Need info ASAP, injured dragon.

[babydragondaddy]

I will take the time to introduce myself at a differant time. For now, we just picked up an injured juvanile dragon from the pet store. The previous owner claims that he just started doing this, but his injuries are more consistant with a drop or crush. He has a hump just above the hips, on his back, and he can not use his back legs except just to move slightly. He seems to spasm if the trys to move to much, so I put him on soft sand. We have been feeding him squished crickets and water for a few days before we decited to take him home to take care of him. I am sure he is in pain, but there are no reptile vets within 100 miles or so. My question, is there anything I can give him for the pain? And do you have any suggestions as to how I can make him more comfortable? Thank you very much for your help. My wife and I really appreciate it.

 

[Claudiusx]

Im sorry but it seems like the best thing to do right now is make the drive to the vet. His injury's sound very serious and it does seem to be causing him pain. The vet will be able to help him and is probably the best person to go to right now.

Make sure you are feeding him gut-loaded and dusted crickets, that way he is getting a lot of nutrients. Also let him soak in a warm bath for 15 minutes or so, but watch him the whole time and hold up his head if necessary.

Keep us updated on him please.

-Brandon

 

[diamc]

Since metabolic bone disease can cause a lump on their backs, can also cause them to not move their back legs & also causes twitching and spasms, could you fill us in on what UVB you're using, the brand & type? Also are you giving calcium? Do you know for sure that it was from an injury?

Are you sure he isn't impacted? Has he pooped lately, if so, when? What type of sand are you using? Have you been bathing him? Can you post a picture of him?

 

[babydragondaddy]

Since metabolic bone disease can cause a lump on their backs, can also cause them to not move their back legs & also causes twitching and spasms, could you fill us in on what UVB you're using, the brand & type? Also are you giving calcium? Do you know for sure that it was from an injury?

Are you sure he isn't impacted? Has he pooped lately, if so, when? What type of sand are you using? Have you been bathing him? Can you post a picture of him?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I will try to fill you in as best as a can. Please note that we just recieved him this week, I do not know his previous situation except for the kid who brought him back claims that there was no injury. Wether is was neglect or injury, all I know is that he is a victem.
Light: ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 UVB
Calcium in the form of powder on his wax worms.
Pleanty of water
He has not pooped since we have had him. The pet store says he didn't there either, so since Sunday he has not.
Substrate is called "calci sand" I don't recall the brand, but was suppose to be edible and fine for dragons.
He gets a 15 minute warm bath followed by basking on my hand in the sun. Direct sun, not a window.
I don't have a heat lamp on him cause he can't crawl away from the hot area, so he is in room temp. (74 degrees Farenheit. This is all I know at this time. I will attempt to attached a picture on the next post.
Thank you for your help.

 

[babydragondaddy]

No luck attaching pics, but here is a link to my photobucket page.
http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg34/kickapebble/New%20Dragon/

Please also note that he is young, is he able to make a good recovery if it is MBD?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Is he under your care now?
I do not think that is an injury, it looks to me to be metabolic bone disease or possibly an impaction.
Normally, a spinal injury would not look like that. It would not be appearing like a lump but more crooked in appearance. The tail tip or last 1/3rd of the tail would most likely be darkened due to stress or pain as well.
It is possible that he is older than they have told you if he was kept improperly at the pet store or the previous owner's home.
For starters, I would replace the calcisand as it is calcium based & NOT digestible at all. Unfortunately, it clumps up when it gets wet & will cause terrible impactions. I would put in paper towels or a nice soft towel right now for him.
He will need a much stronger UVB light. I am going to recommend either the Megaray or the T-rex active UV heat either one are great. They are mercury vapor bulbs & will blast him with UVB exposure.

You can get the Megaray here:
http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-products.php

You can get the T-rex here:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cPath=26_33

The Solar Glo is fine, as well.

Then, you should try to get some liquid calcium, if possible. Which calcium are you using?
What other type of feeders are you using for him? I would limit the waxworms due to their higher fat content. They are fine for occasional treats, but not as staples. Try appropriately sized crickets, roaches, phoenix worms, or butterworms.

What type of thermometer are you using to measure the temps? A stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun? The basking temps need to be 95-110 & the cool side around 78-82. Otherwise, if he is not warm enough, he cannot digest his food properly. If you are using a stick on type of thermometer, they are not very accurate. You will need to get either a digital probe or a temp gun for better readings. If the temperatures are good for him, then he wont overheat. Since he cannot move away very well, make the basking temperatures no higher than 98 or so. That should be sufficient for him, & allow for comfort for most of the day for him.

