Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi I have had my bearded dragon for about 1 1/2years now and he has been in perfect health until lately. I woke to find blood all over his cage and he had a scab on his lower lid. I assumed it was that he scratched his eye with his claw. We cleaned him up and his eye is fine, no damage, and he can see out of it just fine. He is eating like usual no loss of appetite or anything. The next day I noticed that while under his heat lamp his eyes were bulging out and then blood was coming out of that same eye. Then a few seconds later back to normal. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this before? I have a few friends that also have Beardies and no one has a clue. BTW he is in a 55 gallon tank with a basking spot and use to have sand in his cage but doesnt anymore. Just paper towels. And i maintain a water dish in there always

I'd take him to the vet ASAP.
Maybe someone else has an idea as to whats going on...but that just seems really weird

I too am at a loss, but i agree, he needs to see a herp vet
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0.1 Bearded dragon
2.1 Leopard Gecko's
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Mexican Black kingsnake
1.0 Ball Python
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
1.0 Blood Red Corn
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx
0.1 Bullmastiff
3.1 Cats

First of all, I too would suggest that you bring him to the vet.

If he scratched his eye, it would have been because most likely there is some foreign matter in it that is bothering him. This most likely explains the "eye bulging". Dragons normally bulge their eyes to stretch the skin around them in order to shed that area properly. If someone has never seen it before then it can be quite scary. Looks like their eyes will pop out. Eye bulging is normal and nothing to be worried about. In your case the bulging probably is not from annoying dead skin but from something in his eye.

If your dragon scratched his lower lid (very possible) and the irritaion continues, the eye bulging probably opened the wound and caused the renewed bleeding.

I think that the underlying problem is that he has something in his eye that is irritating.

There is a product in the pharmacy or grocery store called "Ocufresh" Eye Wash. It is a preservative free sterile eye wash. You could try this if a vet is not a feasible option. Keep in mind that the foreign matter is likely between the eye and the lower lid. So it may be tricky.

This is a good product and should be in all owners emergency kits.

well Im happy to say he hasn't bled again. I came home to soak him and he is as active as usual and has a hardy appetite. I do have an appt with the vet just to be safe. I wonder if it was some sand in his eye. I did try flushing his eye with sterile saline solution. BDlvr thanks for your informative response it was very appreciated. I have to admit I was freaked out when I saw him bulging his eyes since I had never seen him do it before and couldn't find info on the web. I am going to get the Ocufresh too, good tip.

i have seen the eye bulge thing and it is quite scary! I thought my babies eye was gonna pop out of her head...let us know what the vet says!

Update... It seems like he did have something in his eye that was making him bulge his eyes out.I am happy to say he has been given a clean bill of health and no more complications have occured. I am very grateful to this forum for the opportunity to vent and get some information on issues that I have no clue about. So thank you to everyone who responded.