To much calcium or uvb?

Subion

Hatchling Member
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Looking for some advice again. I’ll give a full run down on what’s going on and see what anyone else thinks. sorry for the long read

My beardie had surgery in June for follicle build up and had an infection in it and it sapped the calcium to where she could barely walk. After surgery she was on liquid calcium provided from the vet for 14 days and a few days before the surgery they started her on antibiotic shots every 3 days for 30 days. She got better after that.

About a month or so after getting better she started having the calcium issues again so I called the vet and she put her on 10 days more of the calcium. Re checked her that week and said her calcium is definitely the issue just from looking at her but did some blood work to send away. It came back she had an infection and it may have been the previous one she had since she was never rechecked for it. Anyways we just finished a total of a months worth of calcium and another month of shots for the infection. They told me after the calcium was finished to switch to Rapashy calcium plus every other day. Since she’s stubborn and won’t eat veggies unless I trick her to get a bite here and there or grind it up with water and some fruit and give her the water mixture from a dropper she wont really touch them lately. I was told to offer her the calcium with roaches. I was giving her 3-5 every other day covered in the rapashy plus and gut loading them with the flunkers roach gut loading supplement. Also keep her in her uvb light for 8-10 hours a day.

The other day her back leg seemed a little weak again so I got her back in. They did some blood work in clinic and said the calcium is where they want it at and she is perked up more that they believe the infection is gone by how much more aware she is. They said they straightened her leg a little and she pulled back and they bothered her until she walked some and she seems fine so they aren’t sure why she’s acting weak in the leg. They said she’s just pulling my leg they think but to keep an eye on it.

They said with her just finishing her antibiotic shots they feel it’s to early to test her for the infection but to come back in 2-3 months and they will send out a full panel to test everything they can’t in clinic to check everything from calcium to infection and anything else they can see. In the mean time they want me to give her a calcium without d3 3-4x a week and the repashy plus 1-2 times a week. They said use one of those repashy on her salad and if she doesn’t eat it then it’s not that big a deal with the rest of the calcium she gets. She normally will eat her roaches with no problem but when I added her new powder to the ones yesterday (they were covered) she only ate one and act like she didn’t want more but she ate a few hornworms right after.

I should mention it’s cold out here around 50 degrees Fahrenheit lately so I know she’s in that brumation cycle and her appetite is down but she will only eat a few pieces of fruit when I hand feed her or her bugs it seems like. With her acting like she’s weak in legs I’m worried we may be giving to much calcium or uvb after I read it can have the same sympthoms as not enough.

I had to change her uvb from being inside the cage to on top recently because she kept acting like she
Would try to crawl out of it no matter where it was mounted. I bought a reptisun T5 HO with a 10.0 bulb to replace it and lay on top. Last few days she wanted to lay directly under it at her highest point in the cage. Today she’s is off to the side some where she doesn’t seem to want in it. Her hotspot is around 100 and where she laying it’s about 90.

I do have a solar meeter also. I’ll add some pics around where she stays to give an idea what the ranges are.

Thank you
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Looking for some advice again. I’ll give a full run down on what’s going on and see what anyone else thinks. sorry for the long read

My beardie had surgery in June for follicle build up and had an infection in it and it sapped the calcium to where she could barely walk. After surgery she was on liquid calcium provided from the vet for 14 days and a few days before the surgery they started her on antibiotic shots every 3 days for 30 days. She got better after that.

About a month or so after getting better she started having the calcium issues again so I called the vet and she put her on 10 days more of the calcium. Re checked her that week and said her calcium is definitely the issue just from looking at her but did some blood work to send away. It came back she had an infection and it may have been the previous one she had since she was never rechecked for it. Anyways we just finished a total of a months worth of calcium and another month of shots for the infection. They told me after the calcium was finished to switch to Rapashy calcium plus every other day. Since she’s stubborn and won’t eat veggies unless I trick her to get a bite here and there or grind it up with water and some fruit and give her the water mixture from a dropper she wont really touch them lately. I was told to offer her the calcium with roaches. I was giving her 3-5 every other day covered in the rapashy plus and gut loading them with the flunkers roach gut loading supplement. Also keep her in her uvb light for 8-10 hours a day.

