Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a few month old dragon, and she has been kinda dragging her head, kinda off balanced and has been rolling and flipping... my book,''the bearded dragon manual'' suggests that this is a possible ear infection problem, also suggests bacterial meningitis or toxins or viruses.. it suggests that this is a neurological problem..

can anyone give me some advice?

thanks

sorry but if it is, its no good news. not much is known about it and even less is known about treatment. They sometimes grow out of it but dont count on it. Many will die, those that live will rarely be normal adults.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

stargazing?? where can i get information about this??

thanks for the help...

has some info i think.
Cheri

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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

Im not convinced its stargazing, because stargazing sounds like there head is held up straight, my dragon seems as if her head is limp, she cant even raise it, but the rolling and flipping is there.. as well as the lethargic disposition...

any more help would be most apprecitated

Both usually have the same base cause, but effect different muscle or areas of the brain...

Stargazing effects the area of the brain that controls the upper neck muscles

Ataxia can effect the lower muscles, causing the head to draw down instead of up.

These symptoms can also be signs of other minor problems that can be corrected.

Some things to try:

Up the calcium for a few weeks and make sure the dragon is under a good working UVB light, if you can not meter it and have doubts, change it with a new one.... if your not using one, thats probably your problem.

Vitamin B's, add some more in to the diet, either in food or supplements (you can use human grade Vitamin B but just a small pinch every other day and try that for a few weeks.

Dragons that have recovered from this usually had lack of one of the two above and it may not be just in the diet, the baby may not be absorbing them properly.

IF neither of those things improve the situation, they only testing can tell you if it is viral (thats the most common cause in babies) bacterial or neurological base. And sadly in each of those, there is not a good survival rate.
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www.reptilerooms.com

I will try the higher calcium, but my UV light is new, less than a month... and i've only had this dragon for less than 2 weeks... i will also try the vitamin b... but the calcium i give it already has b3 in it...

Is there anymore information or links to Ataxia you can give me... perhaps a vet visit is in order??

thanks for your help,

Your calcium supplement has d3, the other post recommends trying vitamin B.

>>I will try the higher calcium, but my UV light is new, less than a month... and i've only had this dragon for less than 2 weeks... i will also try the vitamin b... but the calcium i give it already has b3 in it...
>>
>>Is there anymore information or links to Ataxia you can give me... perhaps a vet visit is in order??
>>
>>thanks for your help,
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Bill DiFabio
Garden State Herpetoculture...website to follow...
Email Me
"The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense,
not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung

ya, your right... my mistake.. i will definately try that vitamin B... thanks for the help.. ill keep ya posted on her status...

thanks

If you go out and buy a human grade supplement, I am assuming you want to get what is called a B-complex vitamin as opposed to any one specific b vitamin. There are 8 different vitamins that compose what is refered to as the B-complex, maybe the poster that suggested this can help out more. You might also want to try brewers yeast which is high in severl of the be vitamins.
good luck

>>ya, your right... my mistake.. i will definately try that vitamin B... thanks for the help.. ill keep ya posted on her status...
>>
>>thanks
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Bill DiFabio
Garden State Herpetoculture...website to follow...
Email Me
"The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense,
not between right and wrong." - Carl Jung

Any plastic surface and silicon will absorb bleach and then when put under heat will create toxic fumes.

If you use bleach, make sure to really flush out the tank, basking platforms or area well.

Shelf liner is a nice ground cover for beardies (we use it with reptile carpet, paper towel and sand boxes), but it has to be cleaned with hot water and soap or nolvasan. Same with the plastic or resin basking areas or jungle gym for babies, they can absorb or trap bleach water and then when heated in a tank become dangerous.
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www.reptilerooms.com

No, i dont think its bleach, i never use it... i wash the glass with water and vinegar.. and the dishes get washed with antibacterial soap and rinsed very thuroghly... i tried the vitamin B today.. hopefully it'll help...

thanks for the ideas!!