Help.. My bearded dragon is paralyzed!

[Klaudia]

So about 3 weeks ago I notice my BD wasn't walking as much and the few times that I would see him crawl, his hind legs weren't moving but noticed some severe twitching going on in his legs and lower abdomen. He was dragging his legs and noticed that one of his front legs was weaker than the other. Immediately, I thought he's low on calcium. I check and change his lights. I fed him calcium and gave him water for the next 3 days. Still worried that he wasn't walking I took him to the vet. Fortunately he doesn't have MBD, he's not impacted and every thing looked fine until we did blood work on him. I was told that he is a little bit dehydrated and has a low potassium level which could account for the muscles spasms. So I was given some injections to give him and I've been giving him Repta+Boost High Amp Boost every other day for the past 2 weeks, he doesn't seems to be making a much of a recovery. When I pick him up I scoop him up using both hands to support his belly in my palm and I noticed that every time I go to set him down his lower abdomen twitches and his beard changes color. I assume he's in pain from that but considering everything the vet told me, at this point I don't think it's just a low potassium level. I feel like his spine may be injured somehow. The twitching has stopped but it comes back when I go to scoop his hind legs. I need help... I don't know how how to tell the difference between a health concern or an injury at this point... btw. He's a 3 year old male bearded dragon.

 

[Sadie]

So about 3 weeks ago I notice my BD wasn't walking as much and the few times that I would see him crawl, his hind legs weren't moving but noticed some severe twitching going on in his legs and lower abdomen. He was dragging his legs and noticed that one of his front legs was weaker than the other. Immediately, I thought he's low on calcium. I check and change his lights. I fed him calcium and gave him water for the next 3 days. Still worried that he wasn't walking I took him to the vet. Fortunately he doesn't have MBD, he's not impacted and every thing looked fine until we did blood work on him. I was told that he is a little bit dehydrated and has a low potassium level which could account for the muscles spasms. So I was given some injections to give him and I've been giving him Repta+Boost High Amp Boost every other day for the past 2 weeks, he doesn't seems to be making a much of a recovery. When I pick him up I scoop him up using both hands to support his belly in my palm and I noticed that every time I go to set him down his lower abdomen twitches and his beard changes color. I assume he's in pain from that but considering everything the vet told me, at this point I don't think it's just a low potassium level. I feel like his spine may be injured somehow. The twitching has stopped but it comes back when I go to scoop his hind legs. I need help... I don't know how how to tell the difference between a health concern or an injury at this point... btw. He's a 3 year old male bearded dragon.

Let's go over uvb-- coil or tube ? Where in the tank? Top of screen or inside the tank? So he is pooping? Does he have high decor that he could of fallen off of? Did they do a calcium level check? I am going to get some help-

 

[Klaudia]

Let's go over uvb-- coil or tube ? Where in the tank? Top of screen or inside the tank? So he is pooping? Does he have high decor that he could of fallen off of? Did they do a calcium level check? I am going to get some help-

Uvb is coil, I live in a camper so there is no tank but the light sits above him about a 10 to 12" high from his basking log. His basking area sits next to a window that I open during the day as well (window has screen) he has an ample amount of space to cool off while still sitting next to the window. There is nothing above him that could fall on him. Not even the basking lamp bc it is secured with a hook. He won't eat much so he hasn't pooped in about 4 days now. Today I gave him a warm bath to help with it and nothing. Also, where his basking log sits isn't a dangerous spot where he could fall and hurt him self. He's surrounded by plenty of cushion. I don't leave anything small enough that he could eat while he roams in the camper. The vet did a calcium check and his levels were normal. X-rays didn't show any impaction or bone concerns

 

[Sadie]

Uvb is coil, I live in a camper so there is no tank but the light sits above him about a 10 to 12" high from his basking log. His basking area sits next to a window that I open during the day as well (window has screen) he has an ample amount of space to cool off while still sitting next to the window. There is nothing above him that could fall on him. Not even the basking lamp bc it is secured with a hook. He won't eat much so he hasn't pooped in about 4 days now. Today I gave him a warm bath to help with it and nothing. Also, where his basking log sits isn't a dangerous spot where he could fall and hurt him self. He's surrounded by plenty of cushion. I don't leave anything small enough that he could eat while he roams in the camper. The vet did a calcium check and his levels were normal. X-rays didn't show any impaction or bone concerns

Ok so I did not hear back from the vet tech yet I am hoping to hear from one other person that is on during the day -- I am not sure what else would cause the not walking and the twitching other than it being neurological-- but I want to see what they say --- I would get rid of the coil and get a long tube fixture set up in the camper a Zoo Med fixture w/ a 10.0 T 5 bulb Reptisun -- coils are useless -- is he getting any direct sunlight ? That is key here -- its good the calcium levels were normal -- I am going to send another message to the vet tech --

 

[Sadie]

Ok so I did not hear back from the vet tech yet I am hoping to hear from one other person that is on during the day -- I am not sure what else would cause the not walking and the twitching other than it being neurological-- but I want to see what they say --- I would get rid of the coil and get a long tube fixture set up in the camper a Zoo Med fixture w/ a 10.0 T 5 bulb Reptisun -- coils are useless -- is he getting any direct sunlight ? That is key here -- its good the calcium levels were normal -- I am going to send another message to the vet tech --

I got another response from one of the other people I asked help from and this is what they asked and posted

Hi there, sorry your beardie is having this serious problem ! How long does he spend roaming outside of the tank ? It may be that he hasn't had enough heat + uvb , even if he sits by a window screen, so try to get him out in the sun if it's warm where you live. The coil bulbs don't usually give enough uvb , like Sadie mentioned. Get him a good Reptisun 10.0 t5 or Arcadia D3 12-14 % long tube bulb. Be sure he has enough heat and keep him in the tank most of the day. Limit his roaming time and only if you can see exactly where he is at all times. Is it possible that he ate a foreign object from the floor ? When was the last time he poo'd ? Post some pics of him, where he sits bby the window and his tank + light set up