Been lazy now having issues walking after vet visit

Subion

Hatchling Member
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Hopefully someone can give me some advice. My bearded dragon I’ve had for 5.5 years has been lazy this last couple weeks. I assumed it was because of the weird weather we have here in WV right now. One day warm then cold for 2-3. I took her to the vet Mon and they did X-ray, ultrasound, and bloodwork. The bloodwork won’t be back for 5-7 days i was told.

The other tests show a buildup in her but it’s not eggs the vet said. (She had never laid eggs) it seems to be what forms the eggs. I was told to keep her in her cage for 5-6 hours at least (usually she is out a lot roaming) and under her lights. The vet hopes it’ll help the stuff in her shrink down and I’m suppose to go back on the 15th for another scan. That if there is no change she may need surgery. For last 2 days she just lays under her lights and barely moves. I took her outside because it’s nice out today and she still is doing the same, but I noticed as she tries to walk her left side acts like her left legs are hurting and a little shakey and her right front is just completely weak. You can pick her up and feel her arm and it seems to have little resistance where the others feels like has more of a stronger resistance like those legs have been working out but they are the ones she acts like is hurting and shaking. At most she’ll hold her head up and maybe try to take a step or two while dragging her body. She wasn’t doing this before I went to the vet. So I don’t know if they hurt her maybe taking blood or if something else is going on now. She’ll still hold on to me and she will even climb from my shoulder to behind my neck but she won’t get down to try and walk.

I put her in the tub an normally she swims around but tonight she only moved off my hand and laid there until she went potty. Then she started trying to move to the side but she looks like she is struggling. If you hold her a way she don’t like she seems to move her arms well trying to get a grip and her arm seems stronger. But if she’s on the ground or something she struggles.

I tried to get ahold of the vet again but now I may not be able to talk to her until tomorrow and they don’t know if they can get me in to see her sooner then I already have scheduled. I tried the only other vet around that sees reptiles and I’m hesitant there because they killed my iguanas when I was younger. If I want to get her in but was told it’d be 5-6 weeks for an appointment and if I do an emergency visit they will try to squeeze me in but don’t know if it would be much different with how busy they are.

I really don’t want to see her like this and make her wait. I’ve been so upset since Mon over this I can’t think straight and barely sleeping and it’s only getting worse as now I seen she is acting worse. It all came on all at once she was fine and running around then she got lazy all of a sudden one day when we got up.

Could the vet have hurt her? Is there any ideas of what I could try to make her feel better? Does anyone know of a good vet in PA because I’ll drive if I have to. She means so much to me I don’t want to risk missing anything that could help her..
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Hopefully someone can give me some advice. My bearded dragon I’ve had for 5.5 years has been lazy this last couple weeks. I assumed it was because of the weird weather we have here in WV right now. One day warm then cold for 2-3. I took her to the vet Mon and they did X-ray, ultrasound, and bloodwork. The bloodwork won’t be back for 5-7 days i was told.

The other tests show a buildup in her but it’s not eggs the vet said. (She had never laid eggs) it seems to be what forms the eggs. I was told to keep her in her cage for 5-6 hours at least (usually she is out a lot roaming) and under her lights. The vet hopes it’ll help the stuff in her shrink down and I’m suppose to go back on the 15th for another scan. That if there is no change she may need surgery. For last 2 days she just lays under her lights and barely moves. I took her outside because it’s nice out today and she still is doing the same, but I noticed as she tries to walk her left side acts like her left legs are hurting and a little shakey and her right front is just completely weak. You can pick her up and feel her arm and it seems to have little resistance where the others feels like has more of a stronger resistance like those legs have been working out but they are the ones she acts like is hurting and shaking. At most she’ll hold her head up and maybe try to take a step or two while dragging her body. She wasn’t doing this before I went to the vet. So I don’t know if they hurt her maybe taking blood or if something else is going on now. She’ll still hold on to me and she will even climb from my shoulder to behind my neck but she won’t get down to try and walk.

I put her in the tub an normally she swims around but tonight she only moved off my hand and laid there until she went potty. Then she started trying to move to the side but she looks like she is struggling. If you hold her a way she don’t like she seems to move her arms well trying to get a grip and her arm seems stronger. But if she’s on the ground or something she struggles.