Please let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[Atrain87]

It sounds to me like a definite impaction. The lump and back limb imobility are classic signs, along with the fact that he has not pooped, which almost seals the deal. sorry to say theres not much you can do other than try to give him a warm bath and gently massage his stomach to try to get him to poop, the only other option is sugery. It is not a good situation and sorry to say very few beardies survive it. Hope im wrong and its all fine, let us know.

 

[diamc]

I'm attaching the pictures here for you, thought it would help out and make it easier for others to view them.

He is adorable and has beautiful coloring. As usual, I totally agree with Tracie, it doesn't look like an injury, either metabolic bone disease and/or an impaction. Please take out the calci-sand as since it contains calcium it encourages them to lick it which hardens in their bellies like cement. :shock: Using either paper towels or a nice fluffy towel right now would be much safer.

What size tank is he in or what are the dimensions? If it is a 40 gallon or larger, a mercury vapor bulb would be the best thing for him. But, if not 40 or more, then the best strip fluorescent UVB you can get is the Repti-Sun 10.0 which you can find here for a very reasonable price: http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-reptisun-10.0-uvb-bulb.html Did you buy the Repti-Sun 5.0 brand new or did it come with him? Since he is laying on the bottom of the tank, he's not getting any benefit from it at all. Is it a compact/coil bulb or a strip fluorescent type?

If he is indeed impacted, having him in a room where it is only 74 degrees, he's never going to be able to pass the impaction. Also, any food in his belly is just going to sick there which will make him very sick or worse. He needs to have appropriate temperatures as Tracie mentioned and they need to be monitored with either a temperature gun or digital probe thermometer. With no basking bulb, we can definitely tell you that he is way too cold and will only go downhill even more so it's critical that you get a good thermometer and a heat bulb over him using a wattage based on the temps you get.

Changing to other live feeders besides just wax worms is also best because there isn't much nutritional value in the wax worms, mostly just fat. What greens are you feeding him? Here's a site that shows the best to feed in green print: http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

Giving frequent baths and making sure that his vent area (where he poops) is right down in the warm water should help move things along. You can also hold him in the palm of your hand and gently massage his right side from his armpit to vent area. Feeding 100% canned pumpkin (no sugar added) by putting drops on his nose for him to lick off with either a needleless syringe or plastic medicine dropper works well but you should dilute the pumpkin so that it isn't so think. Very warm baby food applesauce with a drop of vegetable oil in it on his nose also helps pass an impaction.

Please keep us updated on him.

 

[Ailsa]

That looks painful no matter what caused it
Id get rid of the sand firstly
he will just get more impacted
use kitchen towel or newspaper instead
The other answers are brilliant for advice
he is in need of more heat without a doubt
and uv light

 

[babydragondaddy]

Diamc,
Thank you for making my pictures more available to the rest of the readers. Thank you all for the great info and assistance.
Here are some updates/info since I last posted.
Calci sand is gone. He is now on paper towels. He is in a sectioned off part of a 55 gallon tank, but hopefully will be in a much larger enclosure once I get to building. (Hopefully later today)
He has a new fluoresent reptisun 5.0 (new)
I have a zoo med undertank heater under him.
Every day we have been bathing him in warm water, then bring him outside to sit in the sun while I gently rub him tummy. He seems much more attentative now. Looking around, lifting his head, cocking is sideways to look at me. When we first got him, he would just burry his head in his hands and sit.
I will be picking up some 10.0 uvb and a new fixture. (do two 5.0 make a 10.0?) And will be creating an enclosure which will hold heat better and raise him closer to the light.
Still no poop, but he did discharge a clear liquid after a bath, not much, but hopefully it means things are moving again.
He is a beautiful dragon, his oranges are so brilliant, we decited to name him chester, (like cheetos) cause it looks like he has been playing in a bag of them.
Well thanks again for all the help. I will continue to give you updates and maybe learn how to put pictures up.

 

[Jiffy]

glad he is doing better, and I love how you chose the name Chester!!

 

[babydragondaddy]

My wife just called again... Little Chester has passed
Thank you all for your help and support.

 

[Jiffy]

Oh no, I am so sorry!
R.I.P. Chester

 

[puffsmama]

I am so sorry!!! Just know that you did the best you could for him, and he died knowing finally somebody loved and cared about him!!
Cindy and Puff

 

[Ailsa]

Oh Im sorry to hear that
you tried, its all you can do sometimes