Special needs beardie

[xp29]

Ruby walks now (she was paralyzed when we got her) but it's very disjointed. If she tries to run she flips herself over. She can climd a little but she doesn't get down very well. Her hide is low with a flat top but she has flipped a couple times getting off it also.
I know some here are not a fan of the sea grass nets, I am. Ruby's claws are not sharp at all,she can't climd furniture, she can barely climb my shirt. ( it's weird that she can climb the driftwood, but she boogies up that) but any way I decided to try something a little different and so far it's working out very well. I haven't seen her come close to flipping over coming down this. She just shimmies her lil butt right down. I'm going to add more to the other side of her hide so she can't flip off that end either.
So anyone that has a beardie that has issues getting up and down, this might work for you also. Make sure their nails are not sharp enough to get snagged in the sea grass though.

 

[Xjrosie]

Thor likes those nets too.

She's so pretty. I bet it just takes a bit more time for her to coordinate all her legs properly.

 

[xp29]

Thor likes those nets too.

She's so pretty. I bet it just takes a bit more time for her to coordinate all her legs properly.

She does ok if she isn't in a rush, but when she tries to go fast she flips herself over, it's painful to watch. Uvb and calcium would have prevented it. The previous keeper didn't surrender her until she had lost use of her back legs. It took lots of work to get her mobile, it isn't perfect but at least she can walk again. She couldn't even get out of her poop when we got her. She has the biggest personality of any beardie I've ever met and if she knows she's handicap, you'd never know it to watch her. It just infuriates me people neglect them so bad.

 

[Xjrosie]

She does ok if she isn't in a rush, but when she tries to go fast she flips herself over, it's painful to watch. Uvb and calcium would have prevented it. The previous keeper didn't surrender her until she had lost use of her back legs. It took lots of work to get her mobile, it isn't perfect but at least she can walk again. She couldn't even get out of her poop when we got her. She has the biggest personality of any beardie I've ever met and if she knows she's handicap, you'd never know it to watch her. It just infuriates me people neglect them so bad.

If I had done even a little research before I got Thor, I wouldn't have got him. I understand the appeal because they're so darn adorable. But man they are expensive. You have a choice to make once you get one of these: invest in their health and life, or surrender them. At least she has you now, and obviously her quality of life is vastly improved.

 

[hdochow]

At least she has you now, and obviously her quality of life is vastly improved.

absolute FACT right there. I've watched it happen

 

[xp29]

If I had done even a little research before I got Thor, I wouldn't have got him. I understand the appeal because they're so darn adorable. But man they are expensive. You have a choice to make once you get one of these: invest in their health and life, or surrender them. At least she has you now, and obviously her quality of life is vastly improved.

Thank you she is well loved here.

 

[xp29]

absolute FACT right there. I've watched it happen

Thank you it's been a journey for sure.

 

[NickAVD]

Perfect solution! And I agree with you, something similar needs to be done for the other side of the hide.
Foxy also has a hammock made of jute ropes, my wife knitted it (it’s a secret to me how she does it ). We chose this material precisely because the ropes are very shaggy. if the claw gets caught on the rope, a piece of fiber comes off the rope without damaging the claw. It’s hard to see in the photo what your rugs are made of, but if they’re made of the same material, then you don’t have to worry about the claws getting tangled.

 

[xp29]

Perfect solution! And I agree with you, something similar needs to be done for the other side of the hide.
Foxy also has a hammock made of jute ropes, my wife knitted it (it’s a secret to me how she does it ). We chose this material precisely because the ropes are very shaggy. if the claw gets caught on the rope, a piece of fiber comes off the rope without damaging the claw. It’s hard to see in the photo what your rugs are made of, but if they’re made of the same material, then you don’t have to worry about the claws getting tangled.

It's sea grass. I've heard tales of it causing issues, but I've never seen any of my guys have trouble with it. I do always have a piece of stone for nail maintenance in there as well, so that may be the difference. Ruby's nails have never been very sharp anyways, they don't even snag in carpet or clothing. She is a digger though, sand, vinyl, stone, clothing, couch, my neck .... . That may be why her nails don't snag more than the sandstone in her habitat lol.
Once she regained use of her back legs, she likes to dig in 4 wheel drive to lmao. (She can empty a lay box in 3 or 4 minutes flat)

 

[NickAVD]

Yes, I read that these hammocks are made from sea grass. Are they really made from algae that grew in the sea or is it just slang?
Oh yes, I know what it is to dig a neck! Foxy is also a skilled digger. He has a sandy substrate and his favorite thing to do is throw all the sand out of his shelter with four-wheel drive.
If he wants to sleep in his "cat house", then the first thing he does is dig it from the inside, I wonder, how strong is the bottom of this house?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ruby is a very lucky girl! I'm so glad that she isn't paralyzed even if she does have a hard time getting around.
Bless her, they are so special & deserve a chance to be happy in life. Feel free to keep us updated on new pictures, anytime.

Tracie

 

[xp29]

Hello,

Ruby is a very lucky girl! I'm so glad that she isn't paralyzed even if she does have a hard time getting around.
Bless her, they are so special & deserve a chance to be happy in life. Feel free to keep us updated on new pictures, anytime.

Tracie

Will do