I tried to get ahold of the vet again but now I may not be able to talk to her until tomorrow and they don’t know if they can get me in to see her sooner then I already have scheduled. I tried the only other vet around that sees reptiles and I’m hesitant there because they killed my iguanas when I was younger. If I want to get her in but was told it’d be 5-6 weeks for an appointment and if I do an emergency visit they will try to squeeze me in but don’t know if it would be much different with how busy they are.

I really don’t want to see her like this and make her wait. I’ve been so upset since Mon over this I can’t think straight and barely sleeping and it’s only getting worse as now I seen she is acting worse. It all came on all at once she was fine and running around then she got lazy all of a sudden one day when we got up.

Could the vet have hurt her? Is there any ideas of what I could try to make her feel better? Does anyone know of a good vet in PA because I’ll drive if I have to. She means so much to me I don’t want to risk missing anything that could help her..
@AHBD
@Drache613
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

Sorry to hear about your girl. Do you have a picture/copy of the x-rays taken? What did they say or
think was building up inside of her, if it wasn't eggs?
If you can get a copy of the bloodwork when it comes in, that would be great, too.
She was walking, running normally before the vet but after the visit, appears to be in pain, etc? It is
a possibility they handled her incorrectly or hurt her doing the blood draw.
Is her beard normal color or darker in color?
If you have any pictures of her along with her tank setup definitely post them for us.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Hello,

Sorry to hear about your girl. Do you have a picture/copy of the x-rays taken? What did they say or
think was building up inside of her, if it wasn't eggs?
If you can get a copy of the bloodwork when it comes in, that would be great, too.
She was walking, running normally before the vet but after the visit, appears to be in pain, etc? It is
a possibility they handled her incorrectly or hurt her doing the blood draw.
Is her beard normal color or darker in color?
If you have any pictures of her along with her tank setup definitely post them for us.
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie
Thank you for the help and any advice also your concern. Her color seems the same, I havn’t noticed any difference in it. I don’t have a copy of the X-rays unfortunately. They didn’t even show them to me. All they told me is it’s not egg binding but “stuff that is suppose to turn into eggs” they wouldn’t really elaborate anymore then that besides that they are hoping it will shrink by my next visit.” They said she didn’t put up a fight with them when they took her out of the room for the tests but I’m worried they may have done something to hurt her.

She’s been lazy where she has only wanted to lay around and not move is why I took her but she would walk and seemed fine before that. I even had her wrapped in a cover when I took her and while sitting in the office she climbed out and walked on me a little to look around. After that when I got home she just started laying around so I didn’t think much of it besides her being upset or aching from the bloodwork along with what she already had been feeling. Even in her cage she just laid under the lights and not moved more then to turn a little. It wasn’t until I got her outside yesterday so 2 days after that I noticed her having issues walking.

The pic on the blue cover is how she’s been that I took her to the vet that I was worried.the ones she standing outside and on my back was taken on the 18th/19th when she was walking fine (last couple I took of her before all this) the one in her cage was the day after the vet and how she has been laying. The one laying on the grass with her arm back is when I noticed she was having issues.

Right now I don’t have much in her cage so she could just be comfortable and towels to make it softer normally I use paper towels. The one is wrapped around her hide log that leads into one of those hamster igloos for her to relax on but she just stays on it. I just put in a new basking light that is 75 watts that currently shows the temps in the pic. I also have a couple 100 watts I never opened because I was worried it’d be to hot just have them incase it gets to cold here with the weather. The other dome light has her uv bulb it was an exo terra uvb 150. I however am changing it today, I have ordered a the one in the pic that covers the whole cage instead of the dome light. It should be here tonight so I can hook it up. I was told by a vet when i first got her since I was taking her outside and letting her sit in the window a lot of the day she only needed the dome light but this vet said to get a cage long one.

Edit: I just got off the phone with someone from the vet. The vet herself was to busy. But I asked again and this time they said its follicles buildup she has. They are however giving me an oral calcium prescription to try daily for 2 weeks to see if she feels better and still waiting on blood work. They said if it worsens or no improvement we may have to look at surgery a lot sooner.
 

