Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Please help me! I have a baby tragon in his cage. He is is a 10 gallon with paper towels and a tall long plastic toy for him to clim on. I have been in this business for many years and never seen anything like this. I went to feed him today and noticed, he wouldnt move his back legs. 4 or 5 days ago he was perfectley normal. All legs working and everything. I took him out today and gave him a bath and he completley wont move his back legs. What could have possibley happened in4 or 5 days that would paralize his back legs?

ATLherp

-BrAd-

If I remember correctly, this can be caused from either lack of vitamins, or feeding prey that is too large for the beardie. I'd get it looked at though if I were you

i have read that it can be caused by either too little calcium or feeding too large of food, what size crickets (or whatever you feed him) do you use??

A bad impaction can cause a beardies spine to snap causing paralysis which ususally kills them but some do live. What are you feeding him? How long since his last bowel movement?

he is about 4 months. I use the calcium dust. 1/2 size crix. last bowel movement was recent.

It may be caused by feeding him something too big. You shouldnt feed anything bigger than the width of their mouth. Otherwise impaction could occur, and their hind legs become paralyzed because of this. Try soaking him in warm water to try to break up the impaction. I would defiently take him to a reptile vet.

Good Luckk
Mitch

This sounds likely to be an impaction of the intestines caused by not being able to thoroughly digest and pass food. The impaction can cause paralysis and can eventually be fatal if not treated. Soak your beardie in warm (not hot) water several times a day. Drop some diluted apple juice on his nose for him to drink, also several times a day. Feed him baby food squash or sweet potatoes. Make sure his temps are hot enough (around 100-110 F in the basking zone) and if you don't use an undertank heater, consider adding one for belly heat night and day until the impaction passes.) You can try Parazap (available online) as a laxative. Probiotics like acidophilus (Acidophiliz and Bene-Bac are two brand names) are also a helpful supplement. Hopefully he will pass the obstruction. Don't overstress his digestive system with too much food right afterwards.

Prey items that are too large and/or inadequate temperatures are the most likely contributors to an impaction. If he is on sand, or any substrate but paper/liner, take him off, as sands (even supposedly digestible ones) have been implicated in impaction. Parasites are also a possibility and you will want to have a fecal test done. Good luck.

IT could be a couple of things, i agree with the above reply that it could be an impaction and its important to have high basking temps, but i have to add that a ten gallon tank is WAY too small to have a beardie in if you are going to have proper basking temps (100-110degrees) please move your beardie into at least a 20gallon long before you up these temps or you will cook the little guy! Warm water soaks work well.

What kind of supplements and lighting have you been using? Not having the right kind of lighting (UVB) or not having enough calcium supplementation can lead to MBD, which in babies is frequently shown by paralysis of the back legs. How long have you had him? Even if you are doing every thing right he may have had inadequate care before he came to you. I would take him to the vet, along with a fecal sample if you have one. I worked with a baby beardie one time (very small, under 3inches) who came to me paralysized in the back legs, very weak and lethargic even though i had had him under the correct lighting and had been supplementing. It took a long time with liquid calicum drops (prescribed by the vet) and force feedings and tease feedings before the little guy was up to speed again.

please don't delay, try the home remedies for impaction buy if he doesn't poop soon, take him to the vet immediately. and please please please do not up his temps until you have him in a larger tank.

good luck with everything!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

the tank is 24 inches long, 1 foot deep, and one foot tall. its a regular glas tank. he is on paper towels. I have a UVA/UVB hood on his tank with a 100 wat bulb. he is still looking fine. Can you still give mineral oil to clean out the dragons insides? I remember a breeder reccomended that to us a few years ago and it worked. He is 6 inches long. He has been a very slow grower. Please email me fore help. ATLherp@bellsouth.net

really appretiate it!

-BrAd- / ATLherp

he is on damp paper towls. Is their any chance of him gaining the use of his legs back?

Why damp towels? Soaking him several times a day is sufficient moisture. Damp towels won't do anything for the impaction and may increase the risk of a fungal infection or mold.

Yes, a few drops of mineral oil (not baby oil) or olive oil can be helpful.

If the impaction passes then the baby should regain the use of his legs. If he has not passed it within 72 hours, I would take him to a good herp vet, if you have one available. Impactions can be deadly and you will want to rule out any other potential cause for the paralysis or the impaction. Good luck to you.

Things are looking bad. I did as you all reccomended. Yesterday he acted like he was some what alive. I bathed him several times. Today i came home and found him in the same place i left him in this morning what i put him back in his cage from his bath. He is just so small, i dont know if i wanna put him on sand yet. I have a 40 breeder with UVA/UVB,sand,rock,stick and heat lamp with 100 watt bulb on hand. Should i put him in there? Today he is basically almost dead. His body is limp. He doesnt feel dead though. Just for the heck of it i went and put him in another bather. He doesnt look like he is breathing, however he will randomley open his mouth as wide as it goes and close it again. I have gived the reccomded mineral oil. Please call me, this is basically an all out emergensey.

678-294-0351

-BrAd- ATLherp

Take him to the vet immediately, tell them its an emergency and they should let you come right in
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

This sounds very much like a metabolic disorder, Are you only giving calcium suppliment? You need to also gve a multi vitamin with d3 to help the absorption of calcium. Dose or did he at any point arch his back when you try and pick him up, and gulp and gape and generaly look bloated? We have had a couple of cases with the described symptoms,which were calcium deficient.

16/05...dead. I really appreatiate all of your alls help. I have always given him calcum on his crix. Did all that i could. Its not that he was a 200$ dragon...i really liked him. I appreatiate your help everone. I did all i could

thanks a lot,

-BrAd- ATLherp

I am sorry to hear about your dragon . And I am sorry to have missed your other message. Are you keeping any other young dragons at this time? If so, do they seem well? It is always sad and disheartening to lose an animal, and even more so when you don't know exactly what the problem was. My sincere condolences.