**long post, please read, there’s a lot of details**
So this started last Wednesday.
I noticed my beardie couldn’t move his back legs at all and was hesitant to move. Thinking it was possible impaction, I gave him a bath, he pooped. He seemed to be better. Then over the next couple days I noticed some swelling in the rear legs (most swellings in thighs and also his forearms) and a little in the lower abdomen and kind of in the tail. Walking was getting better day by day but still having a lot of trouble. His big toe was also twitching briefly on 3 separate occasions.
I took him to the ER (no exotic specialist was available, only regular vet) After asking all the important husbandry info vet was thinking MBD. X-ray was showing a normal bone density and no obvious impaction, fractures, etc. organs from the top view looked normal. (Couldn’t get a side view.) Vet wanted to venture a guess and say it was a kidney-related issue due to the swelling. He suggested a fluid injection, calcium injection, D3 injection and sent me home with calcium glubionate. He seemed to park up. I followed up with another vet a few days later to get bloodwork done to pursue the kidney possibility. (This vet was kind of rude and he didn’t ask ANY pertinent info and handled my beardie roughly when examining the legs and abdomen)
He read the results. Everything was in normal range. Kidney, liver, calcium/phosphorous, etc were all good. He suggested it was just a soft tissue injury. We had done a fecal as well to rule out parasites (results not in on that one)
I am a little confused. The sudden onset of my beardies symptoms but his good blood-work health. Could this just be an injury (he is pretty rough and tumble and a trouble maker) or is this the beginning of a really horrible disease that can kill him and it just hasn’t shown in the blood yet..?
I’m so terrified it might be gout or a kidney disease.
I’ve researched so much and can’t quite match his appearance to other cases with posted pictures. I’ve already spent so much money and seen 2 doctors, I’ve already called and made an appointment with a third. If this IS the above mentioned kidney issue-time is so critical.
Here are the facts of his husbandry and background for further info:
—Male, 3 years old, rescue (from poor conditions)
—VERY picky beardie, refuses all greens, except arugula and green beans. (I’ve tried everything) and sometimes dandelion greens. He loves insects: Mealworms, superworms, sometimes Dubias, never crickets. (Yes I know he should eat silkworms…I’m working on that.)
—Will not voluntarily drink water, have to force it by dropper
—-he is overweight at 755grams/1.6lbs
—-he lives in a 55 gallon tank
—-Reptisun T5 10.0
—-zoo med heat bulb 100w (150w was too hot for him.)
—-basking site 6” away from light/heat
—-basking temperature 98-100
—-1 hour of outdoor basking/go for walks (usually 3X weekly) on sunny days
Other than the swelling, and trouble walking:
He is very bright, alert, curious, eating, pooping, normal behavior
So please-anyone who is reading this, what are your thoughts. I acted fast and got him to two different vets with different opinions, but I need to be the biggest advocate for my baby, because he can’t speak for himself, but I know something is up.
So this started last Wednesday.
I noticed my beardie couldn’t move his back legs at all and was hesitant to move. Thinking it was possible impaction, I gave him a bath, he pooped. He seemed to be better. Then over the next couple days I noticed some swelling in the rear legs (most swellings in thighs and also his forearms) and a little in the lower abdomen and kind of in the tail. Walking was getting better day by day but still having a lot of trouble. His big toe was also twitching briefly on 3 separate occasions.
I took him to the ER (no exotic specialist was available, only regular vet) After asking all the important husbandry info vet was thinking MBD. X-ray was showing a normal bone density and no obvious impaction, fractures, etc. organs from the top view looked normal. (Couldn’t get a side view.) Vet wanted to venture a guess and say it was a kidney-related issue due to the swelling. He suggested a fluid injection, calcium injection, D3 injection and sent me home with calcium glubionate. He seemed to park up. I followed up with another vet a few days later to get bloodwork done to pursue the kidney possibility. (This vet was kind of rude and he didn’t ask ANY pertinent info and handled my beardie roughly when examining the legs and abdomen)
He read the results. Everything was in normal range. Kidney, liver, calcium/phosphorous, etc were all good. He suggested it was just a soft tissue injury. We had done a fecal as well to rule out parasites (results not in on that one)
I am a little confused. The sudden onset of my beardies symptoms but his good blood-work health. Could this just be an injury (he is pretty rough and tumble and a trouble maker) or is this the beginning of a really horrible disease that can kill him and it just hasn’t shown in the blood yet..?
I’m so terrified it might be gout or a kidney disease.
I’ve researched so much and can’t quite match his appearance to other cases with posted pictures. I’ve already spent so much money and seen 2 doctors, I’ve already called and made an appointment with a third. If this IS the above mentioned kidney issue-time is so critical.
Here are the facts of his husbandry and background for further info:
—Male, 3 years old, rescue (from poor conditions)
—VERY picky beardie, refuses all greens, except arugula and green beans. (I’ve tried everything) and sometimes dandelion greens. He loves insects: Mealworms, superworms, sometimes Dubias, never crickets. (Yes I know he should eat silkworms…I’m working on that.)
—Will not voluntarily drink water, have to force it by dropper
—-he is overweight at 755grams/1.6lbs
—-he lives in a 55 gallon tank
—-Reptisun T5 10.0
—-zoo med heat bulb 100w (150w was too hot for him.)
—-basking site 6” away from light/heat
—-basking temperature 98-100
—-1 hour of outdoor basking/go for walks (usually 3X weekly) on sunny days
Other than the swelling, and trouble walking:
He is very bright, alert, curious, eating, pooping, normal behavior
So please-anyone who is reading this, what are your thoughts. I acted fast and got him to two different vets with different opinions, but I need to be the biggest advocate for my baby, because he can’t speak for himself, but I know something is up.