Beardie's Back Legs Dragging?

[kjbolanos]

My beardie named Toasty is sort've "lazy". He had a small form of MBD about a month or more ago before when his head and occasionally his limbs would start trembling for a few seconds. Now he does not tremble at all and we try to put him in direct sunlight for at least an hour everyday as long as the sun is shining. Unfortunatly in CA, there had been a lot of rainy days.

What's interesting is that HE CAN MOVE THEM. He can grip with his claws. HE CAN CLIMB ANYTHING NO PROBLEM IF HE NEEDED TO. It almost feels like he doesn't want to or he is lazy.

He has had this issue for a while. My husband thinka I spoiled him a little. I feed him by putting him in a container and letting him catch passing crickets for 10-15 minutes.

Before, in his glass terrarium, the Reptisun 10.0 was within 6 inches near his basking spot. Now we temporarily put in a small box in his very large wooden enclosure to put him near the UVA/UVB light which is a Repti Glo 10.0 T8 20W.

One of my friends just told me that it may just be how he is. I see him " dragging" with a little help of his back legs like hes pushing himself. If you put him in a particlar spot, 90% of the time he will most likely be there for the whole day. I end up putting him near his basking spot. I'm going to ask my local reptile shop about this health issue/behavior soon.

Today, my husband had me put crickets inside his large home to see if he hunted well. He was very slow and sluggish and it took him about 20 minutes to catch his fill. Pretty much he half dragged himself everywhere, missing his prey quite a few times.

Yes, I dust his crickets everyday with Calcium-D3 and multivitamens
Yes, I dust his vegetables and he eats them.
Yes, the temperature is ideal for my beardie; basking spot, cool side and air temp.
Yes, I arranged his spot so that he is closer to the UVA/UVB light in his new home. He was well within that height reccomended in his glass terrarium as well.

Could the previous MBD damaged his legs? Does he still had MBD? Or is it just how he is? Or did I really spoil him to be lazy since I fed him in a small tupperware and the crickets literally came up to him to eat? It seems kind've strange since he eats very well and he seems healthy...

 

[kingofnobbys]

My beardie named Toasty is sort've "lazy". He had a small form of MBD about a month or more ago before when his head and occasionally his limbs would start trembling for a few seconds. Now he does not tremble at all and we try to put him in direct sunlight for at least an hour everyday as long as the sun is shining. Unfortunatly in CA, there had been a lot of rainy days.

What's interesting is that HE CAN MOVE THEM. He can grip with his claws. HE CAN CLIMB ANYTHING NO PROBLEM IF HE NEEDED TO. It almost feels like he doesn't want to or he is lazy.

He has had this issue for a while. My husband thinka I spoiled him a little. I feed him by putting him in a container and letting him catch passing crickets for 10-15 minutes.

Before, in his glass terrarium, the Reptisun 10.0 was within 6 inches near his basking spot. Now we temporarily put in a small box in his very large wooden enclosure to put him near the UVA/UVB light which is a Repti Glo 10.0 T8 20W.

One of my friends just told me that it may just be how he is. I see him " dragging" with a little help of his back legs like hes pushing himself. If you put him in a particlar spot, 90% of the time he will most likely be there for the whole day. I end up putting him near his basking spot. I'm going to ask my local reptile shop about this health issue/behavior soon. <<<< ask a reptile shop ??? wth ask them ???, they are highly unlikely to know diddlysquat about this kind of disability in a reptile, I'd be asking a competent local reptile vet for an appointment for them to see your beardie and examine him.

Today, my husband had me put crickets inside his large home to see if he hunted well. He was very slow and sluggish and it took him about 20 minutes to catch his fill. Pretty much he half dragged himself everywhere, missing his prey quite a few times.

Yes, I dust his crickets everyday with Calcium-D3 and multivitamens
Yes, I dust his vegetables and he eats them.
Yes, the temperature is ideal for my beardie; basking spot, cool side and air temp.
Yes, I arranged his spot so that he is closer to the UVA/UVB light in his new home. He was well within that height reccomended in his glass terrarium as well.

Could the previous MBD damaged his legs? Does he still had MBD? Or is it just how he is? Or did I really spoil him to be lazy since I fed him in a small tupperware and the crickets literally came up to him to eat? It seems kind've strange since he eats very well and he seems healthy...

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....yes, sadly it sounds like MBD. He may be better off in his old glass tank until [ and if ] he starts doing better and get the Reptisun 10.0 bulb again. Sounds like he's getting plenty of calcium....the only thing a vet could do is prescribe liquid calcium. If you have an experienced reptile vet you may still opt to take him in, just be aware that an inexperienced vet can cost you a lot + not be of any help. It IS good that he can still move around though....maybe he will regain his strength. If you could get a video to post here that would be good.