The other day her back leg seemed a little weak again so I got her back in. They did some blood work in clinic and said the calcium is where they want it at and she is perked up more that they believe the infection is gone by how much more aware she is. They said they straightened her leg a little and she pulled back and they bothered her until she walked some and she seems fine so they aren’t sure why she’s acting weak in the leg. They said she’s just pulling my leg they think but to keep an eye on it.

They said with her just finishing her antibiotic shots they feel it’s to early to test her for the infection but to come back in 2-3 months and they will send out a full panel to test everything they can’t in clinic to check everything from calcium to infection and anything else they can see. In the mean time they want me to give her a calcium without d3 3-4x a week and the repashy plus 1-2 times a week. They said use one of those repashy on her salad and if she doesn’t eat it then it’s not that big a deal with the rest of the calcium she gets. She normally will eat her roaches with no problem but when I added her new powder to the ones yesterday (they were covered) she only ate one and act like she didn’t want more but she ate a few hornworms right after.

I should mention it’s cold out here around 50 degrees Fahrenheit lately so I know she’s in that brumation cycle and her appetite is down but she will only eat a few pieces of fruit when I hand feed her or her bugs it seems like. With her acting like she’s weak in legs I’m worried we may be giving to much calcium or uvb after I read it can have the same sympthoms as not enough.

I had to change her uvb from being inside the cage to on top recently because she kept acting like she
Would try to crawl out of it no matter where it was mounted. I bought a reptisun T5 HO with a 10.0 bulb to replace it and lay on top. Last few days she wanted to lay directly under it at her highest point in the cage. Today she’s is off to the side some where she doesn’t seem to want in it. Her hotspot is around 100 and where she laying it’s about 90.

I do have a solar meeter also. I’ll add some pics around where she stays to give an idea what the ranges are.

Thank you
Going to flag to Tracie the vet tech mod on here --
@Drache613
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
update: it’s warm out today so got her out in the sun and her leg was shaking some. I noticed her foot is swollen on that leg I’ve asked about. Vet checked it the other day and said nothing was wrong from what they saw. I’m trying to get her in for an emergency visit but they have no exotic drs today and said one is in schedule for tomorrow but the schedule could change so to call in and find out. If not I won’t be able to get her seen until sometime during the week. She Dan walk on it when needs to but really slow like it’s bugging her and lets me touch it. So not sure what it could be.
 

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KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
update: it’s warm out today so got her out in the sun and her leg was shaking some. I noticed her foot is swollen on that leg I’ve asked about. Vet checked it the other day and said nothing was wrong from what they saw. I’m trying to get her in for an emergency visit but they have no exotic drs today and said one is in schedule for tomorrow but the schedule could change so to call in and find out. If not I won’t be able to get her seen until sometime during the week. She Dan walk on it when needs to but really slow like it’s bugging her and lets me touch it. So not sure what it could be.
Did they look at uric acid levels? She could have gout--- please have them check the uric acid level --- I will flag to Tracie again
@Drache613
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Did they look at uric acid levels? She could have gout--- please have them check the uric acid level --- I will flag to Tracie again
@Drache613
I don’t believe so but could be wrong since they only talked to me about calcium levels. In clinic it took like 10 min for results and usually for a lot of blood work like when they checked for the infection had to be sent away and that was over a month ago. They were wanting to wait a few months since she just finished calcium and antibiotics so it would be more accurate results. I’m defiantly going to ask to have that checked and an X-ray when we go to be safe.

In the meantime is there anything I can do to help her? I’m not sure what can make it worse if it is gout. I have a warm cloth on it right now. Should I hold off giving her bugs or calcium until I see a vet?

