Thinking it's Gout.

[DrukandChaos]

Hello! I'm gonna start by saying that I just love this website and the community here. This site is my source for all things Bearded Dragon. All the information I gained about beardie care has come from you guys/gals and the stories and solutions I've seen posted here. I've been a long time lurker, but seeing as to how my little guy is showing some symptoms I've decided to finally join you all.

So, onto the initial information... Like the title, I'm starting to suspect my boy Druk is showing some symptoms of gout. Yuck. I had just noticed this morning that he doesn't use one of his arms, and his hand on said arm is a bit swollen. I might have overdosed him on crickets about a couple weeks ago. The crickets are fed butternut squash, which is also pretty good in protein. :c

I'll have to wait until I can get ahold of some black cherry concentrate, hopefully I can get my hands on it soon. Until then, what else can I do to give my guy some comfort?

Here's some additional information on him:
He's a little over a year old. (It was his "birthday" on 8/23)
His basking temps are 100-105, taken with an infrared temp gun. Cool side is 80. Nighttime is 65-70.
The UVB I use for him is the Repti-Sun 10.0 t5 high output, it stretches across his entire enclosure. He can get roughly 12 inches from it.
Feeder insect of choice is crickets, which are loaded with squash and calcium-infused water crystals.
His greens (which I'm trying to get him to eat more of, since he's older now) are mustard and turnip greens, alternated each week, plus celery leaves and chicory (with a sprinkle of bee pollen powder once a week).
Any other info needed, just ask.

 

[CooperDragon]

It sounds like he is getting a good diet and lighting sounds good. Can you post a photo of him and his arm? It's possible that it is swollen from an injury or something else. When I've seen gout it has been in the hands, fingers/toes, and joints most often. The black/tart cherry extract would be a good first step. Otherwise a blood test and analysis could be done by an experienced reptile vet to help determine uric acid levels and probability of gout.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yes, your tank set up sounds fine to me also! The UVB is a terrific bulb, too. How often do you give calcium & vitamins for him?
If you just gave too many crickets once that shouldn't cause gout though. A picture would be great so we can see the swelling of the arm. Are there other areas that you can see that are swelling that you have noticed? Could he have fallen & hurt himself somehow?
I agree, starting Black cherry extract is a good start. You can give extra oral hydration also to help.
Druk is an intriguing name, very cute!

Let us know how he is doing.
Tracie

 

[DrukandChaos]

@CooperDragon
I can grab a photo of him and his arm in the morning, since he just looks so comfortable and I don't want to bother him... Should have done that when I originally posted. My mind's just going a mile a minute right now. :'D

@Drache613
He gets his vitamins, which is in liquid form, twice a week. Calcium is every other day for him dusted on the crickets.
The swelling is just in his right wrist at the moment.
Yeah, I didn't think that the swelling could show up so fast from eating too much protein... But I also haven't seen him take a fall or anything like that. He's actually been quite lazy in the past week or so. I'm thinking he might be starting some semi-brumation? He's a little harder to wake up in the mornings and he just lays about instead of his usual "Let me run around the house" attitude that he gave me every day. Or could there be some kind of relation between the swelling and the laziness. He's not shown any dark colors or ill behavior at all. :?:

Ahhhh! Maybe I'm worrying too much. He's always been a really healthy/active boy and I just love him to death. I've called the nearest vet, but apparently the only "exotic" specialist only shows up on Tuesdays and there's no opening until mid-October. :\

And he's named after a dragon in a favorite show of mine. Because I'm a nerd. :B
Thanks for your replies!

 

[DrukandChaos]

Here's the photos from today. Really hard to get good ones when he kept wanting to crawl up into my neck for cuddles. :mrgreen:
The swollen hand is the top left, compared to his good hand on the right. His hand is a bit pudgy, but that's the extent of it so far and it hasn't gotten any worse overnight.
After doing a bit more looking around, pretty sure it's not gout. I'm wondering now if something maybe had bit him. Every once in a while we get big black ants that get into the house. I found one in the gnat trap this morning.
He did a bit better this morning. He still isn't favoring the arm as much, but he did manage to hop about to catch a couple of crickets that escaped the bowl.

Again, I'm probably worrying a bit too much. I'm going to order some Serrapeptase as soon as I can to help for the swelling and make sure he's getting enough fluids. This probably isn't an emergency so much as just a minor concern, so if it needs to be moved out of the ER, that's fine.

 

[CooperDragon]

Definitely a bit swollen but hard to say why. Do you see any scabs or bite marks? The serrapeptase is a good idea (or some silk worms added to the diet) to help reduce the swelling. Keep an eye on it though and think about a vet visit if it seems to get worse/spread.

 

[DrukandChaos]

Quick update! I was finally able to order some of the Serrapeptase today. And now we wait and watch the little man. The swelling hasn't spread or gotten worse, so that's good. He's also moving the arm a bit more and he can walk on it. Started eating a bit more and seems generally more interested in his surroundings again. A couple times he's even wanted to come out and wander the house. But that'll have to wait until his arm gets better.
Oh! I did spot a couple dark spots between the some of the scales on that arm... so I'm thinking it was a bit of dried blood from some kind of mean bug. Boooooo. :x

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh poor guy, he must have gotten bitten by an ant. That would likely cause some localized swelling.
Since the swelling hasn't spread or gotten any worse, plus you did find a bit of dried blood that is probably the culprit.
At least he seems to be feeling better & eating more. I am sure he would like to move around a little more also.

Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie