To much calcium or uvb?

[Subion]

Please No enemas!!

Beware of vets giving enemas to your dragon | Beardie ER

Just a warning about this because there are at times very bad reactions afterwards including beardie dying within a day to a week . Some vets give an enema when a dragon is going in to brumation and not pooing during this time, not recognizing that beardies rarely poo during their " sleepy "...

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Yeah.i wouldn’t do that.

We just got back a little bit ago and the X-ray shows nothing wrong. Legs look good no injury, no impaction or anything like that. They did her bloodwork and sending it out I should hear in 2-3 days they said about results. They said back in June her acid levels were good but they are going to check it and to see if she has any trace of infection still.

When they brought her back in the room she crawled up on my shoulder good. Was told if we can’t find out what’s going on she may refer me to a specialist to see. After we got home I gave her a couple roaches with her calcium. Vet said to keep her on them until we get results back since we know she’ll get her calcium that way. I had her outside since it’s warm and she laid around and eventually crawled up on my shoulder and I could see the back leg was still shakey. Brought her in and she’s been laying in her tank and went to climb up on a vine and now looks like her front leg is a little weak. I don’t know what to do. I’m hoping she may just be sore from the exam or if they maybe had to restrain her for her X-ray. They did everything outside the room so I don’t know what went on.

My family and the vet said she may just be acting to get more attention since she use to be out of her cage a lot more until she got sick and needed surgery. I’m just worried we may be missing something.

 

[KarrieRee]

Yeah.i wouldn’t do that.

We just got back a little bit ago and the X-ray shows nothing wrong. Legs look good no injury, no impaction or anything like that. They did her bloodwork and sending it out I should hear in 2-3 days they said about results. They said back in June her acid levels were good but they are going to check it and to see if she has any trace of infection still.

When they brought her back in the room she crawled up on my shoulder good. Was told if we can’t find out what’s going on she may refer me to a specialist to see. After we got home I gave her a couple roaches with her calcium. Vet said to keep her on them until we get results back since we know she’ll get her calcium that way. I had her outside since it’s warm and she laid around and eventually crawled up on my shoulder and I could see the back leg was still shakey. Brought her in and she’s been laying in her tank and went to climb up on a vine and now looks like her front leg is a little weak. I don’t know what to do. I’m hoping she may just be sore from the exam or if they maybe had to restrain her for her X-ray. They did everything outside the room so I don’t know what went on.

My family and the vet said she may just be acting to get more attention since she use to be out of her cage a lot more until she got sick and needed surgery. I’m just worried we may be missing something.

Wait till you get the blood test back and please post them on here when you get them -- ask for them please- that way Tracie the vet tech mod on here can also look and read them as well -- not sure about the shaking leg issue - they should of showed you the X rays ask for copies of them - that will show you where her calcium is ---

 

[Subion]

Wait till you get the blood test back and please post them on here when you get them -- ask for them please- that way Tracie the vet tech mod on here can also look and read them as well -- not sure about the shaking leg issue - they should of showed you the X rays ask for copies of them - that will show you where her calcium is ---

I’ll try to get them when the bloodwork comes back. I’ve never requested results before from a vet. Will they just give them to me or do I have to fill stuff out in advance? Sorry about so many questions just trying to figure all this out. My beardie is the first pet that I had personally. Everything else was always owned by a family member so This is all kinda new to me.

 

[KarrieRee]

I’ll try to get them when the bloodwork comes back. I’ve never requested results before from a vet. Will they just give them to me or do I have to fill stuff out in advance? Sorry about so many questions just trying to figure all this out. My beardie is the first pet that I had personally. Everything else was always owned by a family member so This is all kinda new to me.

They should give them to you no questions asked you are paying for them

 

[Subion]

They should give them to you no questions asked you are paying for them

I’ve been watching her all day and starting to think it could be calcium issues again. I may be wrong and hope that’s what comes back on bloodwork instead of something serious. I ordered another light fixture for inside her cage like I had before. This one will only take half the cage though and be less wattage. If it’s same size as her one that was in the cage it’ll only hang about 6-8 inches above her basking spot surface. It does have a removable reflector, last time I had the reflector while hanging a 10.0 she acted as if it was to intense and wanted to hide most the day. Took the reflector out and she stayed out of her hide but sometimes she’d try to stay in a blind spot from the uvb all day.