Thank you again
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I don’t believe so but could be wrong since they only talked to me about calcium levels. In clinic it took like 10 min for results and usually for a lot of blood work like when they checked for the infection had to be sent away and that was over a month ago. They were wanting to wait a few months since she just finished calcium and antibiotics so it would be more accurate results. I’m defiantly going to ask to have that checked and an X-ray when we go to be safe.

In the meantime is there anything I can do to help her? I’m not sure what can make it worse if it is gout. I have a warm cloth on it right now. Should I hold off giving her bugs or calcium until I see a vet?

Thank you again
If she does have gout then your going to haft to switch staple feeders- we usually recommend BSFL or silk worms- they can be put on Allopurinol to keep the acid levels down - Tracie often recommends black tart cherry juice or tart cherry juice -- you can get it at Walmart - you can feed straight or water it down - that will help w/ flushing the kidneys -- are you using a good UVB like a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb or a Arcadia pro T 5 w/ a 12% bulb? This is going to help as well --
 

hdochow

Sub-Adult Member
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Sir Henry of Scales
just some random info in case you do need to go that route with treatment. tracie also sells a tart cherry juice powder. we have found it easier to use that instead of liquid juice just because of portion size. a bottle of juice could last months! when we did use the liquid, we would put it in ice cube trays and then only thaw a cube or two a week. sir henry doesn't have gout, but we use it as a preventative measure because dubias are his staple feeder. although, because it is a fruit sugar, we cut down the amount of fresh fruit he gets as treats.
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
If she does have gout then your going to haft to switch staple feeders- we usually recommend BSFL or silk worms- they can be put on Allopurinol to keep the acid levels down - Tracie often recommends black tart cherry juice or tart cherry juice -- you can get it at Walmart - you can feed straight or water it down - that will help w/ flushing the kidneys -- are you using a good UVB like a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb or a Arcadia pro T 5 w/ a 12% bulb? This is going to help as well --
I’ll have to try and locate some silk worms. What is BSFL? I’m sorry if it’s obvious just never heard the term. Her staple has always been super worms 2-3 times a week, usually around 2. She did have dubia before but quit them before because she acted like she didn’t care much for them, But with the calcium issues she had they wanted me to get her to take some form of calcium every other day to 3-4 on without d3 and 1-2 on the repashy plus. Since she’s a picky eater and doesn’t like veggies they said to try dubia again. She was doing fine walking some the other day then about 3 days ago she started getting weak and I just noticed the the swelling today. They said they were more worried with getting the calcium right that they wernt worried about her eating dubia that much. It’s maybe been a little over a week since she started that eating them again.

The light I have is a reptisun 10.0 t5 ho.
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
just some random info in case you do need to go that route with treatment. tracie also sells a tart cherry juice powder. we have found it easier to use that instead of liquid juice just because of portion size. a bottle of juice could last months! when we did use the liquid, we would put it in ice cube trays and then only thaw a cube or two a week. sir henry doesn't have gout, but we use it as a preventative measure because dubias are his staple feeder. although, because it is a fruit sugar, we cut down the amount of fresh fruit he gets as treats.
That may be what I have to try. I didn’t know they could have anything with cherries since I never saw them on a list before. She’s defiantly going to hate it. Besides her bugs she loves her blueberries, bananas, and apples. It’s going to be a big change for her if we have to cut back.
 

hdochow

Sub-Adult Member
Photo Comp Winner
Beardie name(s)
Sir Henry of Scales
That may be what I have to try. I didn’t know they could have anything with cherries since I never saw them on a list before. She’s defiantly going to hate it. Besides her bugs she loves her blueberries, bananas, and apples. It’s going to be a big change for her if we have to cut back.
here's a link we use in the forums here a lot for food. kale has been studied further since it was published, and is actually a great staple green. the cherries are on the list.

Nutrition Content

i bet she'll be stubborn as hell in the beginning but then decide one day that it isn't so bad. foods are wonderful!
 
