Please help swollen feet

[Brittanygund]

Hello,
I have a 8-9 month old bearded dragon and I think he might have gout but I'm not sure. I took him in because his right back led was swollen he got X-rays and the vet said she thought it was a bone infection. I could not afford to pay for blood work also. He was sent home with subcutaneous antibiotics of ceftazidime and he's also in meds for coccidia parasites. Yes been taking the antibiotics every 3 days he's had about 4 injections so far and now his other leg the left one is starting to get a little swollen and he's not using it much now. Is that normal for the other leg that was fine to start swelling after he's been on antibiotics now? I need to get blood work done but I'm afraid I can't until I get more money and I don't know what to do. I have also attached his X-rays if someone could tell me what they think is wrong with him. He's been very lethargic too

 

[Brittanygund]

Hello,
I have a 8-9 month old bearded dragon and I think he might have gout but I'm not sure. I took him in because his right back led was swollen he got X-rays and the vet said she thought it was a bone infection. I could not afford to pay for blood work also. He was sent home with subcutaneous antibiotics of ceftazidime and he's also in meds for coccidia parasites. Yes been taking the antibiotics every 3 days he's had about 4 injections so far and now his other leg the left one is starting to get a little swollen and he's not using it much now. Is that normal for the other leg that was fine to start swelling after he's been on antibiotics now? I need to get blood work done but I'm afraid I can't until I get more money and I don't know what to do. I have also attached his X-rays if someone could tell me what they think is wrong with him. He's been very lethargic too

I forgot to mention that I also see a small sort or lump on his right front foot too today. Can anyone tell from his X-ray if it could be gout?

 

[xp29]

Hello,
I have a 8-9 month old bearded dragon and I think he might have gout but I'm not sure. I took him in because his right back led was swollen he got X-rays and the vet said she thought it was a bone infection. I could not afford to pay for blood work also. He was sent home with subcutaneous antibiotics of ceftazidime and he's also in meds for coccidia parasites. Yes been taking the antibiotics every 3 days he's had about 4 injections so far and now his other leg the left one is starting to get a little swollen and he's not using it much now. Is that normal for the other leg that was fine to start swelling after he's been on antibiotics now? I need to get blood work done but I'm afraid I can't until I get more money and I don't know what to do. I have also attached his X-rays if someone could tell me what they think is wrong with him. He's been very lethargic too

@Drache613 is probably the best to talk to, but she is on late nights. Maybe send her a private message

 

[xp29]

I forgot to mention that I also see a small sort or lump on his right front foot too today. Can anyone tell from his X-ray if it could be gout?

Post some pictures of him, be sure to get good pictures of his legs.
There are a lot of people here that may be able to spot gout if that's what's going on.

 

[Brittanygund]

Post some pictures of him, be sure to get good pictures of his legs.
There are a lot of people here that may be able to spot gout if that's what's going on.

Here are pictures of Leo and his legs

 

[xp29]

Here are pictures of Leo and his legs

Oh man, that looks painful. To me it does look like gout. Try giving him some organic tart cherry juice. It helps with gout.

 

[Brittanygund]

Oh man, that looks painful. To me it does look like gout. Try giving him some organic tart cherry juice. It helps with gout.

I will get some do you know where's the best place to get it? I also don't know if I should keep giving him the antibiotics injections he is supposed to have it tomorrow and I have read that it can make gout worse so idk what to do and the vet never returned my call today I don't want to stop it if it is indeed a bone infection

 

[KarrieRee]

@Drache613

 

[xp29]

I will get some do you know where's the best place to get it? I also don't know if I should keep giving him the antibiotics injections he is supposed to have it tomorrow and I have read that it can make gout worse so idk what to do and the vet never returned my call today I don't want to stop it if it is indeed a bone infection

I get mine at Smiths which is a subsidiary of Krogers. Any grocery store should have it.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

It is classic symptoms & appearance of gout. Since the swelling has gotten worse with the
antibiotics, I would recommend taking him off of them because they are hard on the kidneys.
For now, I would try getting some black or tart cherry juice extract to help the kidneys out right
now.
How much protein does he get, weekly?
The x-rays show that the bones look in tact & I don't see any obvious tophi on or around the
joints but do see the swelling.
What type & brand of calcium do you use?
Did the vet mention treating for gout, or not?

