Lame Leg on Pogi

[pogismom]

I just noticed that Pogi's back left leg appears to be lame. I have seen him dangling it from his basking tree but just thought he was letting it hang down. But then I noticed how he hasn't been bending it or trying to grip anything with his nails on that foot.

At closer inspection he is definitely favoring all his other legs. When I try to move it or gently bend it at the knee joint it doesn't respond. When I stroke it the leg has little tremors and he seems bothered.

He has been climbing up and down his tree to sleep eat and bask. He appetite is ok...though not voracious. He gets daily soaks and he has a reptisun 10 strip light that hangs inside the cage and is about 6 inches away plus his heat lamp temps are about 94-106 depending on which point I take it with the infra red clicker temp...there is a temp gauge wrapped around his basking spot that reads more in the mid-90's...

He has been pooping more eratically...instead of every day maybe every other day or every two-three days. When he poops lately they are quite large.

He has fresh veggies, juvie pellet moistened, and beardie bites...but I honestly don't think he eats much if any of that but I offer it to him daily. Plus a small dish of fresh water. Live feeders include dubias, phoenix or repti worms which he snubs a lot of times, butter worms, wax worms small super worms and recently goliath hornworms. None are a staple and are rotated around. I dust his feeders more than his veggies since he eats that more readily and because I mix the beardie bites and pellets with the greens. I rotate the calcium with vitamins with the calcium w D3 powder.

His substrate is a tile floor that I switched to after his bout with pinworms and coccidia, Much easier to clean and maintain. Though he does have one of my handcrafted hammocks and sleeper sacks I make and sell that he gets comfy in too.

I have a vet apt for him in the morning. I wonder if this is an injury, or impaction, or early metabolic bone disease....he is only 10.5 inches long.

Will post again after vet visit. Meanwhile, if anyone else has had this experience or knows of ways to help him get better please do post a response.

Thank you!

 

[CooperDragon]

My first thought was possibly impaction but as far as I know that's likely to affect both back legs. And since he's pooping regularly I'd be more inclined to rule that out. The tremors concern me. It's possible that he could have injured it. I agree with your decision to go see the vet. I don't want to speculate further because it would just be guessing on my part. I wish I could be of more help on this one. Please let us know how the vet visit goes.

 

[Taterbug]

How often are you dusting the insects with calcium? (Some vitamins don't have calcium, depending on the brand you have) what greens are you feeding?
Good luck at the vets!

 

[pogismom]

I dust his greens or his feeders daily w zoo med complete 2x/wk or repti-cal w D3 5x/wk unless he is getting Phoenix worms then I don't dust that day.

In thinking he may have injured it jumping out if tree for his worms since my substrate is tile... But I never saw that actual occur.

 

[Taterbug]

It could be from a fall or even getting the leg snagged on something, I wouldn't think MDB since you are dusting regularly.
I don't care for how hard tile is, I worry about falls or leaps as the case maybe. Hopefully, whatever it is is just a little sore and not a big deal.

 

[pogismom]

Got back from vet today. Well...it appears his leg was not broken. It is worse than that. It is septic arthritis. Apparently, it is something beardies can get especially if they have a compromised immune system. Considering the bout of pinworms and coccidia he had when I got him he may have become vulnerable to other things while he was ill.

It can be genetic too which means even if we get this under control, which can take 2-3 months of antibiotics...it may show up again, or be in his blood or even his heart. In other words, not looking good for any long term survival.

So we are going to start treatments and see how he is in a month. Amputation was not an option really because the vet was concerned if he has an immune issue that he may not survive that kind of stress on his system. Meantime, we will keep him happy and comfortable. He is a sweet little boy. Vet thinks it is a breeding issue too...so I will definitely be researching reputable places for any future adoptions of breeders.

 

[CooperDragon]

Oh no I'm sorry to hear that. I hope he isn't suffering too much. Best wishes to both of you!

 

[pogismom]

Thank you CooperDragon...definitely not the news I expected to hear. Never even heard of septic arthritis before, but apparently beardies are at the top of the list in the vet book. Course my vet said I was the first case she has seen.

I just don't want him to suffer...so until I see signs of that or if the treatments show little to no improvements, then I will put him to sleep. I am probably more upset with the company that distributes these animals to petco & petsmart...for they are causing these genetic situations. Our Petco managers are pretty good though, for they wrote a long report against their supplier when a pair of skinks came in without any proper heating pads and were frozen at arrival. They managed to revive one, but the other was lost. So I know they don't take these kinds of things lightly either.

What made matters worse is just as I was checking out a young couple came in with their two year old beardie...he was gorgeous! An orange sun color with red beard and was as long as her arm. She was kind to let me pet him. My heart sank knowing Pogi would never make it to that size. It was strange too for all the times I have gone to the vet I had never seen anyone walk in with a beardie before....she said she bought hers two years ago at Repticom.

Well, at least I know I gave my Pogi a good life...whatever that may be. He would not have survived with anyone else I'm sure. And he has given me a new understanding, appreciation, and love for his kind.

 

[CooperDragon]

He's lucky to be with someone who cares for him so much. I'm sure he appreciates it and is happy. Does your vet work with any specialists? When Coop had a swollen hand our vet worked with a specialist at University of Illinois to diagnose and treat gout. We were able to bring him out to U of I for a checkup and they had access to all sorts of relatively advanced equipment and research experience. Perhaps there is a doctor out there who has experience treating septic arthritis who can help, even if remotely.

 

[Taterbug]

I'm so sorry to hear about Pogi's diagnosis. He is very lucky to have an owner there to stick with him! It's so heartbreaking when it's beyond our control. Good luck with his treatment, I hope he improves.

 

[KarenInCA]

Poor little guy. It must be sore, being arthritis. I just read that you can also keep the hot side of the tank a bit hotter to make it hurt a little less.

 

[pogismom]

Thank you... The vet gave him antibiotics and antibswelling meds so I hope he will be starting to at least feel better. I did turn up his heat lamp especially since I had to lower his basking spot to prevent potential injury from a fall.

I told my kids tonight sbout his prognosis and they are upset and angry that pet stores buy from irresponsible breeding companies. They all loved Pogi... Even my husbAnd who refused to let me get him at first...Is feeling bad. While we know illness happens you just want to at least see you pet have a full life span.

Again..thank you for the encouraging posts.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am so sorry about Pogi's leg.
Septic arthritis is opportunistic & I have seen more cases on here in the last few years, definitely.
He may have contracted it when he was so ill. Which antibiotic is he on?
I would recommend getting some immune system boosters also to help in case the infection isn't localized.
I agree, a lot of the larger breeders simply inbreed & don't look at the future consequences of their actions. That is why adeno spread as it did.

How is he doing today?

Tracie

 

[Tonja]

I am so very sorry to hear about Pogi. I have him and you in my thoughts and prayers that he will improve.

 

[CooperDragon]

You and Pogi are on my mind. I wish you the best!