no function in rear legs and seems bloated and lethargic

[billshaw]

Hi everyone,
I have a 5 month old bd and i came home from work today and he was on the bottom of the cage motionless! Usaually if i pick him up he likes to run around just like a little kid but today he just sat in my hand and is only moving his front legs and is so bloated. also he has not gone to the bathroom today. I need any advice asap thanks Bill

 

[Elora]

If you answer a few questions it will help us learn more about the situation.


What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb?
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?
Do you bath your dragon? How often?

It helps them poop if you let them soak in some warm water. Luke warm. My BD wont poop unless I have him in the warm water! If hes bloated and wont poop he may be impacted. Feel under his tummy for any hard feeling lumps. Anyways answer those questions and im sure some more people will be along to help you out and try out giving him a bath, letting him soak for 15 mins.

 

[billshaw]

What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 20 gal
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? carpet
Do you use UVB lights? the three bulbs we use are Basking-75 watt nighttime-60 watt daytime-is white think it is 70 watt
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb? not sure it looks like a black bowl w/a light inside it
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?nightime is zoo med. others areexoterra
How old is your UVB bulb?1 month
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?8 inches
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?yes it is on one side of the tank75 watt infrared
What are the basking temps?between 88 and 105
What is the cool side temp?between 65 and 80
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?stick on
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?right below the light about 1 ft down
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.crickets, just started meal worms(petsmart said they would be fine)
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?late morn every day
Do you bath your dragon? How often?once a week

 

[billshaw]

just gave him a 20 min warm bath he just sat in my hand and just about went to sleep. did not go to the bathroom

 

[pscaulkins]

Do you use UVB lights? the three bulbs we use are Basking-75 watt nighttime-60 watt daytime-is white think it is 70 watt

You do not have a UVB light. You will need to get one soon. Reptisun 10.0 strip light is a great UVB light.

He could have the beginnings of MBD from not having a good UVB light. What brand of supplements are you using? How often?

 

[billshaw]

What do you mean by supplements?

 

[pscaulkins]

Powdered Calcium and multivitamins.

 

[billshaw]

We just found out today about the calcium. They never said anything about it. we did not hear anything about multi vitamins though. In the morning i will be going to the store to get the calcium and look for the proper lighting. Do you suggest a particular light? calcium? vitamin?
Anything you can offer because obviously we were not told the correct information.
Thank you

Right now he is sleeping, breathing normally but still bloated.

 

[billshaw]

he will not stay asleep and when tries to move can barely do so. only head and arms, slowly.

 

[LQDragons]

for uvb , the reptisun 10.0 is very good. Something that works with my 4 month old is to let the water run, slowly into the sink while she is soaking, kinda like a jacuzzi tub. About 5 mins of that & she goes, most all the time. please keep us posted

 

[pscaulkins]

We just found out today about the calcium. They never said anything about it. we did not hear anything about multi vitamins though. In the morning i will be going to the store to get the calcium and look for the proper lighting. Do you suggest a particular light? calcium? vitamin?
Anything you can offer because obviously we were not told the correct information.
Thank you

Right now he is sleeping, breathing normally but still bloated.

Don't feel bad. I know I was told tons of wrong information when I got my first one.

As for UVB lights, Reptisun 10.0 is the best strip light. Don't get a compact or coil UVB as they are dangerous. I personally like MVB lights that have heat and UVB but you have a 20 gal tank and that would be hard to regulate temps. It's not impossible as I have done it but it's not recommended.

Rep-Cal calcium (pink Label) with vit D if you use a strip UVB. Rep-Cal Herptivite (blue label) is the vitamins. I think Petsmart carries these. You dust one meal with calcium for 6 days and the seventh day you dust once with Herptivite.

You may need to take him to a reptile vet if he doesn't regain use of his rear legs as he may have a more serious Metabolic Bone Disease and need liquid calcium or a calcium shot to jumpstart him.

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[billshaw]

Thank you and we will keep posted. will be going to the pet store in the morning to get all of this started.
Any suggestion on how much he should be eating daily and how much?

 

[LQDragons]

Thank you and we will keep posted. will be going to the pet store in the morning to get all of this started.
Any suggestion on how much he should be eating daily and how much?

my 4 month old eats 75-120 roaches a day, all smaller than the space between her eyes, and usually a bowl of mixed greens. Her greens this week are collard & mustard greens.

 

[billshaw]

thank you everyone. Rex went to the vet today. They gave him some meds and told us to wait and see. They do not know if he will make it. they don't even know what is exactly wrong with him.

 

[pscaulkins]

The vet gave him meds but doesn't know what is wrong? Wow. What meds did they give your little one?