Stiff Toe?

[Irial]

Hey,

I noticed several days ago that my baby beardie was sort of "flailing" one of her arms in the air from time to time, and trying not to put one of her claws down on her basking log. I took her out and looked at the claw and it looked like one of the toes had been nibbled on or cut up. One or two of the other toes also had similar marks on them, and I noticed she also might be about to shed (but I don't think retained shed causes red-coloration - this looked like some of her scales were actually bitten off : /) She eats in a separate tank, so she only spends about 30 minutes with the crickets, but I made the assumption that the crickets were nibbling on her, and so I began researching dubia, and bought the essentials for starting a colony and also ordered a separate batch as feeders, they'll be here Friday!

But the problem is, the toe seemed to be healing up alright, but now it's not mobile like the others on that foot. She moves around just as much as normal, but I've noticed that even when she climbs, it just kind of stays in one position. I can bend it without her appearing in any sort of pain, but it's worrying me - what if it falls off? : /

Her appetite has slowed, but did around the time of her last shed as well (due to stress, I assume). I removed a piece of shed from her nostril earlier this evening to ensure she was under the least amount of stress possible - but this one stiff toe is worrying me. Most of the other toes have healed except for one that appears red/missing scales again - what is going on? Is she biting at her feet to try and remove the shed or what? (I don't see any more shed on her feet, though) I've been giving her baths 1-2 times a day to try and make it easier, basking temps are a normal ~105... is there anything I can do for her?

Thanks

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

It sounds like it may have broken. I'm not sure what to recommend, besides have a word with a vet. Sometimes these injuries occur because they get their long little toes caught in something - worth checking your tank over.

 

[RaptorTheBeardie]

My advice is, as hard as it might be, let it be. I did that with the end of my beardie's tail,nd it fell off inevitably but it didnt cause him any pain and didnt bleed. My thing is, they survive in the wild, let them survive in yur home, but also with love. If you want to really do something about it go to your nearest reptile vet and ask them. Untill you can get to a vet give the beardie iodine baths. Mix iodine tincture 2%usp with warm water in the bath bowl untill it is the color of weak iced tea. Than bathe her/him like normal and it will help prevent it from getting infected.

 

[Irial]

Using non-adhesive shelf liner as a substrate and she's got one big log and one small log...I've seen her climb her fake plants but as far as I know nothing in there for her to get her claws stuck on... I'm really blaming this on the crickets (who are thankfully gone now! -.-) since I saw several spots occur on different feet around the same time. I'll put up some pictures of the "limp" toe and then also of the one that looks cut up still, maybe that will help out. I've been giving her warm baths still to prevent it from getting infected, and I'm going to try and pick up some neosporin -- but the way it looks, it might be a lost cause... poor girl :[

These 4 are of the limp-looking foot:

And here's the one that still looks nibbled:

She's also shedding on her legs so... there's that : /

 

[Irial]

Thanks for the response, Raptor. I'm not sure of any herp-vets nearby, but from what I've read if it's going to fall off there isn't much I (or they) can do, like as you said. I'm going to do my best to get to Walmart to pick up some iodide and neosporin for the toe that's still injured to make sure that one stays healthy and prevent this one from infection... I'm so furious with my crickets and glad I'm on my way to having a dubia colony, and plenty of dubia feeders for the meantime...

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

The damaged toe looks a little puffy, so I'm sticking with my original suggestion that it's likely to be broken. It should heal by itself given time, though it'll likely always be a bit stiff.

Make sure she's getting plenty of supplements - broken bones can be a symptom of MBD - Metabolic Bone Disease, usually caused by a lack of calcium and UV lighting. I already know you've done your research, so it's unlikely, but I thought I'd mention it just in case.

 

[Irial]

I've been adding extra calcium powder to her greens as well since she's been a bit slow on the live food while she sheds - I'm going to try and pick up some 3M command hooks this weekend to get her ReptiSun mounted inside of the tank rather than on top of the screen, I haven't had the chance lately and I know it's better for her that way! (I was also worried about the adhesive melting under her high basking temps, but I'm hearing it should be alright) I'll tell her to take it easy on her toe ;], wish I could make her a little cast x3 Thanks again for your input! Hopefully all is well and she's not in pain. She's been loving the extra baths and attention, and she's definitely still doing plenty of climbing my arm when I hold her despite me trying to keep her timid hehe

 

[RaptorTheBeardie]

Its very normal for them to not eat, as sheds are not a fun time for them. Just do the iodine baths, put some neosporin on it, and his body will take over from there. Im not sure if it will fall off or not, we will have to wait and see. Thanks for the pics it gave me a beter idea of whats going on. I think it might be broken or sprained. A for the bit one, thats the one youll have to keep an eye on most, watching for infection. Hope this helps and he keeps his toes!

 

[Irial]

When at CVS/walmart I saw two different kinds of iodine - Iodine Tincture USP (as you suggested) and Povidone-Iodine (AKA betadine) - You'd think with all the chemistry I've been taking I'd know the difference aside from higher % iodine in betadine - but is there a specific one of this that's better or worse to use in her bath? I want to be sure before I pick one up tonight.

 

[RaptorTheBeardie]

The iodine tincture 2% usp kind would be best. Do as above with the bath time. Put him in a sink bowl when you do give him a bath. If the iodine percent is too high then it will discolor their skin.

 

[Irial]

Ran to CVS after work tonight and picked up the iodine tincture 2% usp, some neosporin and also some 3M command hooks just to be doubly sure she's getting enough UVB for the healing process. I picked out the ones that support up to 3lbs, I hope this is enough? The Walmart fixture/reptisun 24" bulb don't seem to weigh much more than 2lbs, but I can't help but second guess that I should have found the ones that supported 5lbs :x

 

[RaptorTheBeardie]

If you use maybe 3 along the whole thing it should be fine. Make sure you tug on it a little to make sure itll stay in place. P.S. you have a very good looking beardy.

 

[TheDragonKeepers]

*grins* You're really getting in to the swing of this lark.
I'm not familiar with the command hooks, I use pin-nail wire grips to hold the electrical wire in place - that supports it pretty well, and you can get proper bulb clips very cheaply online that screw or bolt into place

 

[Irial]

Command hooks seem to be working well, and she's eating her dubia like crazy now that she's out of shed, I've never seen her get so fat when she was on the crickets! I'm so glad she loves them!

I've been doing an iodine bath every other day (it's turning her belly a bit yellow, lol) and neosporin twice a day after a regular bath in warm water. The swelling on her stiff toe has gone down, but it's still stiff. The one that is healing that had the cut is also kind of stiff now - I'm wondering if it's just like the first in that when it started to scab over and heal she doesn't like to bend it! Here's some updated pictures! Since it's healing I like to think that she's going to keep all of her toes and she seems healthy and hungry as ever!

Thanks everyone who helped us out :3

Stiff Toe Healing:

Bit Toe Healing:

By unselfishdemands at 2012-02-16

Looking adorable!

Thanks from both of us! <3

 

[RaptorTheBeardie]

You have a beautiful beardie with great colors. I think he will keep all of his toes. As for the iodine baths, keep doing them even if it is turning him a little yellow. Im thankful that we helped you and that he is getting fatter because he needs to grow. This morning before the light was on i found both my beardies sitting side by side on the basking post. Weird little things, arent they? :lol: