Possible health concern....help!

Yogimom

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Princess Leia
My beardie girl is 11 years old and I've had her since she was a baby, always healthy, no real issues other than the last few years she's gone through egg laying phases each year and I've had to have her checked for impaction and put on calcium supps for a few weeks. For the last several months she's been "falling over" a lot. I had a large branch that went from one side of the cage to the other that I took out bc she started falling off of it when trying to turn around or move, so I just figured she's not as limber as she once was. She has fallen over a few times since trying to get down from her heat rock. I've now noticed it's been happening even on flat surfaces. She walks really stumbly like now and she can be on the flat ground and may tries to turn her body just a little and it's as if her leg locks up and forces her whole body to flip onto her back. When this happens she can't get up and she just lays there. Has anyone ever seen something like this happen? Any advice? My fear is it happening when I am not home and she getting stuck that way for hours. I came home today and found her on her back, I had been gone 3 hours and have no idea when it happened after I left. I'm a bit worried but don't know what to do.
 

destiny1998

Extreme Poster
Photo Comp Winner
I'm sorry that's happening. Our 11 year old had the exact same problems and the vet told us it's neurological. About a month later she ended up passing on her own. This was around the first part of march.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
My beardie girl is 11 years old and I've had her since she was a baby, always healthy, no real issues other than the last few years she's gone through egg laying phases each year and I've had to have her checked for impaction and put on calcium supps for a few weeks. For the last several months she's been "falling over" a lot. I had a large branch that went from one side of the cage to the other that I took out bc she started falling off of it when trying to turn around or move, so I just figured she's not as limber as she once was. She has fallen over a few times since trying to get down from her heat rock. I've now noticed it's been happening even on flat surfaces. She walks really stumbly like now and she can be on the flat ground and may tries to turn her body just a little and it's as if her leg locks up and forces her whole body to flip onto her back. When this happens she can't get up and she just lays there. Has anyone ever seen something like this happen? Any advice? My fear is it happening when I am not home and she getting stuck that way for hours. I came home today and found her on her back, I had been gone 3 hours and have no idea when it happened after I left. I'm a bit worried but don't know what to do.
Please replace the decor w/ rolled up dish towels - take out the basking decor pieces make everything lower - get surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer 95-100 --- place under the heat lamp--- this sounds like MBD what is the UVB your using coil or a long tube fixture ? Where in the tank is the UVB? We will start there - if the dragon happens to stay on her back she will suffocate they cant breath on their backs
 

Yogimom

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Princess Leia
Please replace the decor w/ rolled up dish towels - take out the basking decor pieces make everything lower - get surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer 95-100 --- place under the heat lamp--- this sounds like MBD what is the UVB your using coil or a long tube fixture ? Where in the tank is the UVB? We will start there - if the dragon happens to stay on her back she will suffocate they cant breath on their backs
That's what I have been worried about, MBD. I have digital thermometers on both sides of the tank. I use a long tube fixture that goes across the top, same type fixture she's had her whole life. Her being stuck on her back and suffocating was what I was worried about, I thought it might be fatal if that happened and she was stuck that way for a long period :(. I have a vet appt for her in the morning.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
That's what I have been worried about, MBD. I have digital thermometers on both sides of the tank. I use a long tube fixture that goes across the top, same type fixture she's had her whole life. Her being stuck on her back and suffocating was what I was worried about, I thought it might be fatal if that happened and she was stuck that way for a long period :(. I have a vet appt for her in the morning.
Where is the uvb inside the tank or top of screen? What brand and bulb? T 5 or a T 8 how old? Please do not have them do a enema! If they want a fecal take one in- they often end in disaster!
 

Yogimom

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Princess Leia
Where is the uvb inside the tank or top of screen? What brand and bulb? T 5 or a T 8 how old? Please do not have them do a enema! If they want a fecal take one in- they often end in disaster!
It's on top of the screen. 24" T8. I just changed it 4/3/23. I realized the last one was over a year old though :( normally change them out every 6-8 months
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
It's on top of the screen. 24" T8. I just changed it 4/3/23. I realized the last one was over a year old though :( normally change them out every 6-8 months
T 8 's need to be inside the tank 6-8 inches - no obstruction - I am afraid the dragon has mbd- the distance is too far and screen has blocked 30% of the rays - 6 months is too long they should be changed out in 5 months
 

Yogimom

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Princess Leia
T 8 's need to be inside the tank 6-8 inches - no obstruction - I am afraid the dragon has mbd- the distance is too far and screen has blocked 30% of the rays - 6 months is too long they should be changed out in 5 months
Thank you for the advice but this has been her cage setup for 11 years and she's always been lively and healthy. There's definitely an issue, but I think something else is going on.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
UVB is crucial to the dragon--- I cannot stress this enough --- your dragon is getting inadequate UVB and it has slowly been getting sick - she can no longer hide it -- she will continue to get worse if its not fixed
 

Yogimom

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Princess Leia
UVB is crucial to the dragon--- I cannot stress this enough --- your dragon is getting inadequate UVB and it has slowly been getting sick - she can no longer hide it -- she will continue to get worse if its not fixed
Thank you, I will look into the t5 lighting but there's other things going on that could be causing the issue besides lighting. Her vet appt. is in the morning, so hopefully we can get her back to healthy again, but she is quite old :(
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Thank you, I will look into the t5 lighting but there's other things going on that could be causing the issue besides lighting. Her vet appt. is in the morning, so hopefully we can get her back to healthy again, but she is quite old :(
Have them do a calcium test and I would have them do a x ray as well - the x ray will show where the calcium is -- and where its lacking --
 

Yogimom

Member
Original Poster
Beardie name(s)
Princess Leia
Have them do a calcium test and I would have them do a x ray as well - the x ray will show where the calcium is -- and where its lacking --
Yea, that was my plan. I've had X-rays on her before and had them check her calcium and put her on supps. in the past when she went through egg laying. I ordered the T5 light fixture and bulb in the meantime, can't hurt either way. I lifted the lid on one side of her tank and have the UVA over that side for now, again can't hurt, tanks to tall for her to get out anyway.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
Yea, that was my plan. I've had X-rays on her before and had them check her calcium and put her on supps. in the past when she went through egg laying. I ordered the T5 light fixture and bulb in the meantime, can't hurt either way. I lifted the lid on one side of her tank and have the UVA over that side for now, again can't hurt, tanks to tall for her to get out anyway.
So you got the uvb unobstructed now? What T 5 did you get? Depending on the screen will determine where the uvb needs to be placed and distanced
 

Drache613

BD.org Sicko
Staff member
Moderator
Hello,

How are things going with your girl?
Definitely let us know the brand of T5 tube you are using now. The improved lighting will
really help out for her.

Tracie
 

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