newbeardiegma
Member
I'm freaking out just a little bit and sure could use some help, advice or words of comfort! My dragon Aztec had a fall last week, as far as we can guess. He has a new, larger enclosure with a small panel of mesh on the sides, and it appears that he got a toenail stuck and twisted funny to get loose. This is all conjecture on the part of us and the vet. When I found him, he was dragging his back legs and had a strange curvature to his tail. On the way to the vet, we noticed a missing toenail. The x-ray showed no broken bones, and no signs of MBD. Weight and all other indicators all looked good, even appetite. So vet assumed "soft tissue injury" and possible impaction. We've been giving a small dose of painkiller on his worms, and keeping him warm. No improvement in the function of legs from time of noticing issue Thurs until now on Sunday. TONIGHT I found him on his back. No idea how long he was in that position, but it appears that he had been kicking and struggling to roll back over because his little sleep rug was all bunched up. He felt cool and limp when we picked him up, but he slowly revived. I totally freaked! So, I am calmed down now but wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom about how he got on his back and what I should do from here? There are NO high places in his enclosure right now, was we removed them while he healed after the original fall (or whatever happened). Should I put him in a small, plastic tub with a warming lamp until I can get him back to the vet? Something where he cannot move around too much. And remove his water dish so he doesn't faceplant into it? Please let me know if you know any causes for a dragon ending up on their back????
Aztec is about 2.5yo, male, about 22" long. His tank temps are currently 95 hot side - 79 cold side.
Aztec is about 2.5yo, male, about 22" long. His tank temps are currently 95 hot side - 79 cold side.