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"Pet Bearded Dragon Care & Information (Pogona vitticeps)"

Bearded Dragon Health

Bearded Dragon Health Issues

Bearded dragon health is sometimes something some owners neglect. To make things even worse it can be sometimes very difficult to detect subtle / early signs of disease, especially when one does not know what to look for. This is the same for when selecting a new healthy Bearded dragon from the pet shop or breeder. Being extremely hardy animals, Beardies can act as if nothing is wrong, until it is very often too late. Although an anorexic Bearded dragon is almost always sick, the biggest mistake an owner can make is by assuming that there is nothing wrong with their pet as long as it is still eating.

A healthy Bearded dragon should always be bright, alert and almost always willing to eat. A healthy Beardie should not hide away under obstacles for long periods of time and should spend most of the day actively basking and be on the lookout for their next meal. Physically they should have a well fleshed body without any visible wrinkles on the skin, have no ocular, oral or nasal discharges.

Faecal matter which should mainly consist of two parts should always be semi-solid and never too watery or runny. The darker part of the faeces should be firm and free from excessive slime, blood and should not contain large amounts of undigested particles.

Bearded Dragon Health Problems

Bearded dragons are certainly one of the hardier lizard species in the pet trade today. They are however very dependant on the correct Bearded dragon housing and Bearded dragon needs to thrive. Because these basics are sometimes neglected, Beardies are regularly presented with metabolic associated diseases or problems. According to my experience the most common husbandry related problems are Bearded dragon Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) and Bearded dragon eating problems.

Signs of Bearded dragon health problems include:

• Partial or complete anorexia (lack of appetite)

• Weight loss & poor body condition

• Diarrhoea (abnormal or runny faeces and / or cloacal soiling)

• Lumps, bumps, sores & abrasions on the skin

• Dehydration (wrinkled skin & sunken eyes)

• Paralysis or lameness of the limbs or tail

• Weakness (lying flat)

• Sudden or regular abnormal (jerky) movements of head & extremities

• Mucous secretions from the mouth or nose

• Lethargy or dullness (unaware of its surroundings)

• Labored breathing

If any of the mentioned signs are seen a Bearded dragon friendly veterinarian should be consulted without hesitation.

Bearded Dragon Health Inspections

As with all pets, it is recommended to have even a healthy Bearded dragon evaluated by a Bearded dragon friendly veterinarian on a routine or regular basis. It is preferable to have a Beardie evaluated at the time of purchase, before or during the Bearded dragon quarantine period and then at least every six months after that. During the quarantine period various veterinary visits might aid in the identification of subclinical diseases. Remember to accompany the dragon with a fresh / wet stool sample sealed in an airtight sealable bag.

The Advanced Bearded Dragon Manual
For Basic & Advanced Bearded dragon care incl. Bearded dragon health & more...
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