You are here:

Bearded Dragons/Baby Bearded Dragon Seems Very Sick

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/9/2011


Question
My sick baby beardie\'s under-side
My sick baby beardie's
I would appreciate any advice on what to do right now.
We bought a baby bearded dragon (5 inches long) about 2 weeks ago.  It's always been very frisky and is growing quickly.
Today it is suddenly -acting lethargic,
-not moving it's back legs at all,
-has a puffy/swollen slightly pink vent,
-every so often raises head high, puffs out throat, opens mouth, sticks tongue out & swallows big 2 or 3 times.
Last night I gave it some small medium crickets for the first time ever because the store has been totally out of small crickets for about a day and a half and it will only eat crickets...(we can't get it to eat anything else).  I don't know if this has anything to do with the problem for sure or not. Today, Spike (our beardie) DID poop a large poop earlier in the day if that's any help answering this question.
So far I have tried what I found on an ER reptile site which was...
-Soaking in warm water for ten minutes & gently rubbing belly from behind front legs down to above vent.
-Gave 2 drops of olive oil with dropper.
-Gave one drop of diluted pedialyte.
I JUST did these things as I found them on an ER reptile site, but not sure if they will work and am very worried! Please help!!

Answer
Hello, he may be impacted. The soaking, rubbing, and solutions you used is a good idea and you should keep doing them. You need to call your vet to bring him in. His back legs are probably paralyzed due to being impacted. Keep trying those remedies and stick by him and watch to see how he progresses. You may get to a point to where you can't help him or he may spontaneously get better. I hope i was a little help, let me know how it goes.

Bearded Dragons

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Joe Zarnick

Expertise

I can answer every question towards the bearded dragon except for questions that deal with sickness and disease. I can answer questions on heating and UV rays, the questions pertaining to food, habitat, bedding, breeding, egg/hatchling care, nature, and attitude are my best. Last, I cannot help you with at home sickness meds, always find a vet within your area. I can answer questions regarding body language and movement. I will try to help you to the best of my ability.

Experience

I have owned 7 bearded dragons. For 6 straight years, I have had my first male and female that i have been raising. Raising my male and female have been such an experience! Breeding them was also a great experience! After my male passed, it made me realize that raising them was one of the best experiences of my life and still currently is.

Education/Credentials
I have no educational cedentials, but i have constant history of bearded dragon research.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.