broken back or sick baby beardie

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jabills4

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Hi, our 2-3 month old beardie seems like he broke his back. My son found him lying on his back, slightly twitching. He turned him over and it looks like his back is broken. His back legs are limp, his front twitch alittle. His breathing is labored and he hasn't moved since we found him two hours ago. He eats small live and also dead canned crickets- I don't think he's had calcium for month. He's under a UV light for 12 hours a day on a carpetted (from pet store)lined as we were told not to use sand until over six inches long. Do you think he is sick or somehow broke his back?
 

Menolly

Juvie Member
Hey,
First can you answer some questions for me.
What do you mean you think the dragon hasn't had calcuim in a month? At that age a dragon should be getting calcium 5 times a week one a day.
What type of veggies do you feed him?
Do you offer a vitamin supplement?
How big is his enclosure?
What type of bulb to you have?(be very specific brand and wattage)
What type of substrate is he on?
How many times a week do you mist or bathe your dragon?

Mel
 

jabills4

New member
Original Poster
The last month we haven't been dusting the crickets with calcium dust. He has a "Living Things"120v, 75watt UV light bulb/lamp from a petstore. My dragon has a felt like material as his floor (sugessted by the store worker until he's over six inches)- soft non-abrasive,absorbant cage carpet. I feed him 3to 5 crickets a day -my mom bought me crickets in a can which i keep refrigerated, some romaine lettuce too. I think it's a 20 gallon glass tank with screen on top. Thx for your response.
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

I do not think he has broken his back. I think he has metabolic bone disease, or at least hypocalcemia.
How old is your dragon, you said around 2-3 months old? At that age, they need calcium 5 times per week & UVB lighting. The All Living Things is not a UVB light, it is just a UVA light, for a fish aquarium I believe.
You will need to get a Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb, & you can order that from http://www.petmountain.com It will be much cheaper online than from a petstore.
What type of basking light are you using? What do you use to measure your temps with, a stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?
Good he is on carpet right now, please keep him on that & do not switch to sand until he is an adult.
I would use fresh food not the canned ones. They are much more nutritious than the canned foods.
Do not use mealworms as a staple, they are too fatty. Instead use appropriately sized crickets, & maybe some phoenix worms for variety.
Please let us know how he is doing.

Tracie
 

jabills4

New member
Original Poster
He hasn't moved over night at all and hasn't eaten anything. How do we start nursing him back to health? I'm afraid to lift him. Should we try a warm bath and Repti-Aid as food through a syringe? Any help is appreciated.
 

H31d1

Member
you could try feeding him that way but you really need to get a reptisun 10 tube UVB. without UVB your dragon will probably get worse.
maybe taking him to the vets would be a good idea too.
good luck, hope things improve for your beardy! :D
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

If he is not improving, you should take him to a vet yes for at least an x-ray. With his injury, I do not recommend a bloodtest as that may hurt his back more, if he does have a strained back.
I highly recommend getting a UVB light as soon as possible, or no amount of calcium given to him will absorb properly & your baby will continue to get worse.
You can gently take him out & soak him in a warm bath yes, & try to use a plastic dropper to get some Repti aid into him. Do not leave him unattended in the water, or he could drown especially with him not being very mobile.

Please let us know how he is doing.

Tracie
 
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