Tracie

 

[Brittanygund]

Hello,

It is classic symptoms & appearance of gout. Since the swelling has gotten worse with the
antibiotics, I would recommend taking him off of them because they are hard on the kidneys.
For now, I would try getting some black or tart cherry juice extract to help the kidneys out right
now.
How much protein does he get, weekly?
The x-rays show that the bones look in tact & I don't see any obvious tophi on or around the
joints but do see the swelling.
What type & brand of calcium do you use?
Did the vet mention treating for gout, or not?

Tracie

He was getting mostly dubias twice a day but I cut those way back and got some hornworms bsfl and super worms that I am only giving every other day now. I make him salad that I change between mustard greens turnip greens collard greens and arugula. I use calcium with D3 and repetitive and ferns reptile toppers on his salad. The vet called me back and said to continue the antibiotics because she didn't see signs of gout and it's rare in a beardie his age. She said bone infections are very hard to get rid of and since his X-ray showed bone deterioration in his ankle that's why it indicates a bone infection more. I am going to get blood work as soon as I can and I am considering a second opinion somewhere since she said there's really no treatment for gout and that the meds don't really work but if he's blood work show gout we could try.

 

[Brittanygund]

He was getting mostly dubias twice a day but I cut those way back and got some hornworms bsfl and super worms that I am only giving every other day now. I make him salad that I change between mustard greens turnip greens collard greens and arugula. I use calcium with D3 and repetitive and ferns reptile toppers on his salad. The vet called me back and said to continue the antibiotics because she didn't see signs of gout and it's rare in a beardie his age. She said bone infections are very hard to get rid of and since his X-ray showed bone deterioration in his ankle that's why it indicates a bone infection more. I am going to get blood work as soon as I can and I am considering a second opinion somewhere since she said there's really no treatment for gout and that the meds don't really work but if he's blood work show gout we could try.

I have been researching and seeing people saying gout is more and more common these days in them and it's stressing me out because I want to make him better and I am not sure how

 

[xp29]

I have been researching and seeing people saying gout is more and more common these days in them and it's stressing me out because I want to make him better and I am not sure how

Dubai are safe but you can't feed them the store bought chow. Only feed them veggies. The store bought chow is very high in protein and dubias convert itvto uric acid andcstore it the way we do fat. The uric acid is what causes gout. It takes straving them to make them burn up the uric acid. Feeding veggies only helps alleviate this.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I did see a bit of issue on the bone on the one foot. It is likely due to the swelling that causes the
distortion on the foot. I am not sure I agree with him having a bone infection or not. It is always
possible. Really the only true way to determine the cause would be a blood test to see what the
uric acid levels are.
As suggested, limit the dubias that you give, since they are higher in uric acid than other feeders.
The hornworms & superworms are fine, it will give him some variety.
Have you been able to find the black or tart cherry juice yet?
Let us know how things are going.

Tracie

 

[Brittanygund]

Hello,

I did see a bit of issue on the bone on the one foot. It is likely due to the swelling that causes the
distortion on the foot. I am not sure I agree with him having a bone infection or not. It is always
possible. Really the only true way to determine the cause would be a blood test to see what the
uric acid levels are.
As suggested, limit the dubias that you give, since they are higher in uric acid than other feeders.
The hornworms & superworms are fine, it will give him some variety.
Have you been able to find the black or tart cherry juice yet?
Let us know how things are going.

Tracie

Hello,

I did see a bit of issue on the bone on the one foot. It is likely due to the swelling that causes the
distortion on the foot. I am not sure I agree with him having a bone infection or not. It is always
possible. Really the only true way to determine the cause would be a blood test to see what the
uric acid levels are.
As suggested, limit the dubias that you give, since they are higher in uric acid than other feeders.
The hornworms & superworms are fine, it will give him some variety.
Have you been able to find the black or tart cherry juice yet?
Let us know how things are going.

Tracie

I am going to get some black or tart cherry juice today, how much do I need to give him and how often? I am going to take him to get blood work as soon as I can and I'll definitely post the update on that.