Ankle immobility

[charizard]

Charizard's a happy and healthy guy, but when I took him out of his enclosure today he appeared to be struggling to use his ankle. He can move the knee and everything, just not the ankle. I tried to lightly guide his foot in each direction and he appeared extremely uncomfortable, so he's having a lukewarm soak now to see if it eases the tension slightly.

Attached are pictures of his maximum ankle movement, and one of how he's holding it naturally.

It's come on so randomly. Yesterday it appeared to be fine. The only abnormal behaviour I can think of is that he often stands "upright" - back legs on the ground, front propped up on his hammock, branch, anything.

It doesn't appear to be swollen. Any idea of what it could be? The only possibility I can think of is that he's managed to launch himself over and hurt himself during the day today while I was out.

 

[Sue E.]

Could be, esp if it came on so suddenly. But I cant answer that one for you.Maybe these folks can:
@AHBD
@Claudiusx
@Drache613
@xp29

 

[KarrieRee]

I see he is shedding but that would not cause the not using the ankle - does he have a hammock in the tank?

 

[charizard]

I see he is shedding but that would not cause the not using the ankle - does he have a hammock in the tank?

Yeah he has a hammock, it's not too high though and sort of sits on the floor:

 

[xp29]

He could have sprained it. Short of keeping his activity level down and keeping an eye on it, I'm not sure what else you could do.

 

[KarrieRee]

Yeah he has a hammock, it's not too high though and sort of sits on the floor:

ok so I am going to say its the hammock that has caused the injury - we see this a lot w/ these hammocks grass and the fine mesh ones- I would recommend getting a fleece or cloth one from Etsy.com - its going to heal on its own but I would get rid of the grass hammock - common injuries are feet nails and ankles etc

 

[charizard]

ok so I am going to say its the hammock that has caused the injury - we see this a lot w/ these hammocks grass and the fine mesh ones- I would recommend getting a fleece or cloth one from Etsy.com - its going to heal on its own but I would get rid of the grass hammock - common injuries are feet nails and ankles etc

Aah yeah alright good idea. I'm assuming because the holes are so large?

 

[charizard]

He could have sprained it. Short of keeping his activity level down and keeping an eye on it, I'm not sure what else you could do.

Yeaa alright thanks can't be too serious because he's not visibly in pain and he's more mobile on it now but I'll keep him lazy for a few days.

 

[Sue E.]

Yeah he has a hammock, it's not too high though and sort of sits on the floor:

He is a beautiful dragon btw!

 

[charizard]

He is a beautiful dragon btw!

AWWW thank you! He's not in his prime here lol, usually a brighter orange but he was in a bad mood lmao. Leg update, he's literally fine now lmao climbing around as normal

And so is Kai awwwww!

 

[Sue E.]

AWWW thank you! He's not in his prime here lol, usually a brighter orange but he was in a bad mood lmao. Leg update, he's literally fine now lmao climbing around as normal

And so is Kai awwwww!

Thank you! He is my long tall gray baby. So glad Charizard is doing great again!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Poor guy, I agree! So many of them tend to get their feet or ankles caught in those types of hammocks
that it injures them. He was probably trying to get himself freed up & hurt it.
He should be ok, but I would try to find a different type of hammock so he doesn't get caught in it again.
Try to clear things out in his tank so that he doesn't have to jump or climb as much to help him heal.
I hope he feels better soon.

Tracie