Hi, I apologize in advance for the long post. I have an approximately 4-5 month old beardie named Spyro. He’s my first bearded dragon, and is like my little baby dragon. I love him so much and need advice on how to best help him.
When I initially brought him home as a baby (around October) he leapt off my bed. He seemed fine, acted normal, and didn’t act like he was in pain. He did another one of his famous leaps off my shoulder, onto the footboard of the bed, and fell between the footboard and space heater (which was off). This was probably a month or so after the first fall. Again, didn’t seem to be in pain and no change to his behavior.
However, toward the end of December I noticed minor swelling in his back ankle. Thinking it might be gout I took him to the vet. After looking him over, he said it was more than likely an injury and to keep an eye on it. It got a bit more swollen, so we went back. Due to him being small and still growing, it’s hard to see definitively on an X-ray if there is a break. But they did xrays, and couldn’t see if there was a break in the ankle due to the swelling. But no crystals so he doesn’t have gout! The vet thought there may be a slight fracture in his leg, but again said it could just be the bones fusing together since he’s growing.
My options were they could tape his leg to his tail to stabilize it, or antibiotic injections every 2 days for 2 months. Taping his leg to his tail isn’t an option as he is still growing, and antibiotics dont seem like a way to fix a break
I went out of town for the week and luckily was able to board him at the vet. When I went to get him yesterday, his ankle was even more swollen. To the point where I can see what looks like his ankle joints? He does everything he can to avoid putting pressure on it, unless it’s cricket time. He does this half limp half dragging his leg, and now spends a lot of time laying flat on his stomach, which is something he never did before. He’s still eating well, even grew while I was away, but I can tell it’s hurting him.
Has anyone had any experience with a baby beardie with a broken ankle? I’m convinced it’s broken by the amount of swelling. I could use any advice anyone has. I have been thinking of trying to make him a homemade cast of some sort to avoid the vet taping his leg to his tail... Is there any supplement I could give him similar to an anti-inflammatory? Any ideas of what I can do to get my little dude feeling better would be greatly appreciated
When I first noticed the swelling in December
Most recent pics of his ankle before I went out of town
When I initially brought him home as a baby (around October) he leapt off my bed. He seemed fine, acted normal, and didn’t act like he was in pain. He did another one of his famous leaps off my shoulder, onto the footboard of the bed, and fell between the footboard and space heater (which was off). This was probably a month or so after the first fall. Again, didn’t seem to be in pain and no change to his behavior.
However, toward the end of December I noticed minor swelling in his back ankle. Thinking it might be gout I took him to the vet. After looking him over, he said it was more than likely an injury and to keep an eye on it. It got a bit more swollen, so we went back. Due to him being small and still growing, it’s hard to see definitively on an X-ray if there is a break. But they did xrays, and couldn’t see if there was a break in the ankle due to the swelling. But no crystals so he doesn’t have gout! The vet thought there may be a slight fracture in his leg, but again said it could just be the bones fusing together since he’s growing.
My options were they could tape his leg to his tail to stabilize it, or antibiotic injections every 2 days for 2 months. Taping his leg to his tail isn’t an option as he is still growing, and antibiotics dont seem like a way to fix a break
I went out of town for the week and luckily was able to board him at the vet. When I went to get him yesterday, his ankle was even more swollen. To the point where I can see what looks like his ankle joints? He does everything he can to avoid putting pressure on it, unless it’s cricket time. He does this half limp half dragging his leg, and now spends a lot of time laying flat on his stomach, which is something he never did before. He’s still eating well, even grew while I was away, but I can tell it’s hurting him.
Has anyone had any experience with a baby beardie with a broken ankle? I’m convinced it’s broken by the amount of swelling. I could use any advice anyone has. I have been thinking of trying to make him a homemade cast of some sort to avoid the vet taping his leg to his tail... Is there any supplement I could give him similar to an anti-inflammatory? Any ideas of what I can do to get my little dude feeling better would be greatly appreciated
When I first noticed the swelling in December
Most recent pics of his ankle before I went out of town