Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a beardie that I adopted from a breeder that inbred and the litter had a bunch of birth defects. Mine is a midget and has missing toes and tail etc... Well, his nostrils get clogged with some kind of shell or what seems to be solid matter way up in his nostrils. They are recurring and I am getting very worried because tonight, both of his nostrils were clogged. I managed to get his left nostril unclogged but the matter in his right one keeps coming in and out of view and I havent been able to get it yet. Is this a serious problem? Should I take him to a vet or something? I am very very worried. I dont understand what this is and Im worried that he cannot breathe. Can someone please help?!

if his nostrals are always getting blocked up with something, it is serious. Though, during shed, the old skin can sometimes clog or block the nostrals though usually the dragon can blew these free, often making whistling sounds. But if he is repeatidly having problems keeping his nasal passages free while not shedding, he should be taken to a vet. A vet may be able to open up the nasal passages and extract what is blocking it, or at least determine if it is just unshed skin or fluids. ( respiratory infection can cause mucus being blown out the nostrals as well, and this can dry and clog too).

Also,are you sure the dragon was born without legs? It is very common for bearded dragon hatchlings, if kept to many to one cage and not fed properly, to accidently bite off sibling's toes, feet and tail tips.
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PHLdyPayne

Well his whole litter had the same defects (I adopted the litter) so I am pretty sure that it was due to the inbreeding.
I was afraid that this nasal problem was due to respitory problems. How do I find a vet that will see him? Do most vets see reptiles??? As soon as I find one that will see him, I will take him in...I am so worried. He is my pride and joy.

Please reply to this messege so I get an email notification for reply.

Sorry for taking so long to respond, been busy today. Below are a couple links of quality herp vets. Just choose your location and see which is the closest one. ALso, checking in your yellow pages for vets dealing in exotics/reptiles could also yield some locally.

www.herpvetconnection.com/

www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html

www.arav.org/
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PHLdyPayne

Thank you so much! You have been a great help. I appreciate it very much.

First off thank you for opening your heart and taking in this clutch of babies. Unless you got the clutch the day they hatched I agree with PHLdyPayne that they probably weren't fed enough and bit/nipped each other mistaking them for food.

What you are describing sounds like the skin needs to shed inside the nostrils. Shed skin from inside the nose area comes out hollow (shell like)and can take a few days to loosen up before it is ready to come out. Are you giving him (and his clutch mates) daily mistings? They could also use a 15 daily bath in luke warm water up to their elbows while shedding.
If you want to help your baby get this shedding skin out of his nose wait till it is partially out already then soak them in a bath. Using your fingure or thumb gently rub it across the nose from the direction of the eye to the tip of the nose. If it doesn't come out it is not ready. I use this method on my female dragon. She gets very grumpy and won't eat till her nose shed comes out. She will hold her head up to me in the bath and sometimes rub her nose on my hand herself to get it out. It doesn't seem to bother the rest of my dragons.

If it does appear to be anything else I would have a reptile vet take a look at him. Just ask your vet if he/she has had experience with bearded dragons. If not they should offer you a referal to a vet with the experience.