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I was rearanging some cages today and took one of my females out of her hide. She just started brumating and I wanted to check on her.

It appears as if her arms are very stiff, she has a hard time getting around. A 20 min soak in warm water made no difference. I placed her under a basking light to see how she would be when warmed up a bit. She is laying there under the light with her arms spread out wide. as of last week, before Daytona she seemed fine.

any clues?
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

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Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 22, 2004 at 23:38:18 by phwyvern.

That sounds like the stiff joints that were going on a while ago. It was suspected to be supplements causing it. ?????
I would talk to Cheri. She had been working with several people who were having that problem.

Let us know what you find out.
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Joel R

Coming some day.
www.SpikesAndScales.com

Funny you say that because I talked to Cheri about that when we met up in Daytona. Even though none of my BDs were showing symptomology encountered by others, I took them off the VGF for a couple weeks to see if it made any difference. It did not. They act the same with or without it. I also keep my BDs well hydrated with repcal pellets soaked in water and lots of greens as well as misting and occational baths.

I do realize every animal's metabalic functions vary so what is good for one may not be enough or too much for another. I will probably try more soaking and heat tomorrow and if there is no improvement look at some bloodwork on monday.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

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Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 22, 2004 at 23:37:36 by phwyvern.

Possible an increase in uric acid causing deposits in the joints....several causes possible, gout, decreased kidney function etc....a definate vet visit in order on this one....
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Tracey
Tracey's Beardies
www.beardiecrazy.com
"Whining is not only graceless, but can be dangerous.
It can alert a brute that a victim is in the neighborhood" ~Maya Angelou

It's possible but I dont see any physical manifestations usually associated with gout. There is no swelling that I can see. She seems very lethargic but that could be attributed to brumation. If there is no improvement by monday than I guess it's time for bloodwork.

ALWAYS on a weekend, always!!!!
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

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Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 22, 2004 at 23:37:04 by phwyvern.

they keep us hopping and guessing...with the non-gout uric acid deposits you sometimes don't see much if any swelling though....I hope she just got stiff from laying sprawled and sleeping....silly girl....take care and let us know!
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Tracey
Tracey's Beardies
www.beardiecrazy.com
"Whining is not only graceless, but can be dangerous.
It can alert a brute that a victim is in the neighborhood" ~Maya Angelou

One the medical forums we have many people that are seeing the same problem in their bearded dragons on a certain supplement. Good news is once they are taken off it, it does seem to reverse in a few weeks, except for one baby that was on it for months since hatching.

We do not know why it effects some dragons and not others, but the common factor was the supplement and the fact that most seem to improve when that is removed from the diet indicates that's the problem. Some people even tried them again after the dragons improved only to have the same problems reappear and once stopped using it again, the problems reversed.

Also, the same supplement seems to cause some dehydration and consitpation, which leads us to think that something in it is depleting the cells of fluids and of course that in turn effects the kidney's abilities to function.

The same supplement is also suppose to pull more phospherous out of the food, which is also hard on kidneys... so I or our Vets does not understand that reasoning. Maybe its effecting dragons who's kidney's are not functioning at peak or has other issues going on also. But the stiffening joints is one of the most common reported problems.

I would suggest you flush her out as well as possible with as much fluids as you can get in her, avoid the higher oxalated greens and if she does not improve, get a blood test for the Uric acid levels and Ca to ph ratio. And STOP using that particular supplement if she was on it.

We tried to warn others of this months ago with it and got a lot of static from others so we have not been updating all the others that are having the same problems.
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www.reptilerooms.com

they are all on the t-rex sups- ICB and VGF as well as repcal pellets. They do not get additional sups. this is the first sign of any problem after using it almost 1/2 year.
I have had several BD show great improvement since being on the t-rex after everything else failed to produce results.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

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Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 22, 2004 at 23:33:41 by phwyvern.