3yr old beardie keeps going on his back.

[Jadeykinns]

Our 3 year old bearded dragon has been recently to the vet with gout and has been wormed as recommended by a reptile vet ( something which we overlooked with his care) the past 3 weeks he hasn’t been feeding much and won’t move too much ( due to his gout and swollen arms and legs )

before his vet visit he was found on his back, his beard was black but not too black, so only on his back recently. Today we found him on his back again, eyes closed and we feared the worse, my partner flipped him over and was ok. We just don’t know how long he was on his back for. Now towards the end of the day he’s on his back again, beard was black. This has happened too often now and we need someone who might know what’s wrong or has had similar experience.

Vivarium is 43 cmx 49cm x 120cm
Light are all the recommended from reptile expert and research over a few month before we got our beard dragon as a baby.
He’s never had any problems before, we are really worried for him and would do anything. But with kids and work, and it’s hard to get a reptile vet every time too. Not many vets have reptile specialist.

help is much appreciated!!!

 

[Zontar’s Mom]

Take him to vet. When they flip like that and Blackbeard and remain motionless...well it’s bad news. Death is around the corner. sorry

 

[Sadie]

Sorry to say it sounds like a calcium / neurological issue --- what are you using for a UVB? coil or tube ? If its a coil bulb this would be a cause for the issues going on

 

[Jadeykinns]

Sorry to say it sounds like a calcium / neurological issue --- what are you using for a UVB? coil or tube ? If its a coil bulb this would be a cause for the issues going on

It’s a tube, all his light get changed around every 6-7 month.

 

[Sadie]

It’s a tube, all his light get changed around every 6-7 month.

What brand and bulb please? They require a certain distance and placement -- please get him into the vet ASAP - here is a website to find a reptile vet www.arav.org

 

[Jadeykinns]

They are exo terra light.

 

[Jadeykinns]

Take him to vet. When they flip like that and Blackbeard and remain motionless...well it’s bad news. Death is around the corner. sorry

We took him for a vet checkup a few days ago who was happy with their care. After today we do expect the worse. We got thinking that this could have been caused by his heat lamp that unexpected blew out one day during the night. We don’t know how long for. We woke up and the heat lamp was cold. We usually have a spare bulb but was borrowed by a family member who also had a bearded dragon and never return when they got a replacement for their own vivarium. We are aware how long a bearded dragon can survive without heat for but looking a back on it now these are when the problems seamed to have started.

 

[Sadie]

We took him for a vet checkup a few days ago who was happy with their care. After today we do expect the worse. We got thinking that this could have been caused by his heat lamp that unexpected blew out one day during the night. We don’t know how long for. We woke up and the heat lamp was cold. We usually have a spare bulb but was borrowed by a family member who also had a bearded dragon and never return when they got a replacement for their own vivarium. We are aware how long a bearded dragon can survive without heat for but looking a back on it now these are when the problems seamed to have started.

Heat lamp? Are you talking about a basking light? Or a colored bulb at nite or heat emitter--- ? Basking lights should not be left on at night if that's what your talking about- the check up by the vet was not a good one I am afraid - your dragon should of had the lighting set up gone over w/ you - has his calcium levels ever been checked? Calcium absorption is extremely important- it prevents all kinds of health issues mvb-- among neurological issues which is what is possibly going on here w/ the flipping on the back- is he walking funny back legs working - that is usually what happens but the flipping on the back is also a cause-- what are you using for a UVB-

 

[Jadeykinns]

Heat lamp? Are you talking about a basking light? Or a colored bulb at nite or heat emitter--- ? Basking lights should not be left on at night if that's what your talking about- the check up by the vet was not a good one I am afraid - your dragon should of had the lighting set up gone over w/ you - has his calcium levels ever been checked? Calcium absorption is extremely important- it prevents all kinds of health issues mvb-- among neurological issues which is what is possibly going on here w/ the flipping on the back- is he walking funny back legs working - that is usually what happens but the flipping on the back is also a cause-- what are you using for a UVB-

We are using an exo terra uvb 200- 30w . His basking light always use to be on. If that’s the case and it shouldn’t be on we will definitely be rethinking the whole set up. We got give a leaflet on caring for a bearded dragon on what lights we should use to side and what they should eat and apart from his uvb and natural light we must have clearly over looked his basking light. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We feel absolutely terrible for over looking such a detail that must have had bad impact on our dear beardie without even reali

the vet had no concern about calcium, we believe he’s getting enough calcium , we dust his food several times a week . if it was the lights all this time we clearly need to do more research. The dragon is my partners pet, part of our family. He research for months before we got the dragon. Thinking we had all the right information.
Thank you so much for this information, we very much appreciate it . We are however prepared for the worse , we wish we could do more for him at the moment but it’s almost the middle of the night , I’m checking on him every so often to make sure he don’t go on his back and removed everything he could climb for now. I feel like this will be a long night.
Again thank you for this

 

[Zontar’s Mom]

We took him for a vet checkup a few days ago who was happy with their care. After today we do expect the worse. We got thinking that this could have been caused by his heat lamp that unexpected blew out one day during the night. We don’t know how long for. We woke up and the heat lamp was cold. We usually have a spare bulb but was borrowed by a family member who also had a bearded dragon and never return when they got a replacement for their own vivarium. We are aware how long a bearded dragon can survive without heat for but looking a back on it now these are when the problems seamed to have started.

Did vet do a fecal exam or did you bring a stool sample? Beardie do not do well after fecal exams at vet office.
Sadie is 100% correct regarding lights and temps. These are the only priority to focus on cuz once this is perfect everything else follows. No coils, coloured lights, substrate in viv, heat emitters unless it goes lower than 65 degrees at night and etcetera.

 

[Sadie]

We are using an exo terra uvb 200- 30w . His basking light always use to be on. If that’s the case and it shouldn’t be on we will definitely be rethinking the whole set up. We got give a leaflet on caring for a bearded dragon on what lights we should use to side and what they should eat and apart from his uvb and natural light we must have clearly over looked his basking light. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We feel absolutely terrible for over looking such a detail that must have had bad impact on our dear beardie without even reali

the vet had no concern about calcium, we believe he’s getting enough calcium , we dust his food several times a week . if it was the lights all this time we clearly need to do more research. The dragon is my partners pet, part of our family. He research for months before we got the dragon. Thinking we had all the right information.
Thank you so much for this information, we very much appreciate it . We are however prepared for the worse , we wish we could do more for him at the moment but it’s almost the middle of the night , I’m checking on him every so often to make sure he don’t go on his back and removed everything he could climb for now. I feel like this will be a long night.
Again thank you for this

I am sorry but the UVB bulb your using is not very good --- it is compared to the Repti Glo bulb which is a MVB and is a terrible bulb ---- I would replace that bulb w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5-- what kind of fixture are you using? I need the brand please -- His calcium will or cannot be absorbed w/ out good UVB which is the good UVB bulb I just recommended -- bulbs are not all the same and most are NOT good -- the vet should of done a calcium level on him in his exam - they can do an X ray and it will show exactly where the calcium is and whether it is high or low --- I dont know how else to help you or dragon--- other than getting the UVB bulb replaced but I am afraid the damage is done now w/ him flipping on to his back --- MBD cannot be reversed once it has started but it can be prevented from getting any worse w/ early intervention -- the same w/ the neurological issues which would be seizures head twitching etc--- MBD is totally preventable given the correct information of lighting for the tanks -- COILS should be banned all together --- there is only one coil that I know of that I have not run across w/ these type of issues and that is the 26 watt Reptisun coil - it is similar to the T 8 but distance and placement of that bulb is imperative -- again I am sorry for your dragon -- I would get the bulb replaced and get the fixture into the tank approx 12 inches directly above a piece of basking decor --- I would look for or make a shelf type decor piece maybe out of a shoe box cut like a ramp w/ a piece of cloth on it so he can climb up and bask under the UVB -- dragons cannot breath on their backs --

 

[Jadeykinns]

I am sorry but the UVB bulb your using is not very good --- it is compared to the Repti Glo bulb which is a MVB and is a terrible bulb ---- I would replace that bulb w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5-- what kind of fixture are you using? I need the brand please -- His calcium will or cannot be absorbed w/ out good UVB which is the good UVB bulb I just recommended -- bulbs are not all the same and most are NOT good -- the vet should of done a calcium level on him in his exam - they can do an X ray and it will show exactly where the calcium is and whether it is high or low --- I dont know how else to help you or dragon--- other than getting the UVB bulb replaced but I am afraid the damage is done now w/ him flipping on to his back --- MBD cannot be reversed once it has started but it can be prevented from getting any worse w/ early intervention -- the same w/ the neurological issues which would be seizures head twitching etc--- MBD is totally preventable given the correct information of lighting for the tanks -- COILS should be banned all together --- there is only one coil that I know of that I have not run across w/ these type of issues and that is the 26 watt Reptisun coil - it is similar to the T 8 but distance and placement of that bulb is imperative -- again I am sorry for your dragon -- I would get the bulb replaced and get the fixture into the tank approx 12 inches directly above a piece of basking decor --- I would look for or make a shelf type decor piece maybe out of a shoe box cut like a ramp w/ a piece of cloth on it so he can climb up and bask under the UVB -- dragons cannot breath on their backs --