Last edited:

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I’ll have to try and locate some silk worms. What is BSFL? I’m sorry if it’s obvious just never heard the term. Her staple has always been super worms 2-3 times a week, usually around 2. She did have dubia before but quit them before because she acted like she didn’t care much for them, But with the calcium issues she had they wanted me to get her to take some form of calcium every other day to 3-4 on without d3 and 1-2 on the repashy plus. Since she’s a picky eater and doesn’t like veggies they said to try dubia again. She was doing fine walking some the other day then about 3 days ago she started getting weak and I just noticed the the swelling today. They said they were more worried with getting the calcium right that they wernt worried about her eating dubia that much. It’s maybe been a little over a week since she started that eating them again.

The light I have is a reptisun 10.0 t5 ho.
Ok where is the UVB? Inside the tank or top of screen? And if on top of screen what is the screen like? Fine mesh like a screen door or a wide hole type---- distance and placement is determined by this---
BSFL are black soldier fly larvae - they are calcium enriched -- and a good staple babies tend to really like them -- they are small so you will need to order large if you decide to try them -- and she will eat alot of them--- like 75 or so I am guessing -- www.symtonbsf.com -- they will need a dish they cant get out of something like this https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?pf_rd_r=R0HNPKXJ2ZARWAT5MPAH&pf_rd_p=c5b6893a-24f2-4a59-9d4b-aff5065c90ec&pd_rd_r=0173f98f-f39b-4d44-9f76-
6ae4d88c419b&pd_rd_w=AuGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
I am flagging Tracie again
@Drache613
 

Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
Ok where is the UVB? Inside the tank or top of screen? And if on top of screen what is the screen like? Fine mesh like a screen door or a wide hole type---- distance and placement is determined by this---
BSFL are black soldier fly larvae - they are calcium enriched -- and a good staple babies tend to really like them -- they are small so you will need to order large if you decide to try them -- and she will eat alot of them--- like 75 or so I am guessing -- www.symtonbsf.com -- they will need a dish they cant get out of something like this https://www.amazon.com/MACGOAL-Reptile-Ceramic-Leopard-Bearded/dp/B084VJJWTV?pf_rd_r=R0HNPKXJ2ZARWAT5MPAH&pf_rd_p=c5b6893a-24f2-4a59-9d4b-aff5065c90ec&pd_rd_r=0173f98f-f39b-4d44-9f76-
6ae4d88c419b&pd_rd_w=AuGQB&pd_rd_wg=tLkwE&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d
I am flagging Tracie again
@Drache613
The light is currently on top the screen. And it is a metal screen with wider holes, probally fit a sharpened pencil tip through. I had a light inside but she kept acting like it would get to bright or it was extremely close to some of her basking area. I replaced it with a reptizoo t5 ho terraium hood and it seems to be putting around the same amount of uvb off as the one isnside was. According to the Solar meter she is getting around 2.8-almost 6 in some of her basking locations with it only covering half the cage so she can get out if she wants.

I have a vet appointment coming up with her vet who is running emergency clinic later today so I’ll be able to get labs and an X-ray to be safe. I’ll definitely be looking into other foods to make sure if it happens to be gout to try to get that taken care of asap.

Thanks
 

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Subion

Hatchling Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Zilla
here's a link we use in the foums here a lot for food. kale has been studied further since it was published, and is actually a greatd staple green. the cherries are on the list.

Nutrition Content

i bet she'll be stubborn as hell in the beginning but then decide one day that it isn't so bad. foods are wonderful!
Thank you, I’ll defiantly look into it. I use to use kale all the time when she was younger then switched to other stuff because I kept hearing how bad it was.

I have a vet appointment scheduled with her vet today who is running emergency clinic to get her looked at and get and X-ray and stuff done to make sure what’s going on.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Thank you, I’ll defiantly look into it. I use to use kale all the time when she was younger then switched to other stuff because I kept hearing how bad it was.

I have a vet appointment scheduled with her vet today who is running emergency clinic to get her looked at and get and X-ray and stuff done to make sure what’s going on.
Please No enemas!!
 

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