Advise Gravid bearded dragon. Please help.

[MandiandPapi]

I have a bearded dragon named Poppy. She is like 4 years old. She was a rescue. I took her to the vet a month ago because her eye was looking a little weird and the vet told me she was gravid. The vet was worried that she might be egg bound or have foliculitis, but her blood tests came back fine. The vet also took poppy in and clipped her nails. The next day poppy’s back leg looked hurt because she was limping. She raises it in the air and looks like she is trying not to put too much pressure on it. I told the vet and the vet was scared that it was egg binding and the limp was neurological. I’m a little worried the vet hurt her clipping her nails. The vet gave me 10 antibiotic injections to give her every three days and I did that(her white blood cell count was a little low) She is done with them now. Poppy is still limping, but otherwise seems fine, and still moves around and climbs her basking spot. She does not want to eat solid food except bugs, but will eat pasty food willingly out of a syringe. She is pooping a little less, but had a big poop a few days ago. She does not seem like she is trying to lay eggs. No scratching and wants out of any lay bins.

I have a vet appointment Tuesday and I am worried because the vet wants to do surgery, but it is very expensive and I am worried that Poppy could still lay the eggs on her own. I am also leaving the state at the end of the month for two weeks(with a friend bearded dragon sitting) and don’t know what to do.

I guess for people that have dealt with egg laying bearded dragons, what would you do in this situation? Should I trust the vet knows best? Is there still a chance she will lay the eggs, or is she going to get very sick and die if I don’t do the surgery? Does her leg problem sound neurological and wouldn’t it have gotten pretty bad after a month if it was an internal yolk problem? The vet said her calcium levels were good.

I understand how to do all the supplements and have heavily researched and confirmed that her tank set up is appropriate.

I’ll pay the money and do the surgery if I have to, but I am scared it’s not the best option. The vet is a bird and exotic pets specialist.

 

[KarrieRee]

I have a bearded dragon named Poppy. She is like 4 years old. She was a rescue. I took her to the vet a month ago because her eye was looking a little weird and the vet told me she was gravid. The vet was worried that she might be egg bound or have foliculitis, but her blood tests came back fine. The vet also took poppy in and clipped her nails. The next day poppy’s back leg looked hurt because she was limping. She raises it in the air and looks like she is trying not to put too much pressure on it. I told the vet and the vet was scared that it was egg binding and the limp was neurological. I’m a little worried the vet hurt her clipping her nails. The vet gave me 10 antibiotic injections to give her every three days and I did that(her white blood cell count was a little low) She is done with them now. Poppy is still limping, but otherwise seems fine, and still moves around and climbs her basking spot. She does not want to eat solid food except bugs, but will eat pasty food willingly out of a syringe. She is pooping a little less, but had a big poop a few days ago. She does not seem like she is trying to lay eggs. No scratching and wants out of any lay bins.

I have a vet appointment Tuesday and I am worried because the vet wants to do surgery, but it is very expensive and I am worried that Poppy could still lay the eggs on her own. I am also leaving the state at the end of the month for two weeks(with a friend bearded dragon sitting) and don’t know what to do.

I guess for people that have dealt with egg laying bearded dragons, what would you do in this situation? Should I trust the vet knows best? Is there still a chance she will lay the eggs, or is she going to get very sick and die if I don’t do the surgery? Does her leg problem sound neurological and wouldn’t it have gotten pretty bad after a month if it was an internal yolk problem? The vet said her calcium levels were good.

I understand how to do all the supplements and have heavily researched and confirmed that her tank set up is appropriate.

I’ll pay the money and do the surgery if I have to, but I am scared it’s not the best option. The vet is a bird and exotic pets specialist.

Please get w/ AHBD about this -- I am going to flag your post --- also post a pic of Poppys leg / foot that she is favoring
@AHBD

 

[Claudiusx]

Why does your vet assume egg binding? How did she determine your girl was gravid? Was an x-ray or ultrasound done?

Can you post the blood test results so we can go over them?
Have you tried providing your girl with a lay box to see if she will dig and possibly lay?

The vet said her calcium levels were good.

Typically in egg binding and in gravid females, the Ca levels in the blood will be indicative of such. What does your vet mean by "good"? If good means within normal range, then your dragon likely isn't gravid or egg bound.

-Brandon

 

[MandiandPapi]

Why does your vet assume egg binding? How did she determine your girl was gravid? Was an x-ray or ultrasound done?

Can you post the blood test results so we can go over them?
Have you tried providing your girl with a lay box to see if she will dig and possibly lay?

Typically in egg binding and in gravid females, the Ca levels in the blood will be indicative of such. What does your vet mean by "good"? If good means within normal range, then your dragon likely isn't gravid or egg bound.

-Brandon

She did not give me specifics about blood results, but said calcium looked good and white blood cells were a tiny bit low(why she decided on the antibiotic injections). Red blood cells were good. She did an ultrasound and saw the eggs. I did not see the ultra sound. They very well could have been follicles, in which case a month does not seem like enough time to panic and do surgery. She gave me liquid calcium to feed her as well just to support her eggs. I’m just really worried that on Tuesday the vet is going to say she needs spay surgery and I don’t want to do it if I don’t have to and I also don’t want to make that decision and have her get sick and die.