 

[JessPets]

My beardie named Toasty is sort've "lazy". He had a small form of MBD about a month or more ago before when his head and occasionally his limbs would start trembling for a few seconds. Now he does not tremble at all and we try to put him in direct sunlight for at least an hour everyday as long as the sun is shining. Unfortunatly in CA, there had been a lot of rainy days.

What's interesting is that HE CAN MOVE THEM. He can grip with his claws. HE CAN CLIMB ANYTHING NO PROBLEM IF HE NEEDED TO. It almost feels like he doesn't want to or he is lazy.

He has had this issue for a while. My husband thinka I spoiled him a little. I feed him by putting him in a container and letting him catch passing crickets for 10-15 minutes.

Before, in his glass terrarium, the Reptisun 10.0 was within 6 inches near his basking spot. Now we temporarily put in a small box in his very large wooden enclosure to put him near the UVA/UVB light which is a Repti Glo 10.0 T8 20W.

One of my friends just told me that it may just be how he is. I see him " dragging" with a little help of his back legs like hes pushing himself. If you put him in a particlar spot, 90% of the time he will most likely be there for the whole day. I end up putting him near his basking spot. I'm going to ask my local reptile shop about this health issue/behavior soon. <<<< ask a reptile shop ??? wth ask them ???, they are highly unlikely to know diddlysquat about this kind of disability in a reptile, I'd be asking a competent local reptile vet for an appointment for them to see your beardie and examine him.

Today, my husband had me put crickets inside his large home to see if he hunted well. He was very slow and sluggish and it took him about 20 minutes to catch his fill. Pretty much he half dragged himself everywhere, missing his prey quite a few times.

Yes, I dust his crickets everyday with Calcium-D3 and multivitamens
Yes, I dust his vegetables and he eats them.
Yes, the temperature is ideal for my beardie; basking spot, cool side and air temp.
Yes, I arranged his spot so that he is closer to the UVA/UVB light in his new home. He was well within that height reccomended in his glass terrarium as well.

Could the previous MBD damaged his legs? Does he still had MBD? Or is it just how he is? Or did I really spoil him to be lazy since I fed him in a small tupperware and the crickets literally came up to him to eat? It seems kind've strange since he eats very well and he seems healthy...

What's wrong with a reptile shop? Yes, a vet would be better, but we have a reptile shop near us that is very knowledgeable. Just because some are bad, doesn't mean they are ALL bad.

 

[kjbolanos]

Just an update, I took him to the vet today.

They injected calcium and some vitamens and sent me home with a calcium supplement of 0.2ml per day oral for 30 days.

I wanted to share just a few things the doctor said. It took me an hour to find a very good rated vet place that specializes in reptiles and exotic pets. All the vets close by didn't seem to treat reptiles (in particular) even though they say they do. Took me 30 min to get to this one small but great exotic animal vet but It was the only best one. The staff were very nice and kind. The doctor seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

They said that his legs and his behavior are classic symptoms of MBD as suspected. Sadly, he said that even though cricket dusting is giving him SOME of his vital nutrition, the dusting is like (as he decribed) putting salt on popcorn. Meaning it tends to fall off when he eats them or something. He reccomended to get cricket gutloading supplements (-_- which for some weird reason my local reptile shop is closed when they are suppose to be open lol). So first thing in the morning, i will go buy some.

Also, I asked the doctor if he will gain full control of his legs. He told me that he may gain most, but not all :/. He said as long as we take action now to regain his legs, he should recover in about a month.
Also, the bill was not horrendous it was very reasonable.

And regarding asking the reptile shop for info, I know a lot of pet stores tend to give false information on how to take care of their reptile. But I go to this place called the Reptile Room in CA. The owner and the helper there really helped me out a lot. They give me all kinds of tips and they have experience with bearded dragons and other reptile care.

The doctor said to bring him back in 30 days to see his progress. It was a very good clinic. I just hope Toasty will be healthier :/

Heres the vet address if anyone would like to Know:

Benjamin A. Otten, DVM
allCREATURES veterinary clinic
10305 San Pablo Ave.
El Cerrito, CA 94530
[email protected]

 

[Taterbug]

Glad you found a good vet - makes sure you get a good dry gutload; did the vet give out a brand to look for? The "fortified gel" gutload a are rubbish.

 

[kjbolanos]

Glad you found a good vet - makes sure you get a good dry gutload; did the vet give out a brand to look for? The "fortified gel" gutload a are rubbish.

They mentioned Flukers. Is it the best gutloader? (.-.)