Posted by:
AlteredMind99
at Mon Mar 19 20:32:40 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by AlteredMind99 ]
Swollen limbs and lethargy sounds like MBD. MBD is a general term for a bunch of different conditions that arrise from one (or more) of several factors. They can cause a variety of symptoms...and the ones you are describing sounds like a low blood calcium level. When calcium is not provided or is not being metabolised properly the blood levels will become low...in order to sustain the blood calcium level the body will draw calcium from reserves such as the bones. The arms become swollen as the bones soften and the muscles swell to accomidate. These dragons are often lethargic as well.
What type of lighting do you have for your beardie? Do you have a UVB bulb - what brand of bulb is it? How old is it? Do you supplement the diet with calcium and vitamins? How often?
Treating MBD requires a few different things...whichever factor in the husbandry that was causing the issues initially needs to be corrected. The basking spot needs to be made of a bright, white bulb that provides a basking temperature of 100-105degrees (there should be a large wide branch or some other structure that reaches up to a few inches below the bulb), there should also be a high quality UVB such as a repti-sun 8.0 or 10.0 or a Mecury Vapor bulb (www.reptileuv.com). This bulb has to be less than 6mo old. Pure calcium supplements should be used 2-3times per week and a multivitamin should be given once a week or every other week - for a healthy dragon. If your dragon is begining to show signs of MBD you should be supplementing pure calcium daily on everything she is eating and be using a multivitamin 1-2x a week. RepCal is a great brand that sells a pure calcium supplement, and one with D3 and a multivitamin containing D3.
If there are any things in your set up that are not in line may cause a condition like this and should be quickly changed to help her start to get healthy.
However, your dragon should alsovgo immediately to a good, qualified herp vet who has experience treating these cases. They will probably want to do an exam and maybe take some x-rays. They may prescribe an oral calcium supplement that contains a higher concentration of calcium. They may provide other treatments if they find them necesseary.
Is your dragon eating at the moment? Is she defecating?
It would really help if you provided a detailed explanation of your set up and husbandry techniques, as well as her behavior - over all and lately. What is her usual diet and how has it changed lately?
I hope this information helps
(There is a lot of good information on bearded dragons - and on this condition as well at www.beautifuldragons.com)
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0.1 Bearded dragon (Hannabil)
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake (Morticia)
2.1 Leopard Gecko's (Pogo,Jeffrey Nothing, Louise)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn (Autumn)
1.0 Blood Red Corn (Virus)
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx (Scuttle)
0.1 Bullmastiff (Asha)
4.1 Cats (Poe, Tucker, Abhid, Felicity, Emmy)
[ Hide Replies ]
- need some help with dragon - moostadon, Mon Mar 19 20:17:33 2007
 RE: need some help with dragon - AlteredMind99, Mon Mar 19 20:32:40 2007
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