I have a lay box in her tank and I tried a couple times to put her in a separate bin for a little time, but she just was going to sleep on the bin and did not seem like she was ready or wanted to use it.

 

[Claudiusx]

I’m just really worried that on Tuesday the vet is going to say she needs spay surgery and I don’t want to do it if I don’t have to and I also don’t want to make that decision and have her get sick and die.

That's understandable.

Remember though, you've already paid for the blood results and the ultrasound. Now your vet is wanting you to pay for an expensive surgery which may be needed, but it might not be. It is completely within your right to request a copy of the blood test results and any notes or images from the ultrasound to better make an informed decision.

And, if your vet is competent, your vet should be more than willing to work with you on this, provide the info, and even allow you to get a second opinion.

In the meantime, what are her energy levels like? Her fat stores? Has she still be eating?
I'd put together a lay box for her and she what she does..

If you could post a picture of her that would help us generally gauge her health.

-Brandon

 

[MandiandPapi]

That's understandable.

Remember though, you've already paid for the blood results and the ultrasound. Now your vet is wanting you to pay for an expensive surgery which may be needed, but it might not be. It is completely within your right to request a copy of the blood test results and any notes or images from the ultrasound to better make an informed decision.

And, if your vet is competent, your vet should be more than willing to work with you on this, provide the info, and even allow you to get a second opinion.

In the meantime, what are her energy levels like? Her fat stores? Has she still be eating?
I'd put together a lay box for her and she what she does..

If you could post a picture of her that would help us generally gauge her health.

-Brandon

I also paid for antibiotic injections. she is still eating the pasty food and bugs with calcium and vitamins. Not super interested in salad or pellets right now. Attached is a full body pic and a pic of the leg she seems to be kind of nursing.

 

[MandiandPapi]

I also paid for antibiotic injections. she is still eating the pasty food and bugs with calcium and vitamins. Not super interested in salad or pellets right now. Attached is a full body pic and a pic of the leg she seems to be kind of nursing.

I’m also just worried that with the injections and lay boxes and me fussing over her and her possibly hurt leg that she might just be too stressed to lay eggs. Her beard is never black or puffed out though.

 

[AHBD]

So the vet cut Poppy's nails and then her leg was mysteriously sore the next day and the vet says it might be neurological ? Uh, more like the vet PROBABLY hurt Poppy's foot or leg. They don't develop a sore leg from carrying eggs [ which she may not be ]

Poppy looks very sweet, she does have what looks like a lump on her back which indicates some MBD that developed at some point. I just wouldn't trust this vet's judgement and I doubt the antibiotic injections were even necessary. And ask the vet definitely to send you the ultrasound and post it here.

 

[MandiandPapi]

So the vet cut Poppy's nails and then her leg was mysteriously sore the next day and the vet says it might be neurological ? Uh, more like the vet PROBABLY hurt Poppy's foot or leg. They don't develop a sore leg from carrying eggs [ which she may not be ]

Poppy looks very sweet, she does have what looks like a lump on her back which indicates some MBD that developed at some point. I just wouldn't trust this vet's judgement and I doubt the antibiotic injections were even necessary.

Thank you. I thought the vet probably hurt her leg. And I was not sure about the injections, but her eye looked weird and now it looks better, so that’s good I guess. I saw the bump when I got her. She was a rescue and I am pretty sure she must have had a mild case of MBD. She was not in amazing shape 2 years ago or so when I got her.

I will take her to the vet on Tuesday and ask for any pictures or blood work to post. I’m going to opt out of doing the surgery until I get a second opinion. I appreciate you taking the time to read my post.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Poppy does have a very sweet face indeed!
I agree, the antibiotic injections were probably not needed. It's possible that she had just gotten
something in her eye causing irritation.
I would get the copies of any ultrasound pictures & blood work, too. If her eggs are not developed
or shelled yet then she isn't ready to lay them yet. If you can get another opinion that would help,
because it may not be necessary at all to remove any eggs or spay her right now.
I hope her leg gets better, is she still favoring it?
Let us know how things go at the next appointment.

Tracie

 

[KarrieRee]

www.arav.org - if your in a small town type in a bigger cities zip code closest to you-

 

[xp29]

To me the nails look like they are cut way short, the vet likely cut into the quick and that is painful. If you look at nails that haven't been trimmed you will see a very sharp, very short little tips, that is all that should be clipped off.
If she doesn't show interest in the dig box, doesn't seem restless, still eats good, ect, she likely isn't gravid or if she is she isn't ready to lay. Personally i would get a 2nd opinion.

 

[MandiandPapi]

I got poppy checked out again. The printer on the machine wasn’t working, but here is a picture of what the vet says are follicles. She took a picture with her phone. She said to come back in a month so we can see if her follicles have changed. She did not seem as eager to do surgery today.

 

[AHBD]

O.K, see how things go, whether these become shelled and she lays them.

 

[MandiandPapi]

Update: poppy is trying to lay her eggs! For the last few hours she has been wiggling around and straining. I am thinking about giving her a warm bath to help. It seems like a long time to be trying to lay eggs. She looks tired.