Damieboo
Hatchling Member
I took in a bearded dragon a little less than a year ago. Someone found her in a pool hanging onto a pool skimmer and offered her up on Facebook. She was really thin and dirty but had a huge appetite and was really active when I first got her. I estimated her age to be under 2 years based on the shape and color of her teeth (very sharp and white). About 2 months in, her front right hand swelled up and she was limping on it pretty badly. Then 2 weeks later the swelling disappeared and she was fine. Another month after that, her left hand swelled up, same thing, it just disappeared after a week. It's been on and off like that and I looked up the symptoms and it sounded like gout flare-ups. Fast forward to 3 months ago, both of her back legs stiffened up. They don't look swollen or anything but she shivers when I touch them or try to stretch them out. Just recently both of her hands swelled up so she's almost immobile. Though it doesn't stop her from trying to run around by shimmying and using her chin. I can't tell how much pain she's in because I wouldn't think she'd aggravate the swelling by trying to move around all the time.
Anyways 4 months ago I was looking up ways to improve gout and a couple websites said to reduce the protein in their diet and make sure they're getting lots of water and calcium. So I switched her from supers and dubias every day to greens (yellow squash, zucchini & collard greens) 2 days, 3-4 supers with greens 1 day, then more greens the next 2 days, etc. And I've gotten her to drink water from a small syringe so that I don't have to stress her by moving her into a tub every day. I'm not really sure why her symptoms have gotten worse, or if it's even gout at all. She has a brand new UVB and her basking spot is 109 with the cool side at 79. I check on her every now and then and she moves between the hot side and the cool side. She has a hammock under her light but she isn't able to get up there anymore. At least I know she's actively basking so that's a good sign. I just don't really know what to do. I can take her to the vet for x-rays to see the shape her joints and bones are in but there isn't an exotic vet in town so x-rays are all they can give me.
Anyways 4 months ago I was looking up ways to improve gout and a couple websites said to reduce the protein in their diet and make sure they're getting lots of water and calcium. So I switched her from supers and dubias every day to greens (yellow squash, zucchini & collard greens) 2 days, 3-4 supers with greens 1 day, then more greens the next 2 days, etc. And I've gotten her to drink water from a small syringe so that I don't have to stress her by moving her into a tub every day. I'm not really sure why her symptoms have gotten worse, or if it's even gout at all. She has a brand new UVB and her basking spot is 109 with the cool side at 79. I check on her every now and then and she moves between the hot side and the cool side. She has a hammock under her light but she isn't able to get up there anymore. At least I know she's actively basking so that's a good sign. I just don't really know what to do. I can take her to the vet for x-rays to see the shape her joints and bones are in but there isn't an exotic vet in town so x-rays are all they can give me.
