Broken ankle?

[amyl518]

Hi guys! This is my first post. I've been reading all about your beardies for the last few months and I'm loving how much you guys really put in to helping each other. I wish I was writing for better reasons but unfortunately I think my beardie has a problem. So I've had my little guy Ramsey for about 6 months (I think he must be around 1 1/2 yrs by what the previous owners said) and when I got him I did tons of reading and research and all that. I had an iguana about 10ish years ago so I am somewhat familiar with having a lizard as a pet (let me tell you how much easier bearded dragons are!). I.also took him from a home that wasn't treating him very well. They were hardly ever home and would stop by every couple of days to drop a jar of baby food in his cage. At least his lights were on a timer! He'd never had a bath before -which has been an adventure- but despite all that he's an amazing sweet little guy. Anyway, these past couple of weeks I've been really sick so I hate to admit I havent been spending as much energy on him as I should. A couple days ago when I took him out to hang out with me I noticed his back "ankle" is very swollen and black. I'm not sure when he did it or how he did it but I feel awful for not noticing sooner (or preventing it) Part if his leg has that lightish color he gets just before shedding but he's not shedding anywhere else and honestly I'm not sure the light color on his leg really is pre-shed. It's just an observation. He has a limp when he walks and I can touch his foot for the most part. I know I should take him to a vet but money is really tight with being it of work between being sick and all the kids snowdays us New Englanders have been having. So I guess my question is could it be something other than a break and/or is there anything I can do for him? Any help would be greatly appreciated and let me know if any more pics would help. I have a ton. I'm just new to this and not sure how to add them all :/

 

[PatsyB]

hmmm..can you get a photo of the underside of his foot? It almost looks like there is a band of retained shed skin around his ankle. You can try long soaks and rubbing with a washcloth or soft toothbrush. Rub some mineral oil, reptile shedding aid on it to help soften the skin and get it off.

Again, I'm not sure that's what it truly is. Does he put weight on the foot? Does he let you touch it? I would think if it were broken he would have some pain and kinda favor the foot.

 

[amyl518]

The more I look at it the more I feel like it's retained shedding. He puts a little weight on it but you can tell he's definitely limping

sorry the pics might be a little fuzzy.

 

[PatsyB]

That's what it looks like. My boy had shed stuck around his toes and on the bottom of his feet. They were like that for quiet awhile, I thought his feet were just dirty. I did warm soaks daily and gently scrubbed them And used some shedding aid and ater a few days it managed to come off.

 

[amyl518]

Thanks guys. I think I will try doing that. I have a feeling even if it was broken there's not much that could be done especially since it's been a little while. He's not fond of baths but I will make sure his leg gets a little extra attention

 

[PatsyB]

My guy didn't like baths much either. To help him, I would just hold his front feet and calmly talk to him, then I would guide him through the water while he was still holding on to my hands. Now he tolerates baths, sometimes he will just sit frozen in one spot and other times he will swim and walk around. Another thing that worked when my girl Dexter was small, I would put something in the water for her to climb on like a resin branch. It gave her a way to feel secure but still be somewhat in the water.

 

[Mushuandcricket]

Keep us posted!

 

[Elemental Dragon Lord]

Put worms in the water, they will learn to love baths. As far as what it looks like I'm worried it may be gout. You should get to a vet because if it is you may need surgery to save it if it's to late.

 

[Mushuandcricket]

Put worms in the water, they will learn to love baths.

Great tip thanks!