RhapsodySanctuary
Member
As some of you may know I run a rescue and sanctuary in Canada.
This year I have had an issue come to my attention that I think needs addressing, and I think there may be more people out there needing support for these seemingly neurologically sound disabilities.
I have five dragons now, of varying sizes and ages that have a specific pinched nerve in a part of their neck that slowly paralizes them. It starts as one lady described as the dragon "hugging itself" then as it grows it cannot move its shoulders, and eventually cannot walk on any of its legs. The oldest one I have is 2 and a 1/2 and she army crawls around, seemingly on her wrists like a gorilla, but without the ability to be upright.
I am wondering if anyone else is experienced with this, or if anyone is struggling to figure out what to do with them...I have heard over and over again from the people surrendering these guys that it "MUST be sever MBD" the truth is most of them are very strong, smarter than some of my personally raised dragons, and have the ability to adapt and problem solve in a deeper sense than I usually get to see. Hope is the oldest of the five, and she has helped me learn how to take care of the other four, I use rubber shelf liners to help her drag herself, she uses her belly scales to slither along it (yes I know weird)
The fact of the matter is I'd like people out there with these dragons to know it ISNT MBD its a very badly pinched nerve in the upper part of the back, the result of three different species of dragons being hybridized together (a technical result of giant lines crossing with smaller dragon lines)
Two of my dragons have had xrays, the other three are too small, and I know what the results will say.
On a random point all five of these dragons have the same pattern mutation -vertical double stripes, and I know for a fact not al five ae produced by the same person, they are from at least three breeders.
All things to take into consideration if you think your animal may have this problem.
They can catch food but I hand feed them to make sure they get enough. The oldest has to eat in bursts so she doesn't throw up (she cant properly tense her lower stomach muscles)
They get a concoction of diced veggies everyday - cabbage, dandelion, kale, carrot,and blueberries today all mixed with soft pellets, just to make sure they get what they need.
Each one has it's own tank and all my dragons are under 4foot reptisun 10.0 desert bulbs, exo terra. and a four foot industrial LED bulb, and they have under tank heating on 1/8 of the tank, under a brick. No substrate, newspaper, or for my disabled dragons I use shelf liner.
everyone has a cave and a stick, the disabled ones get a log, that sits on the ground.
I use lego to create textured rails they can pull themselves on, it works well for them!
The youngest dragon I have rescued like this is only a couple months old -
Please give me suggestions as to how to help them, they appreciate it
Or let me help you, if you are just finding out about this
This year I have had an issue come to my attention that I think needs addressing, and I think there may be more people out there needing support for these seemingly neurologically sound disabilities.
I have five dragons now, of varying sizes and ages that have a specific pinched nerve in a part of their neck that slowly paralizes them. It starts as one lady described as the dragon "hugging itself" then as it grows it cannot move its shoulders, and eventually cannot walk on any of its legs. The oldest one I have is 2 and a 1/2 and she army crawls around, seemingly on her wrists like a gorilla, but without the ability to be upright.
I am wondering if anyone else is experienced with this, or if anyone is struggling to figure out what to do with them...I have heard over and over again from the people surrendering these guys that it "MUST be sever MBD" the truth is most of them are very strong, smarter than some of my personally raised dragons, and have the ability to adapt and problem solve in a deeper sense than I usually get to see. Hope is the oldest of the five, and she has helped me learn how to take care of the other four, I use rubber shelf liners to help her drag herself, she uses her belly scales to slither along it (yes I know weird)
The fact of the matter is I'd like people out there with these dragons to know it ISNT MBD its a very badly pinched nerve in the upper part of the back, the result of three different species of dragons being hybridized together (a technical result of giant lines crossing with smaller dragon lines)
Two of my dragons have had xrays, the other three are too small, and I know what the results will say.
On a random point all five of these dragons have the same pattern mutation -vertical double stripes, and I know for a fact not al five ae produced by the same person, they are from at least three breeders.
All things to take into consideration if you think your animal may have this problem.
They can catch food but I hand feed them to make sure they get enough. The oldest has to eat in bursts so she doesn't throw up (she cant properly tense her lower stomach muscles)
They get a concoction of diced veggies everyday - cabbage, dandelion, kale, carrot,and blueberries today all mixed with soft pellets, just to make sure they get what they need.
Each one has it's own tank and all my dragons are under 4foot reptisun 10.0 desert bulbs, exo terra. and a four foot industrial LED bulb, and they have under tank heating on 1/8 of the tank, under a brick. No substrate, newspaper, or for my disabled dragons I use shelf liner.
everyone has a cave and a stick, the disabled ones get a log, that sits on the ground.
I use lego to create textured rails they can pull themselves on, it works well for them!
The youngest dragon I have rescued like this is only a couple months old -
Please give me suggestions as to how to help them, they appreciate it
Or let me help you, if you are just finding out about this