect that your bearded dragon is gravid and going to lay eggs, you’ll want to make sure you provide he r with a lay box and also adjust her diet to keep her healthy and make her birthing process as easy on her as possible.
Why is my bearded dragon scratching at the glass?
If you have noticed your bearded dragon head bobbing lately, I highly recommend you check it out! Much like your dog scratching desperately at the glass after being put outside, your bearded dragon too may scratch at the glass, displaying what is commonly referred to as “glass surfing”.
Why does a bearded dragon get lazy and lethargic?
A bearded dragon acts lazy or lethargic if the temperatures are not adequate enough. Low temperatures can cause a loss of appetite and activity levels can drop. Make sure to use high quality thermometers at each end of the terrarium (one in the basking area and one in the cooler area) so you can monitor temperatures.
What happens when the temperature of a bearded dragon goes down?
Low temperatures can cause a loss of appetite and activity levels can drop. Make sure to use high quality thermometers at each end of the terrarium (one in the basking area and one in the cooler area) so you can monitor temperatures. For more information on proper temperatures depending on the age of the bearded dragon please read our Care Sheet.
How can you tell if a bearded dragon is dying?
A dying bearded dragon will be shaking violently, getting bloated and becoming lethargic. This is why you must always make sure that water level in a water dish (if you have it) is below your dragon’s ankles.
When does a baby bearded dragon become a juvenile?
Babies are usually labeled between the ages of 0 to 4 months old. So, now that your beardie has reached the age of 4 months, you can identify it as a juvenile. He would be a part of this temporary age label until he reaches the age of 18 months.
What causes skeletal malformation in a bearded dragon?
As there is a calcium deficiency, to keep the average blood calcium level, beardies will resorb calcium from bones, making their bones may weaken or suffer from skeletal malformation in young bearded dragons. a). MBD causes Metabolic bone disease cause in bearded dragons revolve around calcium deficiency.
What should bearded dragon eat as an adult?
Adult bearded dragons are nearly the exact opposite and their diet will consist of 80% plants and 20% bugs and insects . Bearded dragons will eat just about any insect that moves, however it is up to their owner to make sure that they only eat safe bugs.
What is the adult age for bearded dragons?
Aged 4 to 7 years, a bearded dragon will now reach their mature adult stage at which point they will be fully grown. Lasting 2 to 3 years, this period see little or no growth and a gradual decrease in reproductive activities.
What is a healthy bearded dragon diet?
Bearded dragons are omnivores and can eat a variety of things. Normally your bearded dragon’s diet will consist of vegetables, insects, and non-citrus fruit. When you give your beardie insects you will need to make sure that the insect isn’t too big for your dragon to eat.
What vegetables are best for bearded dragons?
Bearded dragons need lots of green, leafy vegetables, so give yours plenty of collards, mustard, and turnip greens. You can also provide her with peeled cucumbers, cabbage, squash, pumpkin, carrots, bell peppers, and kale. She’ll enjoy green beans, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, too.
How long does it take to reverse mbd in bearded dragons?
How Long Does It Take to Reverse MBD? Unfortunately, it can many months to reverse MBD and in some advanced cases even longer! Some owners have reported it taking up to 6 months to get their bearded dragons walking and moving regularly in advanced cases of Metabolic Bone Disease.
Is it possible to reverse metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons?
Unfortunately, it can many months to reverse MBD and in some advanced cases even longer! Some owners have reported it taking up to 6 months to get their bearded dragons walking and moving regularly in advanced cases of Metabolic Bone Disease. However, don’t be alarmed and worried thinking that your dragon will be miserable for up to 6 months.
What to do if your bearded dragon has MBD?
If the basking spot is too cool, which means your bearded dragon is more likely not to digest its food, he won’t be able to benefit much from the calcium in their diet. Therefore, one of the ways of treating mbd is to give your bearded dragon a basking spot at proper temperatures, especially from 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
What happens if a bearded dragon can’t move its legs?
As a result, it will cause tail and back kinking, rubbery jaw. It will also cause soft bones that will easily break and cause joint problems. This will make it too hard and painful for your bearded dragon to move. Your bearded dragon’s bones will become covered with a fibrous tissue that will make them look swollen.
Unfortunately, it can many months to reverse MBD and in some advanced cases even longer! Some owners have reported it taking up to 6 months to get their bearded dragons walking and moving regularly in advanced cases of Metabolic Bone Disease. However, don’t be alarmed and worried thinking that your dragon will be miserable for up to 6 months.
What kind of disease does a bearded dragon have?
An extremely common disease amongst bearded dragons is Metabolic Bone Disease or MBD. Due to a lack of Calcium, which can often result from a lack of UVB (explained further below), dragons can become so weak that their very bones deteriorate, leaving them fragile, weak, and headed for death. BUT MBD doesn’t have to be mean an untimely death!
Why does my bearded dragon have metabolic bone disease?
Bearded dragons and other reptile pets develop Metabolic bone disease (MBD) if they do not get enough calcium in their diet or through natural/artificial lighting. MBD can be also caused by over supplementation with phosphorus (ratio of calcium : phosphorus in bearded dragon’s diet is crucial and should be 2:1-2.5:1).
What do you need to know about bearded dragons?
Your bearded dragon might start twitching and shaking, and tremors are big signs or calcium deficiency. From day one of owning a bearded dragon, you need to provide it with a calcium rich diet (gut-loaded and calcium supplemented insects and greens) and full spectrum artificial lighting (UVA and 10% UVB).