we have understand the red basking light is causing the problem, as we have read. My partner has again no concerns about his calcium intake , his uvb lights have been the same type since we had him 3 years ago and had shown no sign of mbd . His weight was very good and as I said his gout has caused him problems with his walking .
We have no coil lights , they don’t get sold in pet shops local to us. The vet did do a body examination and he had his poo checked . It was however a bit runny and less pop than normal due to his medication and not eating bugs as much ( as research has shown to for him not to eat big food until he's a bit better ) . Gout can take weeks to recover.
Today he looks a bit more perky. He’s moving a bit more and seems a bit more relaxed

 

[Sadie]

we have understand the red basking light is causing the problem, as we have read. My partner has again no concerns about his calcium intake , his uvb lights have been the same type since we had him 3 years ago and had shown no sign of mbd . His weight was very good and as I said his gout has caused him problems with his walking .
We have no coil lights , they don’t get sold in pet shops local to us. The vet did do a body examination and he had his poo checked . It was however a bit runny and less pop than normal due to his medication and not eating bugs as much ( as research has shown to for him not to eat big food until he's a bit better ) . Gout can take weeks to recover.
Today he looks a bit more perky. He’s moving a bit more and seems a bit more relaxed

Dragons will hide their illness till they can no longer ---placement and distance for a UVB is crucial for the rays being delivered to the dragon --- the bulbs I recommended are the best on the market --- if your fixture is a long tube fixture you can easily change that bulb out to what I recommended -- if your dragon is suffering from gout and is diagnosed w/ it he can be put on a med called Allopurinol and it will take the swelling down that would need to be prescribed by your vet and a blood test would be done to determine the uric acid level in his blood-- he can also be fed some black tart cherry juice -- yes the medication will cause him not to eat but also incorrect UVB as well along w/ placement and distance - if the UVB is on top of your screen and the screen is a fine mesh like a screen door your dragon is not getting enough UVB the screen is blocking 30% of those rays another issue thats going to cause health problems - the distance would need to be 12-15 inches for a 24 watt bulb - you dont recover from gout -- it is a battle to keep the levels of uric acid down and large amounts of dubia roaches should be cut down -- they are a big culprit in causing gout -- so that would be the first thing to help the dragon and finding another staple insect like silk worms or BSFL--- I have gout and take Allopurinol to keep my uric acid level in check -- please keep in mind what I have posted -

 

[Jadeykinns]

Dragons will hide their illness till they can no longer ---placement and distance for a UVB is crucial for the rays being delivered to the dragon --- the bulbs I recommended are the best on the market --- if your fixture is a long tube fixture you can easily change that bulb out to what I recommended -- if your dragon is suffering from gout and is diagnosed w/ it he can be put on a med called Allopurinol and it will take the swelling down that would need to be prescribed by your vet and a blood test would be done to determine the uric acid level in his blood-- he can also be fed some black tart cherry juice -- yes the medication will cause him not to eat but also incorrect UVB as well along w/ placement and distance - if the UVB is on top of your screen and the screen is a fine mesh like a screen door your dragon is not getting enough UVB the screen is blocking 30% of those rays another issue thats going to cause health problems - the distance would need to be 12-15 inches for a 24 watt bulb - you dont recover from gout -- it is a battle to keep the levels of uric acid down and large amounts of dubia roaches should be cut down -- they are a big culprit in causing gout -- so that would be the first thing to help the dragon and finding another staple insect like silk worms or BSFL--- I have gout and take Allopurinol to keep my uric acid level in check -- please keep in mind what I have posted -

Thank for this . We have taken all the information in. I think all we can do beyond this point is to make him comfortable and keep an eye on him better. We will definitely triple check everything over .
again we thank you for all the advice .