bearded dragon on back/previous medical issues plz help advice needed

[poolfullofworms]

my male bearded dragon is about 5-6 and has been dealing with a twitch in his stomach/lower abdomen. I took him to the vet and got an x-ray where the doctor said he could possibly have an infection in his lungs and has since been put on antibiotic shots every three days. He has since gotten his second shot and even at the vet they said he was more “spicy” when getting his second shot, and seemed to be more active at home in his tank, and eating more which i deemed a good sign. Today my mom got home from work (i was at my partners house) and noticed him on his back, belly flat, beard black, tail up, and all around relatively stiff. She called me and i had her flip him back over onto his tummy and come get me, she said he began to move around relatively soon after he got flipped back. I got home and he was able to keep his own head up and had since moved from the place he had been flipped from. His twitch seems to be slightly worse or more noticeable and has some twitching now in his back legs which i assumed was because of him being on his back, and trying to get oxygen back to all parts of his body. I do not know how long he was on his back since both my mom and i were out of the house. He seemed to recover swiftly and is moving a lot in my arms and scampering around my bed. Any and all input or advice is welcome in possibility diagnosing him or ways to help him.

 

[KarrieRee]

my male bearded dragon is about 5-6 and has been dealing with a twitch in his stomach/lower abdomen. I took him to the vet and got an x-ray where the doctor said he could possibly have an infection in his lungs and has since been put on antibiotic shots every three days. He has since gotten his second shot and even at the vet they said he was more “spicy” when getting his second shot, and seemed to be more active at home in his tank, and eating more which i deemed a good sign. Today my mom got home from work (i was at my partners house) and noticed him on his back, belly flat, beard black, tail up, and all around relatively stiff. She called me and i had her flip him back over onto his tummy and come get me, she said he began to move around relatively soon after he got flipped back. I got home and he was able to keep his own head up and had since moved from the place he had been flipped from. His twitch seems to be slightly worse or more noticeable and has some twitching now in his back legs which i assumed was because of him being on his back, and trying to get oxygen back to all parts of his body. I do not know how long he was on his back since both my mom and i were out of the house. He seemed to recover swiftly and is moving a lot in my arms and scampering around my bed. Any and all input or advice is welcome in possibility diagnosing him or ways to help him.

please go over the UVB your using coil or tube fixture and where is it in the tank ????????? It sounds like a neurological issue but I am no vet -- please post the x rays -- call and have them emailed to you and we need to have Tracie our vet tech look at them but first lets start w/ the UVB

 

[poolfullofworms]

please go over the UVB your using coil or tube fixture and where is it in the tank ????????? It sounds like a neurological issue but I am no vet -- please post the x rays -- call and have them emailed to you and we need to have Tracie our vet tech look at them but first lets start w/ the UVB

i was told by the vet that on the left side, his lungs looked darker which meant it was filled with air, where as on the right side it was a more gray-white imagine which could indicate the possible infection hence the starting on antibiotics. The twitching lessens/sometimes completely stops when he is really relaxed or sleeping. I believe his uvb lamp is a 10.0 coil light and it’s placed a few inches away from his basking lamp, and it’s sitting directly on top of his screen. I had asked my vet about possible calcium deficiency or adenovirus but she had said since i dust all of his crickets and other veggies with calcium dust it doesn’t seem like that would be the issue, and she also ruled out possible adenovirus because of the fact that he hasn’t ever been in contact with other beardies which is how it can be spread (i’m not sure how true that is, i was just taking the vets word for it) and that he also has never eaten an outdoor bug that could carry a virus, only bugs bred for reptile food.