Should I get a 5.0 bulb or a 10.0 with her being that close? Maybe even a t8. Her cage is 18” to the screen and I’ll have to measure in the a.m. to be sure but her basking spot is probably 8-10 inch high and the fixture i had before probally hangs 2-3 inches down when hung inside.

The current numbers seems to be good on the solar meter with the one that currently sets on top but I’m worried it’s not coming through as much as she needs since I quit the vet prescribed calcium and switched her new fixture on top the mesh around the same time it had me wondering if the uvb may be an issue.

Here’s the one I ordered. Before I had the 39 watt. This time I ordered the 24 and planning to get a reptisun bulb from the local pet store when it arrives in a couple days. In the meantime I’m going to hook her old one back inside and see if there is any change.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08HCL4J8D/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[KarrieRee]

I’ve been watching her all day and starting to think it could be calcium issues again. I may be wrong and hope that’s what comes back on bloodwork instead of something serious. I ordered another light fixture for inside her cage like I had before. This one will only take half the cage though and be less wattage. If it’s same size as her one that was in the cage it’ll only hang about 6-8 inches above her basking spot surface. It does have a removable reflector, last time I had the reflector while hanging a 10.0 she acted as if it was to intense and wanted to hide most the day. Took the reflector out and she stayed out of her hide but sometimes she’d try to stay in a blind spot from the uvb all day.

Should I get a 5.0 bulb or a 10.0 with her being that close? Maybe even a t8. Her cage is 18” to the screen and I’ll have to measure in the a.m. to be sure but her basking spot is probably 8-10 inch high and the fixture i had before probally hangs 2-3 inches down when hung inside.

The current numbers seems to be good on the solar meter with the one that currently sets on top but I’m worried it’s not coming through as much as she needs since I quit the vet prescribed calcium and switched her new fixture on top the mesh around the same time it had me wondering if the uvb may be an issue.

Here’s the one I ordered. Before I had the 39 watt. This time I ordered the 24 and planning to get a reptisun bulb from the local pet store when it arrives in a couple days. In the meantime I’m going to hook her old one back inside and see if there is any change.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08HCL4J8D/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Did they do X rays to see where her calcium was? The tank being 18" high I would stick w/ the 10.0 bulb- what brand of bulb were you using when she was hiding and acting like the bulb was too intense? Reptisuns and Arcadia bulbs are safe lights and they can be too intense if too close - so you want correct distance - reflectors make the rays more intense - inside the tank you want that distance 12-15 inches directly above her basking decor piece

 

[Subion]

Did they do X rays to see where her calcium was? The tank being 18" high I would stick w/ the 10.0 bulb- what brand of bulb were you using when she was hiding and acting like the bulb was too intense? Reptisuns and Arcadia bulbs are safe lights and they can be too intense if too close - so you want correct distance - reflectors make the rays more intense - inside the tank you want that distance 12-15 inches directly above her basking decor piece

I was using a reptisun 10.0 t5 with the reflector when she wanted to hide in her hut. I believe it was one of the two bulbs Tracie told me to switch to back in June because the one that originally came with the fixture is not a good one. I still only use the reptisun 10.0. When I took the reflector out she would stay under the light more but there would be days where she just would go to a corner where the uvb wouldn’t reach much if at all and lay there until I moved it over her some then she would move out of the way again.

The problem is she constantly wants to sit on top her hide which is a hamster igloo with a small throw wrapped around it. With the calcium issues and surgery I’ve been trying to make it softer on her so she doesn’t hurt herself. Even if I move her lights more to the other side of the tank and have a comfortable blanket under it she goes back to the igloo side and just sits in the cold side all day. Most I can get her light up is about 6-8 inches above her head being raised. According to solar meter where it’s at she gets around a 2-5 range without reflector where she chooses to sit under it. I was told optimal is 4-6. From my vet. I probably could come up with a way to raise the lid some to give more distance. My only worry is we live in an area where stink bugs and lady bugs get bad and a lot do find their way into the house so I’m worried she’d get one.

