MBD

[jgolden4958]

I am currently "babysitting" a beardie until the people who owned her get their own place. It's a long story. I'm very knowledgeable about bearded dragons and that's why they asked me, I guess. Anyway, I don't have any experience with MBD because all the dragons I had were bought as babies and always had the correct setup/food. She can move but it's like her muscles don't work. She walks on her wrists, and if she's just moving slowly, she won't even bother trying to move her back legs. Is this a MBD thing? I thought that MBD affected the bones, not the muscles. I'm going to do some more research into it, but her owners didn't have the right set up for her to begin with. I went out and got her the T5 UVB, they had one of the coil ones on her, and they didn't have a working basking light. She's doing really well now, considering. I got worried the first couple of days until she pooped but she's been having regular poops now, so she's not impacted. She's blind in one eye. It's clear when she's trying to eat that she can't see on the one side. I've been getting her hornworms, pheonix worms, and dubia. I also got her some wax worms, because she deserves a treat. They sent her to me with the Petco "bearded dragon food", the pink square things and a head of iceburg lettuce. The lettuce went in the garbage. I've been putting collards and dandelions down and then putting a tiny bit of the pink stuff on top. She wouldn't eat the greens by themselves but she's been really good about eating them now with the pink stuff on top. Does anyone have experience with MBD and can tell me if that's normal and what else I can do to help her get control of her limbs? Thanks.

 

[KarrieRee]

You have done a great job!!! And yes it sounds like mbd - she will recover some but how much Idk-- ahdb or Tracie drache613 can give you some more advice just make sure the UVB is inside the tank and approx 12-15 inches from her- I would get the basking decor lower so she can get to the UVB better so make the UVB closer to her shes not straining to get to it--- I would get rid of the pink stuff and feed her what your feeding! And no I would not give her back she won't survive under their care
Karrie

 

[jgolden4958]

I am definitely weaning her off the pink stuff. I'm just giving her less and less every day. I think I'm going to get some liquid calcium to give her too. The insects are dusted but I've heard the liquid is better.

 

[KarrieRee]

Tracie often recommennds liquid just make sure you follow dosage- and don't over do it- but she's in far better care w/ you-- Idk if the owners are oblivious as how to take care of her or just don't want to but she won't survive if the care their giving goes back to the it was-+
Karrie

 

[jgolden4958]

Here she is. I figured out how to put the picture in. She's gained some weight since I got her and I just looked up MBD and it seems like hers is still mild. So hopefully her owners forget about her and I can get her all healthy and feeling normal.
Thanks for the reply. I think more than anything, I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. It breaks my heart to see her struggle to walk.

 

[KarrieRee]

Some good UVB outside will help as well-- get her out in direct sunlight for as long as you can stand the heat that will also improve her mobility- just make sure you watch her tho
Karrie

 

[jgolden4958]

Do you think it would hinder or help if I used a harness around her chest and kinda helped her up?

 

[KarrieRee]

That I don't know- for now I would have her sit on you-- I would get her out as much as you can sit outside w/ her- I would be afraid of the harness breaking something if her bones are weak
Karrie