HELP! Not eating and loss of 2 leg use. Getting Worse!

[jjewells]

I have no idea what is wrong. I had him out yesterday and he was walking around all happy and fine. Then when I checked on him today he had not eaten anything from yesterday or today. He is about 2 months old, has a 1'x4' tank with water. Heat lamp and UVB light. He refuses to eat any greens (since I have had him). Was eating only crickets. I tried meal worms last week and ate them. When I took him out with morning he was only using 3 legs. One back leg was just dragging. After I got home from work I took him out again and now he is not using one of his front legs now. I have no idea what the problem is. I do use calcium powder on his crickets... Advice please!

 

[2818micheal]

well i am no expert but he could be constipated and do u also use vitamin d with the calcium he needs both to obsorb it

 

[MissT]

Hi there... im sorry you are having these problems... answering the following questions might help us figure out what is going on...

How long have you had him?
When was the last time he pooped?
How many live feeders do you offer per day? What feeders do you usually feed?
What is the temp in the basking spot/cool side? How are you measuring this?
What brand is the uv light? Is it a coil/compact or linear flourescent tube?
How close can he get to the basking light and uv light?
What substrate are you using?
Where do you feed him?
Do you bath him or offer water orally?

 

[jjewells]

Hi there... im sorry you are having these problems... answering the following questions might help us figure out what is going on...

How long have you had him?
When was the last time he pooped?
How many live feeders do you offer per day? What feeders do you usually feed?
What is the temp in the basking spot/cool side? How are you measuring this?
What brand is the uv light? Is it a coil/compact or linear flourescent tube?
How close can he get to the basking light and uv light?
What substrate are you using?
Where do you feed him?
Do you bath him or offer water orally?

I have had him since he was about 5 weeks. He pooped a couple of days ago. I usually give him about 5 in the morning and 5 when I get home. I give him small crickets. The temp in the basking side is about 90, and on the cool side about 70, I have 2 thermometers. I think it is a compact light. He can get 2" away from the light. if substrate means the bottom stuff I am using the green solid ground that you can remove and wash. I feed him in the tank. I dont bath him very often but he does have a large water dish and I do spray him.

 

[jjewells]

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the white stuff in the tank is the cal powder from when i put the crickets in

http://i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i451/jjewells/2011-11-17190010.jpg

 

[jjewells]

why did my pictures not work?

 

[jjewells]

There we go, sorry about all the posts

 

[MissT]

Ok, firstly, I would switch off the coil light. They cause lethargy, lack of appetite and eye problems as well as metabolic bone disease. You should get a reptiSUN 10 linear tube. Www.petmountain.com sell them. You will need a fixture for this -available at most hardware stores.
Next, it looks like you are using calcium without D3... You need calcium with D3.
Finally, his basking temp is not hot enough- the temp of the surface should be 105-110. You should measure this with a digital therm with probe (available aylt walmart).
I think that's everything that you need to sort right away... I'm on my phone so hope I didn't miss anything. Just switch the coil off immediately and get the reptisun asap... He is better off with no uv for a few days than to have that coil.
Good luck!
Keep us posted!

 

[jjewells]

will do. Thanks! I will let you know what happens

 

[jberntsenr]

I am new to all of this myself but I have read that if they haven't pooped and stop eating they may be constipated. Also, not using his legs is a sign of impaction? They say to give them a warm bath and message their belly to help them poop. We did this one with Cora and it worked immediately :shock:

 

[2lizards]

Please do not feed him any more meal worms, beardies do not digest them well. Have you given him a bath to see if he improves? Sometimes baths help.

 

[GlueStick]

The combination of poor heat, mealworms, improper UVB, and an over abundance of calcium may have caused the constipation. Without the proper heat, your poor little guy cannot digest crickets, let along the harder chiten shells of the mealworms you have been offering. Too much calcium can also cause constipation. The observed 'leg loss' is usually associated with the nerve pressure implemented by the constipation or a lack of D3 in the diet. I would do as MissT suggested of course =) and correct your husbandry.
And I would certainly begin to soak him in water up to the shoulders in temperatures just slightly above room temperature for 10-15 minutes so that he may be able to pass it.

Let us know how it goes and keep us updated =D

-Glue

 

[jjewells]

So he pooped this morning! It was a little one though. He still seams very weak to me. How do I get him to eat? and is there anything I should give him? I have got the proper lighting and the powder with the Vit D. Is there anything else I can do?

 

[2818micheal]

nope just keep up what u r now doing and pray. the water baths could be done every day until regular bowel movents occur.

 

[Mirthy]

you can try offering a bit of baby food on the tip of his nose (not over his nostrils, of course) and see if he will lick this off) this will help him stay hydrated. apple sauce is a bit of a appetite suppressant but I understand it can sometimes help with bowel movements. I've seen prune baby food work, too ...but I'd use only a VERY little. Otherwise, just offer squash stage 1 or stage 2...or other veggie baby food you would normally feed a dragon. You can also use turkey and chicken if he hasn't eaten for a while so he can still get his protein.

This is just one possible cause for what is troubling your beardie. It is the most common which is why everyone is suggesting it. There are other neurological possibilities but you're really going to have to see a vet to get a true diagnosis, naturally.
I think both back legs is more common?? You are describing both legs on one side, yes?

Best of luck to you, please keep us updated. We are all pulling for you and your little dragon.