Possible MBD?

[espellacy13]

I'm really worried about my beardie. He is less than a year old and starting to shed. I read that he won't eat as much when shedding so I wasn't too worried. However, I have recently noticed that his knee looks swollen. It is like a large bump. Also, it looks as if his fingers are bending back. I have been trying to feed him squash baby food which he refuses along with all the other fruits/veggies I chopped up and sprayed with calcium. I have the UVB bulb that everyone recommends, his tank is good temperature and has a good gradient. I also bathe him once or twice a week in warm water. He has also been shaking his body/head when I pick him up to put him in his bath. I am worried and I don't know what to do. I'm not even sure there is a vet that will see beardies around me. He is my first reptile and although I read up and researched a lot before getting him, I'm worried I'm not doing enough. Help?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

You are using which UVB, the Reptisun 10 tube or the Arcadia D3 12% tube?
The calcium spray, which one is it, the Zilla? It likely isn't quite enough for him, if he is a baby & growing. How much are you using?
I would recommend getting powder to dust his insects & or greens with, he would likely get more of that. Unless you wanted to put some of the liquid in a syringe to give to him. How much does he weigh, estimated?

Tracie

 

[espellacy13]

Yes I am using the reptisun 10 tube and the Zilla spray. I'm using it on everything I can. Also, the pet stores claim they dust the crickets with calcium before selling them and feed them certain foods. Would it be safe to give it to him from a syringe? I'm not sure what to do he won't eat anything I've sprayed. As for the weight Im not quite sure, his body is about 3.5 inches long (not including his tail) and a little over an inch wide at his belly. Also I've noticed only his feet and arms shed.

 

[espellacy13]

The closest reptile vet is 30 minutes away from me. Should I take him in to get checked?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

OH my, then he is just a baby really at that size. He seems a bit young to have developed metabolic bone disease, but not impossible.
How close is the Reptisun 10 tube bulb from him & is there screen or plastic between him & the UVB light?
What are you feeding the crickets before feeding them to him? Are the crickets smaller than the space between his eye also, to avoid impaction?
Do you have any pictures of him we could see also?
Yes, you can use either a plastic dropper or plastic syringe to drop onto the end of her nose to see if she will lick that off of her nose. Oh I see, she wont lick anything that has been sprayed with the calcium, that is a problem since she isn't getting any calcium at all.
Since she is so small, just give 2 drops of the Zilla spray which according to the strength should be all he needs.
Go ahead & try that to see if you can get any improvement. If you did take her to the vets he would likely prescribe a liquid calcium also. She is too small for a blood test but they could probably do an x-ray to see what the bump could be. She may have injured herself too if her bones are becoming compromised.

Tracie

 

[Zeek]

Is it possible he consumed too many foods containing oxalates (spinach, grapes, strawberries, and the rest of a long list)? If it is MBD, I highly doubt this is the culprit, since he should be eating mainly crickets and/or worms. Figured it couldn't hurt to pose the question during the troubleshooting phase.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How are things going with him today?
It is always possible that he ate too many of the wrong types of foods to interfere with his calcium absorption, sure. Are you using a dropper to administer the Zilla liquid calcium now?
Please let us know a few more details on your UVB light, too just to make sure you are using the tube bulb.

Tracie