 

[KarrieRee]

View attachment 91413
i was told by the vet that on the left side, his lungs looked darker which meant it was filled with air, where as on the right side it was a more gray-white imagine which could indicate the possible infection hence the starting on antibiotics. The twitching lessens/sometimes completely stops when he is really relaxed or sleeping. I believe his uvb lamp is a 10.0 coil light and it’s placed a few inches away from his basking lamp, and it’s sitting directly on top of his screen. I had asked my vet about possible calcium deficiency or adenovirus but she had said since i dust all of his crickets and other veggies with calcium dust it doesn’t seem like that would be the issue, and she also ruled out possible adenovirus because of the fact that he hasn’t ever been in contact with other beardies which is how it can be spread (i’m not sure how true that is, i was just taking the vets word for it) and that he also has never eaten an outdoor bug that could carry a virus, only bugs bred for reptile food.

Ok so I am flagging Tracie on this issue but in the meantime please get rid of the coil your using -- they cause so many health issues - he has not be able to absorb/ synthesize the calcium hes been getting -- please get one of the 3 UVB's I am going to post as soon as you can this is critical - you can take him outside in the mean time for good UVB -- let him sit on you for 15 min or longer - if using a plastic tote please NO lid and NO glass containers supervise him -- I dont know how hot it is where you are -- do this till you get the UVB replaced
for a 40 + gallon tank you can use this fixture 24"
Zoo Med Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood this comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you want a 22" bulb Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO
this one can be found at Pet Smart you want the 12 % bulb 24 watt
Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood this is what it looks like -- they are out of stock for the 24"
or this one Sunblaster Nano Tech you want the 24" or 2 ft fixture please replace the bulb that comes w/ the fixture that is post above the Reptisun
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjEwIn0=
when you get the UVB please post back on here your screen will determine the placement and distance for the UVB
@Drache613

 

[poolfullofworms]

Ok so I am flagging Tracie on this issue but in the meantime please get rid of the coil your using -- they cause so many health issues - he has not be able to absorb/ synthesize the calcium hes been getting -- please get one of the 3 UVB's I am going to post as soon as you can this is critical - you can take him outside in the mean time for good UVB -- let him sit on you for 15 min or longer - if using a plastic tote please NO lid and NO glass containers supervise him -- I dont know how hot it is where you are -- do this till you get the UVB replaced
for a 40 + gallon tank you can use this fixture 24"
Zoo Med Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood this comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you want a 22" bulb Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB T5 HO
this one can be found at Pet Smart you want the 12 % bulb 24 watt
Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood this is what it looks like -- they are out of stock for the 24"
or this one Sunblaster Nano Tech you want the 24" or 2 ft fixture please replace the bulb that comes w/ the fixture that is post above the Reptisun
https://hydrobuilder.com/sunblaster...mp.html?opts=eyJhdHRyaWJ1dGU5MDEiOiI2NjEwIn0=
when you get the UVB please post back on here your screen will determine the placement and distance for the UVB
@Drache613

i am looking into getting one of those hood lights instead, in the mean time he has since flipped once more after i got home i held him for hours and re-did his tank to make sure there was nothing he could’ve potentially fell off of, and he slept through the night. I just woke up and turned his day lights on, and within an hour he was flipped on his back and thankfully i saw him quickly and flipped him back over i’m so so worried about him and have no clue what is causing him to flip, i don’t know if the issue is causing him pain and if it’s within our best interest to put him down, which would truly be my last resort but i would hate to have his pass from suffocation if he were to flip again while i’m out of the house and unable to supervise him 24 hours a day.

 

[KarrieRee]

i am looking into getting one of those hood lights instead, in the mean time he has since flipped once more after i got home i held him for hours and re-did his tank to make sure there was nothing he could’ve potentially fell off of, and he slept through the night. I just woke up and turned his day lights on, and within an hour he was flipped on his back and thankfully i saw him quickly and flipped him back over i’m so so worried about him and have no clue what is causing him to flip, i don’t know if the issue is causing him pain and if it’s within our best interest to put him down, which would truly be my last resort but i would hate to have his pass from suffocation if he were to flip again while i’m out of the house and unable to supervise him 24 hours a day.

This is not good -- make sure hes on the floor of his tank -- this sounds like a neurological issue and for him to be doing this continuously is not good --- get him outside for some good UVB -- flagging Tracie again
@Drache613 ----------- he needs UVB pronto

 

[poolfullofworms]

This is not good -- make sure hes on the floor of his tank -- this sounds like a neurological issue and for him to be doing this continuously is not good --- get him outside for some good UVB -- flagging Tracie again
@Drache613 ----------- he needs UVB pronto

his tank is completely empty with the exception of one hammock in the corner slightly raised so he can get closer to his basking lamp. i’m going to the pet store for a new uvb hood as we speak, and am taking him outside for lots of natural sunlight as well, I was reading another forum on this website about a similar issue regulating a beardie and someone suggested a calcium shot for that other beardie. I have an appointment tomorrow at the vet for this third antibiotic shop, should i inquire about a calcium shot for him ?

 

[KarrieRee]

his tank is completely empty with the exception of one hammock in the corner slightly raised so he can get closer to his basking lamp. i’m going to the pet store for a new uvb hood as we speak, and am taking him outside for lots of natural sunlight as well, I was reading another forum on this website about a similar issue regulating a beardie and someone suggested a calcium shot for that other beardie. I have an appointment tomorrow at the vet for this third antibiotic shop, should i inquire about a calcium shot for him ?

I would do a calcium level on him first --- how long has he been under a coil UVB--- they should not even be allowed to sell those things they are a health hazard to dragons--- how are you getting surface basking temps off the hammock? You need a digital probe thermometer to get accurate surface basking temps- he needs to on the floor of the tank so he is not falling off of anything - how is he getting over on his back?

 

[poolfullofworms]

I would do a calcium level on him first --- how long has he been under a coil UVB--- they should not even be allowed to sell those things they are a health hazard to dragons--- how are you getting surface basking temps off the hammock? You need a digital probe thermometer to get accurate surface basking temps- he needs to on the floor of the tank so he is not falling off of anything - how is he getting over on his back?

He’s always had a coil UVB, I think a few times maybe a normal uvb bulb that isn’t a coil(?), i’ve never been told by any stores or anyone else that coils are an issue so it’s what he’s had for a lot of his life, I wish I would’ve known sooner that they are bad. He has a digital thermometer with a probe, and currently has on his basking heat lamp, and ceramic heating bulb, and his new UVB hood. His new uvb hood was recommended by our pet shop we go to and they’ve been really helpful when it’s came to helping to figuring out his health issues, it’s an Arcadia ProT5 with a 12% UVB. the temp in his cage semi fluctuates between 95- but i got the ceramic heating bulb to bump up that temp to over 100. I used to have a few sticks and hammocks in his cage that were about half of the height of his cage, but I took them out immediately after finding him flipped the first time because I thought that could be the cause of him flipping, and redid his cage to make it much lower risk. But when i saw him flipped this morning he was nowhere near his current hammock's, I didn’t see him flip but i’m assuming he’s flipping himself some how, but i have no idea how. I am looking into getting a video baby-monitor camera to keep a closer eye on him if I can’t be home.

would it benefit him more immediately to be outside and get uvb that way, or should i keep him under his new light ? is one better than another for “immediate” results ???

 

[KarrieRee]

He’s always had a coil UVB, I think a few times maybe a normal uvb bulb that isn’t a coil(?), i’ve never been told by any stores or anyone else that coils are an issue so it’s what he’s had for a lot of his life, I wish I would’ve known sooner that they are bad. He has a digital thermometer with a probe, and currently has on his basking heat lamp, and ceramic heating bulb, and his new UVB hood. His new uvb hood was recommended by our pet shop we go to and they’ve been really helpful when it’s came to helping to figuring out his health issues, it’s an Arcadia ProT5 with a 12% UVB. the temp in his cage semi fluctuates between 95- but i got the ceramic heating bulb to bump up that temp to over 100. I used to have a few sticks and hammocks in his cage that were about half of the height of his cage, but I took them out immediately after finding him flipped the first time because I thought that could be the cause of him flipping, and redid his cage to make it much lower risk. But when i saw him flipped this morning he was nowhere near his current hammock's, I didn’t see him flip but i’m assuming he’s flipping himself some how, but i have no idea how. I am looking into getting a video baby-monitor camera to keep a closer eye on him if I can’t be home.

would it benefit him more immediately to be outside and get uvb that way, or should i keep him under his new light ? is one better than another for “immediate” results ???

