I think my Beardie just broke a rib

[Riolunator1820]

I was holding my Beardie, Elric, a few minutes ago and he was fast asleep when out of nowhere he raised his head and jumped out of my arms, and usually I catch him when he does this, but I wasn't fast enough and he his the ground hard. When I picked him up, I felt a think I felt a loose rib, so I am now worrying because i don't want him hurt or to die. The closest vet to me cost $55 just to get an animal seen. The fact that he is a leatherback worries me even more since his scales are much softer than that of one of my other dragons. He was very expensive to get in the first place, so I try to take best of care with him. I am just very worried he could get very sick or hurt from this. He doesn't have any punctured​ skin or anything, so I am just wondering if I should just wrap him in gauze and put him to bed for the night. I am really worried for his safety with this. Anyone have an idea as to what I should do?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Do you have a picture of your dragon & of the rib that seems out of place?
Does he seem to be in any pain at all, is his beard dark?
Leatherbacks are quite expensive!
Just try to keep him as quiet & calm as possible overnight, until you can get him in to
see a vet. How far of a fall did he have?

Tracie

 

[Riolunator1820]

Hello,

Do you have a picture of your dragon & of the rib that seems out of place?
Does he seem to be in any pain at all, is his beard dark?
Leatherbacks are quite expensive!
Just try to keep him as quiet & calm as possible overnight, until you can get him in to
see a vet. How far of a fall did he have?

Tracie

I'm guessing it was about 3-4 feet he fall , and I couldn't get a picture of it at all onfortunatly. At least keeping him calm is relatively easy, since he usually only darkens his beard if someone touches the tip of his tail. The reason I think he broke a rib is because when I picked him up off our hardwood flooring, it felt as though Justin was broken in half.the main reason I am worried is it unusual Andheri is also more sensitive to me touching his belly

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, leatherbacks skin/scales doesn't compromise their health in any way, it would not cause him any more damage in a fall.

He should be fine, just observe how he gets around today. A broken rib would eventually heal but you would want to remove any high basking areas and don't handle him too much. If he seems very lethargic you might get him to a vet. A broken rib would not be an emergency but if there was internal bleeding that would be. He would be acting sickly if that was the case. If in doubt, take him to an experienced reptile vet. But a rib will heal on it's own.

 

[Riolunator1820]

Hi there, leatherbacks skin/scales doesn't compromise their health in any way, it would not cause him any more damage in a fall.

He should be fine, just observe how he gets around today. A broken rib would eventually heal but you would want to remove any high basking areas and don't handle him too much. If he seems very lethargic you might get him to a vet. A broken rib would not be an emergency but if there was internal bleeding that would be. He would be acting sickly if that was the case. If in doubt, take him to an experienced reptile vet. But a rib will heal on it's own.

Thank you, I will get right on to taking some of the stuff out of his tank, and making some slopes for him to get around easier.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is he doing today?
If he isn't acting lethargic, or has a black beard like he would if he was in distress, then hopefully nothing is out of place. Is he eating normally & basking?
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[Riolunator1820]

Hello,

How is he doing today?
If he isn't acting lethargic, or has a black beard like he would if he was in distress, then hopefully nothing is out of place. Is he eating normally & basking?
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

Elric is doing fine, great in fact, tho he did turn down a cricket. at least he never turns down raspberries or mealworms! Plus the only time i have noticed him have a black beard is when he had shed stuck on the back of his head. His basking however is a slight problem, since he has been staying on the dark side of his tank. I put my female beardie, Eragon, in with him and he cheared right up. Plus he is 9 months old, so i dont worry about him attacking her, or vice versa, because he is a good foot and 2 inches. they got along great for a while while i had to get Eragon's tank a new lightbulb. The only problem that i have expirienced with Elric recently however is he only drinks out of a food dish, unlike all my other dragons that drink running water out of my hand, and the fact that he soiled a pillow i had in his tank for him to bask on. Other than that, he is just great!