They did do an X-ray when they checked for fractures. They showed me in clinic but I don’t know what I was looking for. They didn't mention anything about the calcium from the X-rays only the blood work a few days before where they said it was where they wanted it to be.

 

[KarrieRee]

I was using a reptisun 10.0 t5 with the reflector when she wanted to hide in her hut. I believe it was one of the two bulbs Tracie told me to switch to back in June because the one that originally came with the fixture is not a good one. I still only use the reptisun 10.0. When I took the reflector out she would stay under the light more but there would be days where she just would go to a corner where the uvb wouldn’t reach much if at all and lay there until I moved it over her some then she would move out of the way again.

The problem is she constantly wants to sit on top her hide which is a hamster igloo with a small throw wrapped around it. With the calcium issues and surgery I’ve been trying to make it softer on her so she doesn’t hurt herself. Even if I move her lights more to the other side of the tank and have a comfortable blanket under it she goes back to the igloo side and just sits in the cold side all day. Most I can get her light up is about 6-8 inches above her head being raised. According to solar meter where it’s at she gets around a 2-5 range without reflector where she chooses to sit under it. I was told optimal is 4-6. From my vet. I probably could come up with a way to raise the lid some to give more distance. My only worry is we live in an area where stink bugs and lady bugs get bad and a lot do find their way into the house so I’m worried she’d get one.

They did do an X-ray when they checked for fractures. They showed me in clinic but I don’t know what I was looking for. They didn't mention anything about the calcium from the X-rays only the blood work a few days before where they said it was where they wanted it to be.

Dragons know when they need the UVB -- so her moving out of it and being able to not sit under it means she has had enough -- mine do not bask all the time under theirs - I have a 24" fixture for a 120 gallon tank ---- they will go and sit under it when they need it --- I would raise the lid so distance is 12-15 inches and let her decide when she needs the UV -- how tall is the tank? If its 18 inches your good w/ the 10.0 bulb -- if your tank is 16" you could drop to a T 8 bulb distance would be 6-8 inches --- but your going to need a whole new fixture for that --

 

[Subion]

Dragons know when they need the UVB -- so her moving out of it and being able to not sit under it means she has had enough -- mine do not bask all the time under theirs - I have a 24" fixture for a 120 gallon tank ---- they will go and sit under it when they need it --- I would raise the lid so distance is 12-15 inches and let her decide when she needs the UV -- how tall is the tank? If its 18 inches your good w/ the 10.0 bulb -- if your tank is 16" you could drop to a T 8 bulb distance would be 6-8 inches --- but your going to need a whole new fixture for that --

She would stay out of it almost all day if not all day though. I’ll show some pics of her enclosure. It’s suppose to be a 67 gallon 48 by 18 by 18. If I Measure from the tip of the bulb to the bottom is about 13 inches or so. I’m not using a reflector currently. That’s one of the places she likes to lay. The other is on her hut.

I just ordered some black soldier fly larva. Is there a special diet to feed them or do I still dust them like I do the worms and roaches?

 

[KarrieRee]

She would stay out of it almost all day if not all day though. I’ll show some pics of her enclosure. It’s suppose to be a 67 gallon 48 by 18 by 18. If I Measure from the tip of the bulb to the bottom is about 13 inches or so. I’m not using a reflector currently. That’s one of the places she likes to lay. The other is on her hut.

I just ordered some black soldier fly larva. Is there a special diet to feed them or do I still dust them like I do the worms and roaches?

I see you have a wide hole screen - the distance w/ it being on top of screen is 8-10 inches - do not dust the BSFL -- and no they eat what they come in -- let her do her thing w/ the UVB -- the reflector is going to intensify the rays of the UVB - does she lay longer under it w / out the reflector ?

 

[Subion]

I see you have a wide hole screen - the distance w/ it being on top of screen is 8-10 inches - do not dust the BSFL -- and no they eat what they come in -- let her do her thing w/ the UVB -- the reflector is going to intensify the rays of the UVB - does she lay longer under it w / out the reflector ?

Yeah like right now where she’s laying in the pic under it is where she has been laying most the day besides where I took her out for the little bit of sunshine that we could get. I just hooked this one back up today. I was using the a different one that was over her screen for past week. She doesn’t act like she’s trying to get out from under it or anything because she has room to get down. I actually put a bit of a blanket on the hammock so she could get more comfortable and she climbed close to the light by a little bit.

