4-6 month old beardie having troubles with front legs

[keithking45]

Lily is about 4-6 months old. We woke up sunday morning to her not able to use her front legs. So I went through all of the stuff I have learned from this site and research on beardies and did what we could since the vet wasnt open. I thought maybe impaction with MBD being the one thing that I was praying it wasnt and couldnt see since she has the same setup and feeding as our older beardie and he has never had a problem. Saturday we was feeding both of them some dubias and she got one that was just a lil big for her and I didnt realize it until she already had it half gone. Nothing happened and then sunday morning we woke to her just laying there not able to move her front legs. We gave her a bath and she seemed to get a bit better so I thought maybe impaction. My wife took her to the vet today and the vet said she was dehydrated and gave her a liquid injection and an antibacterial injection just incase she was impacted. My wife said she was moving around and able to move both of her front legs. She went to work and I got home from work and poor Lily is back to the way she was. I found her just laying in a corner not able to move her front legs again. She isnt eating nor taking any liquids no matter what I tried to get her to take either one. I put her back on her basking spot and have been watching her until the lights went out. She looks depressed and just laying there not even trying to move. Is it MBD or could it be something else? Any help or advice is greatly appreciated and before it is asked she is going back to the vet tomorrow.

 

[Goonie]

I am so sorry that Lily isn't feeling well.

Usually the back legs are affected with impaction, where the pressure is on their spine/hips and causes pain or immobility.

Does she move around when you take her out of her tank? I ask this because of what you said had happened at the vet's. Does she try to move her front legs but can't, or not at all? What happens when you touch or move her front legs?

 

[sjsexotics]

it really does not sound like impaction but has she pooped and when was the last time she did. I would syringe feed her some liquids a little at a time have you done a fecal. and I am guessing you have uvb is it under 6 months old and how long have you had her. pics

 

[keithking45]

Sorry, this is the mommie of Lily. She pretty much scooted around earlier and tries to use her front legs. When I pick her up out of the cage (as little as possible) she goes limp for a little bit and then raises her head and is alert. From some research we did, people said impaction can cause paralysis in the front legs. The vet gave her some fluids and some baytril just as a preventative measure for bacterial infection. That is when she was the most able to use her front legs. The vet said she is very dehydrated and she gave me some ideas on how to keep her hydrated. The UVB bulb is under 6 months old and there is no way I can provide pictures, but I have seen her scoot around her hammock. She is a picky veggie eater and I'm still trying to introduce them to her, and my son got her to eat some but not me. I picked up some bananas because she loves them and got a couple of small jars of baby food and tomorrow I'm going to water those down big time and try feeding her that way with a syringe. From what we were reading everywhere we ended up gathering impaction (it may sound weird, but we looked everywhere and spent awhile looking), MBD, and I don't remember what else at this moment, I just got home from work. I'm just hoping that this will help her out and get her back to normal again. She is always very alert, very energetic, and very quick. Mommie won't give up on her baby, thanks for the input so far guys too. Between me and my husband, we will keep you updated. Thank you guys again so much.

 

[keithking45]

Also, she pooped Monday, but not Sunday. She does her best to try to move them and her right side is stronger than her left side. Getting a fecal done will be my next step once I call the vet again tomorrow. The weird thing is that she has been fine for the longest time and now all of a sudden. I'm rereading the posts to make sure that I answered all questions so please forgive me if I missed some. We have had Lily for 2 months now and Jake is about 4 months and Jake is as healthy as can be. When a few times out of the tank, she tries to move them and just scoots around. If I move her front legs, it doesn't seem to bother her, unless we pick her up and take her out of her terranium. Then she just goes limp for a little bit and seems to be ok again, not like how she should be, but alert and such. Another problem we are facing is that she doesn't like to be watched while she is eating too, so it's going to take time and patience and persistence on it, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes.

 

[Goonie]

What type of calcium and vitamin are you using? And how and how often are they being given?

 

[keithking45]

Sorry for the late reply. Lily is doing much better and is using her front arms again. We have Zilla vitamins and calicium spray. I didn't take her back to the vet since I saw her this morning on her stacking rocks and moving around. She ran across my bed a few times and actually ate some dubias. So I"m delaying the vets for a bit longer, but I"m still monitoring her behavior and I will have them do a fecal just to make sure all is well. Thank you guys so much for the help. I guess it really is dehydration for Lily but now I know for sure the signs to look for and we are about to move her to a different room so she can have air circulating. We are in our first year in the place we are renting and found out that pretty much the room she is in is warmer than we thought and since Summer is here pretty much and Arkansas weather is out of wack, we are going to move her terranium. Thank you guys so much again.