Love my beardie but I'm allergic!

[Wednesday5]

Hello! I've had a bearded dragon for about a year now (give or take). I joined this forum to learn more about ways to care for her and to ask questions. I want to learn more from people who have experience with and are passionate about bearded dragons. Yes, I've done online research, but honestly, most of what you can "google" is just rehashed info and all says the same thing. I honestly believe that most of it is AI written and pretty useless.

The issue for me is that I have developed fairly severe allergies to something about my beardie. As a result of the allergies, I only hold her long enough to take her out of her enclosure for feeding live insects in a separate container (several times a week) and bathing (~weekly). Sometimes I can do this with minimal reaction, but other times I develop huge, itchy welts across my body, especially my torso despite the fact that she never comes in contact with my torso. I assume I'm breathing something that is causing this reaction.

Unfortunately, my allergic reaction has been getting worse in the past few months. I'm at a point where I need to start thinking about whether I can provide a good home for her based on the minimal physical contact I can give her. I'm not sure if this intro post is the place to ask or if I should make a separate post, but my goal in being on this forum is to learn:

1. Does she need or want human physical contact?
2. Can I provide an enriched, satisfying, healthy, suitable environment for her, while keeping myself safe and healthy, and if so, how?

From what I've read so far about bearded dragons, while they tolerate human contact, they don't necessarily NEED or even want it. They are solitary in the wild and don't have the same companionship drives that we do. I am personally okay with that. I don't pet my fish for example, so I am okay with having a lizard that I also can't pet or hold. As long as I can look at her and provide for her properly, I'm okay with not being able to handle her very often, but is this is in her best interest. Also, assuming my allergies don't continue to worsen to the point where I can't keep her in the house at all.

I've read that often it's the feeder insects that cause the allergies. I don't know if this is the case for me or not. I have to do some experiments to figure this out. I switch up her bugs between dubias, superworms, meal worms, crickets, wax worms, and horn worms. Now that she's an adult she gets critters 2 - 3 times a week. Mostly dubias, but I rotate the others regularly as well. She gets salad every day. I use calcium powders as suggested by my exotics vet. I've also read that the calcium powder can cause allergies, so that will be part of the experiment of trying to figure out what is causing my negative reactions.

Well, that's more than enough info for an introduction. Thank you for reading! Please let me know if I should post the questions I've raised in separate threads elsewhere in the forum.

Thanks!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome! I hope you can get it figured out.

 

[Sadie]

Hello! I've had a bearded dragon for about a year now (give or take). I joined this forum to learn more about ways to care for her and to ask questions. I want to learn more from people who have experience with and are passionate about bearded dragons. Yes, I've done online research, but honestly, most of what you can "google" is just rehashed info and all says the same thing. I honestly believe that most of it is AI written and pretty useless.

The issue for me is that I have developed fairly severe allergies to something about my beardie. As a result of the allergies, I only hold her long enough to take her out of her enclosure for feeding live insects in a separate container (several times a week) and bathing (~weekly). Sometimes I can do this with minimal reaction, but other times I develop huge, itchy welts across my body, especially my torso despite the fact that she never comes in contact with my torso. I assume I'm breathing something that is causing this reaction.

Unfortunately, my allergic reaction has been getting worse in the past few months. I'm at a point where I need to start thinking about whether I can provide a good home for her based on the minimal physical contact I can give her. I'm not sure if this intro post is the place to ask or if I should make a separate post, but my goal in being on this forum is to learn:

1. Does she need or want human physical contact?
2. Can I provide an enriched, satisfying, healthy, suitable environment for her, while keeping myself safe and healthy, and if so, how?

From what I've read so far about bearded dragons, while they tolerate human contact, they don't necessarily NEED or even want it. They are solitary in the wild and don't have the same companionship drives that we do. I am personally okay with that. I don't pet my fish for example, so I am okay with having a lizard that I also can't pet or hold. As long as I can look at her and provide for her properly, I'm okay with not being able to handle her very often, but is this is in her best interest. Also, assuming my allergies don't continue to worsen to the point where I can't keep her in the house at all.

