Swollen leg

[Patsfan1996]

It's me again everybody. His right hind leg is really bad swollen. What might this mean? I'm still feeding him and he eats good, haven't taken him to a vet yet because I don't want to spend money unless he is going to go back to his normal self. He doesn't crawl around anymore like he used to when I would hold him and that makes me sad and nervous about his health. Get back to me asap if anybody can.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Is he still limping? Can you review your tank setup with us such as your UVB type & brand, supplementation, temperatures & substrate to help us trouble shoot. Did he possibly fall & hurt his leg?

Tracie

 

[Patsfan1996]

Hello,

Is he still limping? Can you review your tank setup with us such as your UVB type & brand, supplementation, temperatures & substrate to help us trouble shoot. Did he possibly fall & hurt his leg?

Tracie

Yes he's been limping for a few weeks now. He's in a 20 gallon tank we got the setup from petsmart, I'm using reptile carpet and he has a hide/basking spot but it's not tall so he did not fall and hurt it. The brand of stuff we got was a big box with everything in it is called Zilla. He eats crickets that are dusted with calcium

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Thanks. So you are using a Zilla brand UVB light, correct, is it a tube bulb (long type) or a compact/coil type of light?
I would highly recommend changing his UVB Light out to either a Reptisun 10 tube bulb or an Arcadia D3 12% tube bulb for much higher quality of UVB emissions for him. It sounds like he may be having some early beginning of metabolic bone disease.
Is he eating pretty well right now?

Tracie

 

[Patsfan1996]

Hello,

Thanks. So you are using a Zilla brand UVB light, correct, is it a tube bulb (long type) or a compact/coil type of light?
I would highly recommend changing his UVB Light out to either a Reptisun 10 tube bulb or an Arcadia D3 12% tube bulb for much higher quality of UVB emissions for him. It sounds like he may be having some early beginning of metabolic bone disease.
Is he eating pretty well right now?

Tracie[/quote
Yes, it is Zilla brand UVB light. It's a compact type of light. I'm gonna order the repti sun 10 tube bulb since it's highly recommended. If it is metabolic bone disease, is that curable and could he go back to his normal playing self? And yes he's eating crickets that get dusted with calcium powder.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great, I am sure you will see marked improvement with a better UVB light.
If you have caught early stages of metabolic bone disease then it can be reversed for the most part without any damage done. I would highly recommend considering getting liquid calcium, or at least increasing his calcium for a month or so to help his system get caught back up.
Once he stops limping, then he should be able to go back to his old routine of playing, climbing, etc. Be cautious right now letting him jump from any distance, or having to climb too much in case he could get hurt.
When do you anticipate getting the new UVB light?
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[Patsfan1996]

Hello,

Great, I am sure you will see marked improvement with a better UVB light.
If you have caught early stages of metabolic bone disease then it can be reversed for the most part without any damage done. I would highly recommend considering getting liquid calcium, or at least increasing his calcium for a month or so to help his system get caught back up.
Once he stops limping, then he should be able to go back to his old routine of playing, climbing, etc. Be cautious right now letting him jump from any distance, or having to climb too much in case he could get hurt.
When do you anticipate getting the new UVB light?
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

Unfortunately my little friend passed away before I could get my hands on the uvb light. I didn't know from the beginning that the repti sun was the best way to go or else I already would have done had it by now. It saddens me that I couldn't do much for my little buddy. I miss him dearly. I'm new to reptiles so please everybody don't bash me. I did a lot of research before I bought my bearded dragon, although I didn't see anything about the repti sun uvb bulb. I look to own a second one and I'm gonna get mine from backwater reptiles this time. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I am sorry to hear about your dragon, that is too bad.
I know how devastating & heart wrenching it is to lose one.

Tracie