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Jessss

Member
Hi,
I just wanted to add something from previous experience.I rescued a little lady named blue,the owners told me she was 3 but later found out she was 9! She stopped using her back legs and became almost paralysed from the waist down,we had her on antibiotics but unfortunately found her passed away in her tank.At that time I didn’t know half of what I know now but now know it was because she had egg binding or some form of it and passed due to infection or an egg bursting.Your girl acting a bit strange on her feet made me think of blue as she acted similar to this before loosing the use of her legs, unfortunately these things need to be sorted quickly,I recently had to have my girl bee spayed after egg binding and a build up of follicles attached to her uterus and ovaries, she has now made a full recovery.I hope you get some more answers and your girl is feeling a lot better soon,hope you do as well it’s a very stressful situation❤️
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Hi,
I just wanted to add something from previous experience.I rescued a little lady named blue,the owners told me she was 3 but later found out she was 9! She stopped using her back legs and became almost paralysed from the waist down,we had her on antibiotics but unfortunately found her passed away in her tank.At that time I didn’t know half of what I know now but now know it was because she had egg binding or some form of it and passed due to infection or an egg bursting.Your girl acting a bit strange on her feet made me think of blue as she acted similar to this before loosing the use of her legs, unfortunately these things need to be sorted quickly,I recently had to have my girl bee spayed after egg binding and a build up of follicles attached to her uterus and ovaries, she has now made a full recovery.I hope you get some more answers and your girl is feeling a lot better soon,hope you do as well it’s a very stressful situation❤️
I’m so sorry about blue. I’m glad things worked out with bee though. Believe me I’m so concerned I’m watching Zilla as much as possible. Last night she climbed from my shoulder to behind my head with my hand helping her. Then she either slid down or crawled down some because she held on to my back for a good while where I couldn’t get her. She still don’t want on the ground though. I had to get help and my mother told me it looked like she fell asleep holding on. When she got her off my mother held her in her hands for a bit and Zilla took a few steps to get to her shoulder. She looked like she was holding her self up more then dragging herself but still you could see how weak she is by her like falling a little when she walked. I’m hoping that means she’s getting better some since she was holding her self up.

I keep waking up on the night to check on her. She still sleeps a lot. Seems like yesterday she was only awake for 4-5 hours. With everything she’s been through I’m hoping some rest will also help her some.

Believe me though I’m keeping an eye on things to see if she acts worse. Soon as I noticed she was having issues calling I was on the phone with multiple vets trying to get her in. Trying to talk to her vet that was out for the day. When I did get through they gave me liquid calcium to give her to see if it helps. It’s definitely been stressful. I’ve ordered her all new lights and anything I can to try and hope it helps. She goes on the 15th for another scan but depending what the vet thinks once bloodwork comes back I’m going to see if we can move it up. I really don’t want to sit around to where she gets worse and it’ll be to late to try anything. This is my first bearded dragon so I’m trying my best just don’t know what all I can do or what to watch for at this point.
 

Jessss

Member
I’m so sorry about blue. I’m glad things worked out with bee though. Believe me I’m so concerned I’m watching Zilla as much as possible. Last night she climbed from my shoulder to behind my head with my hand helping her. Then she either slid down or crawled down some because she held on to my back for a good while where I couldn’t get her. She still don’t want on the ground though. I had to get help and my mother told me it looked like she fell asleep holding on. When she got her off my mother held her in her hands for a bit and Zilla took a few steps to get to her shoulder. She looked like she was holding her self up more then dragging herself but still you could see how weak she is by her like falling a little when she walked. I’m hoping that means she’s getting better some since she was holding her self up.

I keep waking up on the night to check on her. She still sleeps a lot. Seems like yesterday she was only awake for 4-5 hours. With everything she’s been through I’m hoping some rest will also help her some.

Believe me though I’m keeping an eye on things to see if she acts worse. Soon as I noticed she was having issues calling I was on the phone with multiple vets trying to get her in. Trying to talk to her vet that was out for the day. When I did get through they gave me liquid calcium to give her to see if it helps. It’s definitely been stressful. I’ve ordered her all new lights and anything I can to try and hope it helps. She goes on the 15th for another scan but depending what the vet thinks once bloodwork comes back I’m going to see if we can move it up. I really don’t want to sit around to where she gets worse and it’ll be to late to try anything. This is my first bearded dragon so I’m trying my best just don’t know what all I can do or what to watch for at this point.

