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

Sick Bearded Dragon

Sick Bearded Dragon

Although words such as "bulletproof" has been used with Bearded dragons, it is known that like with any other pet, they can also get sick. Although it is said that these animals are hardy and very adaptable, they are still dependant on the correct Bearded dragon husbandry to thrive. It is said that more than 80% of Bearded dragon diseases are due to incorrect keeping.

A healthy Bearded dragon should always be bright, alert and almost always willing to eat. Sick Bearded dragons will hide away under obstacles for long periods of time and do not spend most of the day actively basking. Some sick Bearded dragons can also have poorly fleshed bodies with little visible wrinkles on the skin, while others will have ocular, oral and/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. A sick Bearded dragon will often present with diarrhoea.

Symptoms of a sick Bearded dragon are the following:

• 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

• Head tilting & circling

• Mucous secretions from the mouth or nose

• Lethargy or dullness (unaware of its surroundings)

• Laboured breathing

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

Bearded Dragon Diseases

Not all animals get the same diseases. Some diseases can be seen in a variety of species, but differs with regards to their severity or frequency. Some diseases might look exactly the same, but they are caused by different disease processes.

Common Bearded dragon diseases include the following (links will open in a new window):

• Bearded dragon parasites

• Bearded dragon metabolic bone disease (MBD)

• Bearded dragon impactions

• Bearded dragon bacterial infections

• Bearded dragon Adenovirus

Sick Bearded Dragon Veterinary Consult

A sick Bearded dragon should be evaluated by a Bearded dragon friendly veterinarian as soon as possible! The vet will take a short history on how the Bearded dragon is kept. Be honest and do not answer what you think the vet wants to hear. This will aid in the diagnoses. Remember to accompany the Bearded 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. sick Bearded dragons & more...
beardeddragons.co.za