I've read that often it's the feeder insects that cause the allergies. I don't know if this is the case for me or not. I have to do some experiments to figure this out. I switch up her bugs between dubias, superworms, meal worms, crickets, wax worms, and horn worms. Now that she's an adult she gets critters 2 - 3 times a week. Mostly dubias, but I rotate the others regularly as well. She gets salad every day. I use calcium powders as suggested by my exotics vet. I've also read that the calcium powder can cause allergies, so that will be part of the experiment of trying to figure out what is causing my negative reactions.

Well, that's more than enough info for an introduction. Thank you for reading! Please let me know if I should post the questions I've raised in separate threads elsewhere in the forum.

Thanks!

I had a girl on another forum that she thought she was allergic to the dragon turns out it was the frass of the roaches they were feeding--- start w/ the dubias first ---- feed only the other insects w/ worms and if your still having the reaction then eliminate another one -- we need to boil it down to which one is causing the reaction this may take some time -- in the mean time get a pair of gloves wear them when handling him and wash the hands right after -- are you breaking out or sneezing what is the reaction?

 

[Wednesday5]

I had a girl on another forum that she thought she was allergic to the dragon turns out it was the frass of the roaches they were feeding--- start w/ the dubias first ---- feed only the other insects w/ worms and if your still having the reaction then eliminate another one -- we need to boil it down to which one is causing the reaction this may take some time -- in the mean time get a pair of gloves wear them when handling him and wash the hands right after -- are you breaking out or sneezing what is the reaction?

Hi! Yes, that's exactly what I've started doing. I was keeping several types of critters in the house, but I've gotten rid of them all. I now just go get exactly what I need for one feeding and that's it. I feed them for a day or so for gut loading purposes before feeding to my dragon.

The reaction that I get when I hold my beardie is that I develop large, red welts across my torso under my shirt. It must be something I'm breathing, because if it were a problem of contact, I would break out on the areas that are physically exposed to allergens.

I will figure out what the allergen is. Mostly what I'm interested in learning on this forum is whether I can be a good caretaker of her if I can't hold her except for what is minimally necessary. I read mixed things online about whether they "need" companionship. Honestly, I don't see why they would need human companionship. I think that's more in the heads of the people who are looking for dog brains in lizard bodies. My understanding is that they evolved to be solitary except for mating time, so I'm not sure why she would need or want me to hold her. Don't get me wrong, I would love to hold her, but if I can't do so without harming myself, I need to know if not being held, will harm her.

If I do keep her, I want to make sure I'm providing a really amazing enclosure. I currently have her in a 4' long front-opening reptile enclosure. I've gone with a natural look, using large stones stacked at different heights in her basking area to achieve different temperatures and so that she can climb up or down to adjust her distance from the heat source and the uv light. I made a mix of 3 different sands (as per a recipe on a reptile website) for the "ground" so that she can dig if she wants. There's a hollow log piece that she spent her brumation period in and which she climbs on sometimes.

I've done everything by the book with regards to the heat and lighting. I did a LOT of research before I got her so I could have her setup perfect before I got her. My vet said it is all set up exactly correctly and is one the better enclosures she's seen. My beardie is healthy and has no metabolic issues.

What I want to improve for her, is the size of the enclosure. While 4' seems pretty huge in my small house, realistically, I feel that it just isn't that large for a bearded dragon. I would really love to configure something that has much more length and a bit more depth. I have a cat and dog, so can't really let her run around free on the floor in the house. Besides, if she's outside of her cage, how would she be getting enough heat and light? What I have in mind would be expensive, but it would be awesome to see her with more room to roam around.

Any thoughts on the need to be held? Will it harm her if she's only picked up when being put in her bug-feeding bin, for baths, and for vet visits? Or will she actually be happier with minimal handling?

 

[Sadie]

Hi! Yes, that's exactly what I've started doing. I was keeping several types of critters in the house, but I've gotten rid of them all. I now just go get exactly what I need for one feeding and that's it. I feed them for a day or so for gut loading purposes before feeding to my dragon.

