Knute
5-6 months old
Problem: Floppy front right leg, low appetite, alert but lethargic
Set up: Knute currently has a 40-gallon glass tank but will be getting him a larger tank this month. Substrate is a smooth shelf liner type thing recommended by the breeder I got him from. He did have a mesh hammock in his cage, which I have since removed. I have also removed his hide and “tree” since he climbs on them. Knute has an under tank heating pad. He also has a 100W Ceramic Heat lamp, which remains on all the time. His lighting is a ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 linear fluorescent bulb situated on top of wire cover. It remains on from approx. 8 am to 7 PM.
Basking temp is around 97 degrees, cool end of enclosure around 77 degrees
Feeding: He has always had a healthy appetite and will eat both greens and feeders.
He is offered greens dusted with calcium daily (collard, beet, chard, endive, dandelion) sometimes cucumber or squash (he doesn’t seem to like fruit). I put some Fluker’s moist bearded dragon diet in with his greens too. Usually he will go through 40+ crickets per day. Was offering 3x a day. Have moved to 2x a day in the last month or so. I add variety with dubia roaches. I tried BFL but he doesn’t seem to like them. As treats, Knute gets wax worms and the very occasional superworm. Feeders and treats are dusted with calcium w/D3 . Knute gets Fresh water and misting, daily. He receives a bath almost daily. All of his water is conditioned.
Knute had an almost full body shed and was kind of moody/not as hungry as usual but still eating (not unusual behavior for him). On Saturday 8/18 Knute had completed his shed and was acting normally (very friendly, active, and alert).
On Sunday 8/19 I noticed Knute was limping. I believe there is an issue with his front right leg. He hasn’t fallen or had any kind of trauma that I’m aware of. It doesn't appear to be swollen. When he does move, he seems to drag his right hand. Knute is alert and responsive but won’t move unless he must, and prefers to lay flat against his heating pad and he kind of just lets his arm flop behind him at his side. He has eaten approx. 5 crickets per day since Sunday and seems generally unenthused. I have been offering him more wax worms than usual to get him to eat (dusted in calcium and Fluker’s liquid reptile vitamins). He happily eats them.
At the moment, he seems to perk up a bit in the bath where he avoids putting weight on his right front leg.
Knute has had normal bowl movements (usually once a day or every other day) the last being today... in the bath of course.
I'm really worried about my little guy. I'm going to try to get him in to see a vet this week; calling for an appointment tomorrow. Any advice would be appreciated!
5-6 months old
Problem: Floppy front right leg, low appetite, alert but lethargic
Set up: Knute currently has a 40-gallon glass tank but will be getting him a larger tank this month. Substrate is a smooth shelf liner type thing recommended by the breeder I got him from. He did have a mesh hammock in his cage, which I have since removed. I have also removed his hide and “tree” since he climbs on them. Knute has an under tank heating pad. He also has a 100W Ceramic Heat lamp, which remains on all the time. His lighting is a ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 linear fluorescent bulb situated on top of wire cover. It remains on from approx. 8 am to 7 PM.
Basking temp is around 97 degrees, cool end of enclosure around 77 degrees
Feeding: He has always had a healthy appetite and will eat both greens and feeders.
He is offered greens dusted with calcium daily (collard, beet, chard, endive, dandelion) sometimes cucumber or squash (he doesn’t seem to like fruit). I put some Fluker’s moist bearded dragon diet in with his greens too. Usually he will go through 40+ crickets per day. Was offering 3x a day. Have moved to 2x a day in the last month or so. I add variety with dubia roaches. I tried BFL but he doesn’t seem to like them. As treats, Knute gets wax worms and the very occasional superworm. Feeders and treats are dusted with calcium w/D3 . Knute gets Fresh water and misting, daily. He receives a bath almost daily. All of his water is conditioned.
Knute had an almost full body shed and was kind of moody/not as hungry as usual but still eating (not unusual behavior for him). On Saturday 8/18 Knute had completed his shed and was acting normally (very friendly, active, and alert).
On Sunday 8/19 I noticed Knute was limping. I believe there is an issue with his front right leg. He hasn’t fallen or had any kind of trauma that I’m aware of. It doesn't appear to be swollen. When he does move, he seems to drag his right hand. Knute is alert and responsive but won’t move unless he must, and prefers to lay flat against his heating pad and he kind of just lets his arm flop behind him at his side. He has eaten approx. 5 crickets per day since Sunday and seems generally unenthused. I have been offering him more wax worms than usual to get him to eat (dusted in calcium and Fluker’s liquid reptile vitamins). He happily eats them.
At the moment, he seems to perk up a bit in the bath where he avoids putting weight on his right front leg.
Knute has had normal bowl movements (usually once a day or every other day) the last being today... in the bath of course.
I'm really worried about my little guy. I'm going to try to get him in to see a vet this week; calling for an appointment tomorrow. Any advice would be appreciated!