Where is the uvb - I want you to put it 12 inches directly above him NO screen- he needs direct uvb and both are good outside and inside- the damage is there we don't want it getting any worse--- it's going to be a slow process but he won't get any worse--- start giving calcium D 3 once a week and regular calcium on his insects-lightly coat them is he eating? I need Tracie to advise on this she's the vet tech

 

[poolfullofworms]

Where is the uvb - I want you to put it 12 inches directly above him NO screen- he needs direct uvb and both are good outside and inside- the damage is there we don't want it getting any worse--- it's going to be a slow process but he won't get any worse--- start giving calcium D 3 once a week and regular calcium on his insects-lightly coat them is he eating? I need Tracie to advise on this she's the vet tech

he hasn’t wanted to eat since his first fall in his back yesterday, but the day before then he ate an entire salad and about 6-8 crickets dusted with calcium a few days before then. I got him a dozen crickets today as possible incentive to eat and dusted them with calcium, as well as given him a fresh salad that he will hopefully eat. I will make sure to get him outside in the sun as well. His uvb lamp is on top of his cage on a screen because i don’t have clamps to have the cage opened, i also have cats, and they’ve never messed with my beardie but i get anxious leaving the screen off just in case. he has a 55 gallon tank and its long and kind of skinny, the light is about 15 inches from him.

 

[KarrieRee]

The screen will block 30% of the rays - close the room off take the screen off and place directly over him - you can let the cats back in the room when your in there or if he's had a good portion of the day uvb - 12 inches above him

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Did they do a blood test also or just the x-ray? It does appear that there is a shaded area which can
sometimes indicate infection, etc. Which antibiotic did the vet put him on?
As Karrie suggested, a better quality UVB light would be very helpful for him. He could also be
developing metabolic bone disease due to improper UVB lighting.
Has he had a black beard lately or is it normal color right now?

Let us know how he is doing .
Tracie

 

[poolfullofworms]

Hello,

Did they do a blood test also or just the x-ray? It does appear that there is a shaded area which can
sometimes indicate infection, etc. Which antibiotic did the vet put him on?
As Karrie suggested, a better quality UVB light would be very helpful for him. He could also be
developing metabolic bone disease due to improper UVB lighting.
Has he had a black beard lately or is it normal color right now?

Let us know how he is doing .
Tracie

they only did the x-ray, and he is on Ceftazidime
shots every 3 days. He has been having some black beard recently and is generally more temperamental than he usually is, he’s usually a super chill beardie. since this morning and getting the new uvb set up he hasn’t fipped at all, and i took karrie’s advice and took the hammock out of his cage completely so his cage is completely empty with no risk of falling off of anything and flipping. I am taking turns being on watch with my mom and she said she saw him eat a few crickets which are dusted with calcium, which i’m glad to hear because he hasn’t wanted to eat much otherwise since his first flip the other day.

i’m worried there could be multiple issues wrong with him now, i’m going to the vet tomorrow for his third dose of antibiotics and going to see if i can get in with the vet to possible talk about getting a blood test and a calcium shot if needed.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

When are you going to the vet, today which is Monday?
The Ceftz is a commonly used medication for infections. Be sure to keep him well hydrated while on this medication so he doesn't get dehydrated.
I hope that there isn't anything serious going on but hopefully the vet is thorough.
A blood test would be helpful. Please post the results when you can.

Tracie