The reaction that I get when I hold my beardie is that I develop large, red welts across my torso under my shirt. It must be something I'm breathing, because if it were a problem of contact, I would break out on the areas that are physically exposed to allergens.

I will figure out what the allergen is. Mostly what I'm interested in learning on this forum is whether I can be a good caretaker of her if I can't hold her except for what is minimally necessary. I read mixed things online about whether they "need" companionship. Honestly, I don't see why they would need human companionship. I think that's more in the heads of the people who are looking for dog brains in lizard bodies. My understanding is that they evolved to be solitary except for mating time, so I'm not sure why she would need or want me to hold her. Don't get me wrong, I would love to hold her, but if I can't do so without harming myself, I need to know if not being held, will harm her.

If I do keep her, I want to make sure I'm providing a really amazing enclosure. I currently have her in a 4' long front-opening reptile enclosure. I've gone with a natural look, using large stones stacked at different heights in her basking area to achieve different temperatures and so that she can climb up or down to adjust her distance from the heat source and the uv light. I made a mix of 3 different sands (as per a recipe on a reptile website) for the "ground" so that she can dig if she wants. There's a hollow log piece that she spent her brumation period in and which she climbs on sometimes.

I've done everything by the book with regards to the heat and lighting. I did a LOT of research before I got her so I could have her setup perfect before I got her. My vet said it is all set up exactly correctly and is one the better enclosures she's seen. My beardie is healthy and has no metabolic issues.

What I want to improve for her, is the size of the enclosure. While 4' seems pretty huge in my small house, realistically, I feel that it just isn't that large for a bearded dragon. I would really love to configure something that has much more length and a bit more depth. I have a cat and dog, so can't really let her run around free on the floor in the house. Besides, if she's outside of her cage, how would she be getting enough heat and light? What I have in mind would be expensive, but it would be awesome to see her with more room to roam around.

Any thoughts on the need to be held? Will it harm her if she's only picked up when being put in her bug-feeding bin, for baths, and for vet visits? Or will she actually be happier with minimal handling?

Shes fine w/ minimal handling -- your 4" long tank is fine -- I am going to refer your post to someone who has more experience w/ this than I --

 

[Sadie]

Shes fine w/ minimal handling -- your 4" long tank is fine -- I am going to refer your post to someone who has more experience w/ this than I --

Here is the response I got
I agree with you that the physical contact is not needed. I think it's something they tolerate from us more than they require. That said, I think it's important that they have enough space and a form of enrichment. This can take many shapes. Increasing the size of a 4' enclosure could be a good option for a dragon that runs around a lot and seems to use all of the space. If the dragon seems to just move between basking and hiding areas, then perhaps setting up an enclosed space near a window that they can look out of during the day would be helpful. Offering a nice variety of food can give them enjoyment as well. As far as the allergy itself, I'm not sure what the cause could be or why it is getting worse. It could be environmental like you were suggesting with the roach frass. It could be something within the enclosure - a decoration or perhaps something has gotten soiled or become moldy. I think a deep clean of the enclosure is probably a good idea, followed by disinfecting with F10 or Steam to make sure there isn't a mold or bacterial buildup coming into play. Probably also a good idea to give the dragon a soak in a weak betadine solution to clean up their skin in case they're carrying the source of the allergen there. Hopefully a cleanup will do the trick and mitigate the allergic reaction, but limiting handling is totally OK in addition to doing that.

 

[Wednesday5]

Thank you. It is reassuring to have confirmation that I won't have to give her away because of the handling issue. I would have asked my vet as well, but she's out on leave.

In the next few months, I'll be doing some work on the house. I'll see what can be done to maximize our beardie's space at that time. It will also give me time to narrow down what might be causing the allergic reaction.

 

[Sadie]

Thank you. It is reassuring to have confirmation that I won't have to give her away because of the handling issue. I would have asked my vet as well, but she's out on leave.

In the next few months, I'll be doing some work on the house. I'll see what can be done to maximize our beardie's space at that time. It will also give me time to narrow down what might be causing the allergic reaction.

Keep us posted as how it goes --- good luck at finding the reason/ cause