How does too much phosphorus affect a bearded dragon?
Too much phosphorus in the diet removes the calcium from the body. When there is not enough calcium in bearded dragon’s body, it starts using the calcium from bones! Symptoms of MBD in bearded dragons are weak bones – in the jaw (which is falling forward in worse cases), legs and even spine.
What are the health issues of bearded dragons?
Impaction is a big issue and many bearded dragons die from ingesting the substrate or other objects. Bearded dragons are curious, and you must monitor their activities. Also, bearded dragons are very likely to swallow the substrate that blocks the intestines.
As there is a calcium deficiency, to keep the average blood calcium level, beardies will resorb calcium from bones, making their bones may weaken or suffer from skeletal malformation in young bearded dragons. a). MBD causes Metabolic bone disease cause in bearded dragons revolve around calcium deficiency.
Is it normal for bearded dragon to open its mouth?
It can be very common for the bearded dragon to open its mouth while on the basking perch for short periods of time. This is a way to cool off while directly under the basking bulb. This behavior is very similar to the way a dog pants to cool off and completely normal. If slack jaw is suspected seek a reptile veterinarian immediately.
What should I do if my bearded dragon has yellow poop?
If the white part of the poop (the urate) has a yellow tint there could be a hydration issue. Mist your bearded dragon a couple times per day with clean, dechlorinated water. If using tap water treat the water with a water conditioner that removes chlorine, ammonia, heavy metals, and other chemicals.
If your bearded dragon is suffering from a Metabolic Bone disease, it will have trouble walking. MBD is caused due to lack of vitamin D3 and/or calcium in the body. Wrong lighting, liver disease, malnutrition, feeding wrong foods and lack of gut-loading + dusting live food are main causes of MBD.
There are also times when an unhealthy bearded dragon may start showing signs or symptoms of a condition without you really knowing it. Unfortunately, an unhealthy bearded dragon can not tell us what is wrong. It is very important to pay attention to tell-tale signs that something might be amiss.
It can be very common for the bearded dragon to open its mouth while on the basking perch for short periods of time. This is a way to cool off while directly under the basking bulb. This behavior is very similar to the way a dog pants to cool off and completely normal. If slack jaw is suspected seek a reptile veterinarian immediately.
Why is my bearded dragon walking in circles?
If your bearded dragon is walking in circles, hitting objects or walking funny, then it could be suffering from a neurological problem. Neurological issues often show when your bearded dragon starts losing its balance, tilts its head, is walking differently. If you suspect a neurological issue, take your bearded dragon to the vet.
What happens when you hit a bearded dragon?
When an impaction gets large, it can press on these exposed nerves. This then causes them to lose some or all control of their rear legs. If your beardie is having trouble walking, is shaking, has trembling or non-mobile rear legs, or other similar symptoms, seek a vet immediately!
Why does my bearded dragon have no legs?
Its legs will be most likely extended straight and look swollen. If your bearded dragon is walking on wrists, it is also a big sign of calcium deficiency/MBD, due to weakness in wrists.
What should I do if my bearded dragon wont go to the bathroom?
Bearded Dragon Impaction. Bearded dragons should have a fairly regular bathroom schedule. If you notice your bearded dragon has stopped defecating for several days, yet is still eating daily, it could be an issue. The longer the beardie goes without using the bathroom, the more serious the problem.
What does it mean when a bearded dragon hisses?
Sometimes a bearded dragon’s beard may turn to a darker or even black color when they are bearding. Hissing– Bearded dragons may also hiss if they feel threatened. Again this is another sign of being uncomfortable or a sign of aggression. Biting- It is fairly obvious that biting is a sign of aggression.
What causes a bearded dragon to change its color?
When you notice a sudden color change it’s usually related to mood, stress, illness, or a change in temperature. If your bearded dragon gets cold, their skin might darken or turn black to absorb heat better.
What are the symptoms of a bearded dragon?
However, they do get sick, and you need to be on the lookout for some common signs of illness that may include anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, sunken eyes, sleeping more, being lethargic, hiding more, jerky movements, and among others.
Why does my bearded dragon not go to the bathroom?
If you notice your bearded dragon has stopped defecating for several days, yet is still eating daily, it could be an issue. The longer the beardie goes without using the bathroom, the more serious the problem.
Why does a bearded dragon make a hissing noise?
Hissing is the only noise a bearded dragon can make. It is an aggressive behavior and is a sure sign a bearded dragon feels threatened. Now that you know the meaning behind the most common bearded dragon behaviors you should have no problem communicating with your bearded dragon and the best way to help them in times of need.
Is it normal for bearded dragons to extend their legs?
Remember, it is normal for bearded dragons to extend their hind legs when basking, however if they are doing this abnormally, then touch their toes to see if they move their legs to determine if they are stretching or have a medical issue. Learn how to make sure a bearded dragon’s diet is healthy.
Why is my bearded dragon getting mad for no reason?
There are many reasons why your bearded dragon might be showing you its dissatisfaction, and more often than not this anger is actually the manifestation of stress. Bearded dragons are very sensitive to their surroundings, and an incorrect set-up or unexpected or disliked changes can put your beardie in quite the mood!
Should I Feed My bearded dragon in a different cage?
As a general rule, feeding your bearded dragon in a separate tank is a great way to avoid any complications of feeding live insects, such as bugs biting your pet. Feeding in a separate tank also makes cleaning up the mess left behind from fruits and vegetables much easier.
