broken leg??? please help!

[149holly]

Hiya,
My beardie is about 2.5 years old and has just laid her first clutch of her second season. She layed a clutch of 23 eggs today and afterwards i noticed she is dragging her back leg. She is putting her weight on the foot at times but otherwise puts her weight on her whole leg. I'm worried that she may have hurt it with all the digging she has been doing in the last few days, nothing could have fell on her. She is walking around a little and climbing up her log and up the glass, she is quite lethargic but i think that is more likely to be due to her just laying.
I'm worried that she has broken/pulled it when digging or the dreaded MBD. She has adequate lighting but has been off her food for a while. Also, her male partner seems fine.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, the nearest reptile vet is only open next tuesday am and the local ones do not have any experience with reptiles.
Thanks.

 

[beardielover17]

Does she appear to be in pain if you touch it? Is she housed with the male? How far up is her log from the ground? Do you offer calcium and a good UVB?

 

[Craiger]

She doesn't appear to have an egg bound, does she? Not sure if that would cause what you're seeing, but guess it's worth checking.

It sounds like you've had experience with this before (you mention it being her first clutch of her second season....assuming she laid eggs last season). However, I'd suggest a nice long, warm bath (about thirty minutes at about 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit) and some calcium coated goodies (insects and greens). She's going to need her food dusted with calcium for a week to two weeks as laying eggs robs them of much needed calcium.

They usually go off food from one to three days just prior to laying. How long is "a while" when you mention the length of time it's been since she's ate?

 

[crypticdragons]

I am with craig. It sounds like shemay have a egg caught. Lethargy and lack of appetite are signs of possible binding. How have her bowel movements been as they will have problems going if bound. Typically with impaction or egg binding there will be full or partial paralysis of the lower legs due to pressure being placed against the spine. Can you feel any lumps near the vent? If it doesnt look any better soon you need to get her to a vet for checkup and xrays possibly.

 

[149holly]

Hiya,
Both dragons have gut loaded crickets dusted with calcium and uv light but neither have been eating daily since their "winter sleep". She laid four clutches last season with 3 of the 4 being fertile (3 weeks between each clutch being laid!!) and on the fourth clutch she did lay an egg the day after the rest with her excrement but didnt seem to have any problems with it. This is her first clutch this season, and all went well, cant feel anything that would make me think that shes egg bound but i'm not an expert!
Ive taken the logs out ofthe viv which she does share with her partner and will split them up tomorrow when i can get a bulb for the spare viv.
Do i move her into the 2 foot viv or keep her inthe 4 foot? I dont want her to be distressed!
However, I took her to our local vets today and the vet (not reptile trained) said she didnt think it was broken, more likely to be a muscle strain or nerve damage!!!! She was given a painkiller/anti-inflammotory injection to help her through the weekend and I've got an appointment with a reptile specialist on monday.
I hope shes going to be ok!
Thanks for your help!
Holly

 

[149holly]

Note to add:
she ate like a king today lots of crickets, romaine and wax worms. I'll be on poop patrol now to see how she gets on!!!
Thanks again!
Holly

 

[Craiger]

Keep us posted with how the appointment goes on Monday!

 

[149holly]

Will do.

 

[149holly]

Hiya,
So... went to see the specialist today and he did loads of xrays as there was no obvious reason. After a hour and a half wait (which he said he spent scratching his head!) from what i understand it turned out that where her pelvis is attached to her sacrum, it is out of line! He has never seen this before but thinks that when she laid her eggs and relaxed all of her muscles etc she must have caused some injury while digging and almost displaced her pelvis. The xray from the side showed that her pelvis is pointed down at quite an angle.
He said that it is just an unfortunate accident and there was nothing we could have done to prevent it (thankfully) and the best thing for her is complete rest. So 6-8 weeks of complete rest it is, she is in a separate viv with nothing to climb on and we'll go for a check up in 3 weeks. Her bone density is really good which was my worry so relieved about that!
Hopefully it will correct itself in time but she may have a permanent limp which as long as she is happy and fine then who cares right! Long term we will probably venture down the contraceptive implant route to stop her ovulating so she can go back in the viv with her partner, it's not worth risking this happening again!
I can only sing the specialist's praises, he was brill and obviously knows his stuff, all for a meager £80. well worth it!!
Thanks to all of you for your help, sorry about the lack of introductions i was in a panic!!! You guys have been really helpful and welcoming and i will eventually get round to putting on some photos and browsing the forum. thanks again! Holly

 

[Craiger]

Wow...that's pretty wild. Glad to hear it isn't more severe and that she should recover. Keep us posted on her progress.

 

[renich]

Glad to hear things are on the up. Been following the thread. Talk about fluke things happening. Poor baby. Make sure she rests!