Thank you so much! I think an egg burst inside her,bless her.I get what you’re saying completely and understand you’re doing all you can.My vet would not listen to me when I said bee had eggs,they insisted she was bloated and to wait a few weeks.I pushed for the ultrasound and had to practically demand one for them to even do it.I still think your girl looks plump like she’s carrying eggs,looks a lot like bee did before she had her spay.Especially in the picture of her laying on the bed,she looks like she’s holding something.I’d call back and ask to see ultrasound or have another done sooner with you present.I was allowed in with bee when she has her ultra sound and you could very clearly see a lot of eggs,if it’s just follicles like they said I think she still needs them
Removing but not 100% sure on that one.The different symptoms between an egg bound beardie and one that’s starting to get ill from it,bee needed to lay and she was very uncomfortable,glass surfing,black beard,went off her food and wouldn’t settle even for 1 minute.Blue on the other hand slowed down and stopped moving as much,wanted to be left alone and just seemed very down.I really hope she feels better soon please keep us all updated! ❤
 

Jessss

Member
Thank you so much! I think an egg burst inside her,bless her.I get what you’re saying completely and understand you’re doing all you can.My vet would not listen to me when I said bee had eggs,they insisted she was bloated and to wait a few weeks.I pushed for the ultrasound and had to practically demand one for them to even do it.I still think your girl looks plump like she’s carrying eggs,looks a lot like bee did before she had her spay.Especially in the picture of her laying on the bed,she looks like she’s holding something.I’d call back and ask to see ultrasound or have another done sooner with you present.I was allowed in with bee when she has her ultra sound and you could very clearly see a lot of eggs,if it’s just follicles like they said I think she still needs them
Removing but not 100% sure on that one.The different symptoms between an egg bound beardie and one that’s starting to get ill from it,bee needed to lay and she was very uncomfortable,glass surfing,black beard,went off her food and wouldn’t settle even for 1 minute.Blue on the other hand slowed down and stopped moving as much,wanted to be left alone and just seemed very down.I really hope she feels better soon please keep us all updated! ❤
Just to add on,they had bee in for a few hours prior to having her spay.They gave her a calcium shot then another shot to get her to lay the eggs.She had a follow up ultra sound the following morning when I brought her back in and had emergency surgery an hour later after her ultrasound,bee also had a lot of follicles that had attached to her uterus lining. Timing is so crucial,go with your gut if you feel something is still wrong I’d push to get her seen sooner,you know your girl better than anyone else! 💞
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Just to add on,they had bee in for a few hours prior to having her spay.They gave her a calcium shot then another shot to get her to lay the eggs.She had a follow up ultra sound the following morning when I brought her back in and had emergency surgery an hour later after her ultrasound,bee also had a lot of follicles that had attached to her uterus lining. Timing is so crucial,go with your gut if you feel something is still wrong I’d push to get her seen sooner,you know your girl better than anyone else! 💞
That’s one of my concerns is they’ll want to put stuff off for to long. Yesterday I watched her in her cage she got up and walked in a circle as best she could to get comfy. She didn’t look like she was dragging herself but actually trying to stand up but the one leg seemed to give out more. The other legs don’t seem to be hurting or shakey and she’s held her head up more in the cage so hopefully she’s getting better. She still don’t want to move much though but I understand if her legs bugging her: and after being awake a few hours she just wants to sleep so I cover her up and hold her for a bit before I put her to bed.

I really just with them blood work would come back already. Feels like it’s been a year waiting for it. If she isn’t walking better or acting more like herself when it does I’m going to ask for another ultrasound to see if there is any change. I’m not going to wait until the 15th. Gonna tell them I want in the room this time even if they don’t like it or I’ll be getting her in as an emergency somewhere else even if I have to drive for hours to get her looked at.

If she needs the surgery I’m definitely going through with it, there’s no way I could leave her like this.I’m just so worried that it’s so risky that she may not make it at the same time. It’s just been a lot to take in lately.
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
I noticed today she is turning white around the nose and mouth some. I’m hoping it’s just shed but since she isn’t feeling good I’m worried. I’ve been giving her that calcium meds and changed all her lights so a lot has changed fast.

She will eat a little fruit I hold up to her and her worms she’ll eat and perk up while doing it. But I’ve been holding them right to her in a dish so she don’t have to walk. She does try to stand and move very little but keeps all pressure off that one foot she can. I’ve been calling around and messaging different vets trying to see if they will look at her but no one else local so far. Most now are closed until Mon. I’m probably going to try and get her seen again either where I was or the one I would rather not go to. I’m tired of waiting around and watching her like this.
 