When I did have this one in before and it had the reflector in it she maybe layed for an hour or 2 then would want to hide the rest of the day to where she would be cold to the touch and still not want to come out.

Part of my concern is if I go by the solar meter and the numbers I find online the Ferguson zone suggests 2.9-7.4 at most. Her vet looked up and said 4-6 form where they get their info. Right now she is in a range from 2-5 depending where she lays so I’m worried moving the light may make things worse for her. But then I read how far the lights should be and by that she doesn’t fall in the range the meter suggests. It’s so annoying trying to get what’s right for her. If I raise it I’d probally have to use the reflector and it may then be to powerful since she didn’t like that before

 

[KarrieRee]

Yeah like right now where she’s laying in the pic under it is where she has been laying most the day besides where I took her out for the little bit of sunshine that we could get. I just hooked this one back up today. I was using the a different one that was over her screen for past week. She doesn’t act like she’s trying to get out from under it or anything because she has room to get down. I actually put a bit of a blanket on the hammock so she could get more comfortable and she climbed close to the light by a little bit.

When I did have this one in before and it had the reflector in it she maybe layed for an hour or 2 then would want to hide the rest of the day to where she would be cold to the touch and still not want to come out.

Part of my concern is if I go by the solar meter and the numbers I find online the Ferguson zone suggests 2.9-7.4 at most. Her vet looked up and said 4-6 form where they get their info. Right now she is in a range from 2-5 depending where she lays so I’m worried moving the light may make things worse for her. But then I read how far the lights should be and by that she doesn’t fall in the range the meter suggests. It’s so annoying trying to get what’s right for her. If I raise it I’d probally have to use the reflector and it may then be to powerful since she didn’t like that before

I would go by your solar meter-- I am going to get some more help on this
@CooperDragon

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The lighting should be fine, the distance is good. Do you have a copy of the blood test & the
x-rays? There are no injuries on the spine?
I would love to see the calcium levels, too. The vet said that the calcium levels are the problem?
You are exactly right. The calcium intake can be a problem if there is too much, yes & can cause
softening or calcification issues, too. However, the absorption should be good since you are using
a T5 tube bulb right now.

Tracie

 

[Subion]

Hello,

The lighting should be fine, the distance is good. Do you have a copy of the blood test & the
x-rays? There are no injuries on the spine?
I would love to see the calcium levels, too. The vet said that the calcium levels are the problem?
You are exactly right. The calcium intake can be a problem if there is too much, yes & can cause
softening or calcification issues, too. However, the absorption should be good since you are using
a T5 tube bulb right now.

Tracie

Hi,
I have not got the latest results from blood work they took sun. I’m hoping they come back today or tomorrow at the latest. They did an X-ray sun and I did see it although I’m not 100% sure what all to look for the vet told me they don’t show any fractures, impaction or anything like that. The only thing else in the X-ray that stuck out to me was some glowing spots around where they did the follicle removal surgery on June and she said those were the clips they put in to hold everything in place.

Her last blood tests before sun were done on wed or thurs last week and the vet said her calcium is within the range where they want it to be but that’s all I was told about it besides to give her calcium without d3 3-4x a week and rephasy plus 1-2. She was being treated for an infection and calcium deficiency for a month with injections for infection and calcium gluconate I’d give by mouth daily. She was starting to walk good and be more active/alert then about 2 weeks after going off those and changing to her calcium powders she seems to be getting back into how she was acting before. Laying around, shakey legs when she does move them.

I should note the vet told me since she is a picky eater and not wanting veggies that I should give her bugs (dubia mainly, some super worms) for her to get her calcium and offer her a salad with one does of the rephasy a week. So she get 3-4 times a week bugs without d3 and 1 bug day with repashy, 1 day repashy on a salad. I usually try to give her 3-5 bugs at a time to get her calcium in is what was recommended.

I am going to request copies of her record as soon as I get the new labs in and hope they give me everything.

 

[Subion]

@KarrieRee @Drache613 i got copies of the X-ray but labs aren’t back yet.