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Jessss

Member
I noticed today she is turning white around the nose and mouth some. I’m hoping it’s just shed but since she isn’t feeling good I’m worried. I’ve been giving her that calcium meds and changed all her lights so a lot has changed fast.

She will eat a little fruit I hold up to her and her worms she’ll eat and perk up while doing it. But I’ve been holding them right to her in a dish so she don’t have to walk. She does try to stand and move very little but keeps all pressure off that one foot she can. I’ve been calling around and messaging different vets trying to see if they will look at her but no one else local so far. Most now are closed until Mon. I’m probably going to try and get her seen again either where I was or the one I would rather not go to. I’m tired of waiting around and watching her like this.
Personally I would say that’s shed but others might know more about it,but it looks like shed to me.It’s good you’re getting her seen sooner,as I said it’s all about getting it sorted asap.I know for a fact that bee only pulled through because we got her in for surgery quick but if your girl only has follicles it may be different with time.Bee had a chance of an egg bursting inside her which would’ve caused her to die pretty much instantly which is why she had emergency surgery and she had follicles.I still say your girl looks like she’s got some eggs in there, make sure you’re keeping up with her supplements as she’ll need the calcium if it is eggs.Bee also received antibiotic and anti inflammatory shots over a few days while she was egg bound I also think this helped keep any infection at bay and help her fight it overall.Bee wouldn’t eat at all,so it’s a good sign your girl is eating still.Try keeping her hydrated,I normally use a small syringe and drip water on to their nose.Be careful not to go too quick as she could aspirate the water and it’s a very awful experience for both sides.I’d suggest a bath but understand if you’re not wanting to move her at the moment.Hope she’s feeling a lot better soon please let us know how she’s doing!
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I noticed today she is turning white around the nose and mouth some. I’m hoping it’s just shed but since she isn’t feeling good I’m worried. I’ve been giving her that calcium meds and changed all her lights so a lot has changed fast.

She will eat a little fruit I hold up to her and her worms she’ll eat and perk up while doing it. But I’ve been holding them right to her in a dish so she don’t have to walk. She does try to stand and move very little but keeps all pressure off that one foot she can. I’ve been calling around and messaging different vets trying to see if they will look at her but no one else local so far. Most now are closed until Mon. I’m probably going to try and get her seen again either where I was or the one I would rather not go to. I’m tired of waiting around and watching her like this.
That is shed
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Personally I would say that’s shed but others might know more about it,but it looks like shed to me.It’s good you’re getting her seen sooner,as I said it’s all about getting it sorted asap.I know for a fact that bee only pulled through because we got her in for surgery quick but if your girl only has follicles it may be different with time.Bee had a chance of an egg bursting inside her which would’ve caused her to die pretty much instantly which is why she had emergency surgery and she had follicles.I still say your girl looks like she’s got some eggs in there, make sure you’re keeping up with her supplements as she’ll need the calcium if it is eggs.Bee also received antibiotic and anti inflammatory shots over a few days while she was egg bound I also think this helped keep any infection at bay and help her fight it overall.Bee wouldn’t eat at all,so it’s a good sign your girl is eating still.Try keeping her hydrated,I normally use a small syringe and drip water on to their nose.Be careful not to go too quick as she could aspirate the water and it’s a very awful experience for both sides.I’d suggest a bath but understand if you’re not wanting to move her at the moment.Hope she’s feeling a lot better soon please let us know how she’s doing!
I’ve been giving her a warm bath every few days since she got sick. She drinks some water when in the tub. I take her outside daily when warm for about an hour or so to get some fresh air and sun. Today I had her out she ate some watermelon and I’ve been giving her a few worms every couple days to keep her energy up. Then I put her in her cage under the uv light and basking light for awhile. I also have a uv bulb hooked above where she sleeps so she gets a little of that on her back and tail until I go to bed. I’m hoping her blood work comes back tomorrow but since it’s a holiday it may not. I found out another vet is going to be seeing exotic animals starting on the 6th but I’m not waiting that long. Been asking around a few places and looking at places online within a 2 hour drive. I just hope everything works out. Her legs that has issues she seems to try to use a little more in the tub so hopefully they are getting stronger again, she was using them to prop up her head some but I don’t know if she was just Putting pressure on the one. If the vet don’t call tomorrow I’m calling any vet I can get into and I want another ultrasound and X-ray don’t to see if there is a change and check her leg.
 

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