Normal jawline?

[Frigga]

Hi, this is my aunts bearded dragon, she's only had him a couple weeks after meeting and falling in love with my beardie, but she sent me these pictures today and I thought something about his jaw just doesn't look right to me. Just wanted an opinion before I say anything to her about it. I have already suggested she take him to a herp vet for a check up, and made sure she knows proper care (I don't think he was getting any calcium prior to her getting him)
Just looking for some advice if I should bring it up to and to get him to a vet asap. Thanks!

 

[Hdrydr31]

Welcome to the forum! Your Aunts dragon looks young and under weight, his lower jaw does look a bit mal formed. I would suggest that he get seen for parasites and to see if he's got some MBD going on with the lack of calcium. It can't be reversed but it can be maintained.

 

[Frigga]

Thank you, I'm going to text her right now, I didn't want to raise alarm without reason. I kinda figured he was malnourished, she lives a couple hours from me and I haven't seen her beardie in person yet, but from the description of how he lived before she got him I think the original owners were only feeding him pre-packaged bearded dragon food. She also said he was very lethargic (her words were lazy) when she first brought him home. I have since educated her a lot on care for him, such as what fruits and veggies to feed, how to gut load her crickets, and make sure she's supplementing with calcium, and she said he is already starting to perk up. She knew nothing of care before bringing him home, and besides my advice is don't think she's done much of her own research.

 

[Frigga]

She just sent me these close up pictures of his face, I'm looking up a reptile specialist in her area now, he definitely doesn't look right, does this look like MBD as well? poor baby.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Thank you, I'm going to text her right now, I didn't want to raise alarm without reason. I kinda figured he was malnourished, she lives a couple hours from me and I haven't seen her beardie in person yet, but from the description of how he lived before she got him I think the original owners were only feeding him pre-packaged bearded dragon food. She also said he was very lethargic (her words were lazy) when she first brought him home. I have since educated her a lot on care for him, such as what fruits and veggies to feed, how to gut load her crickets, and make sure she's supplementing with calcium, and she said he is already starting to perk up. She knew nothing of care before bringing him home, and besides my advice is don't think she's done much of her own research.

I'm glad that you've stepped in and have been helping getting her on the right track poor baby.. Hopefully now that proper care things will improve for this little one.
Yes those pictures show improper bone growth so I'm glad your working on finding a reptile vet to take him to..he/she needs to be seen to asses the body condition and how to manage it.

 

[Frigga]

Thank you again, we just had a long conversation about mbd, she sent me some pictures of his front legs now I'm pretty sure that's what's going on. I sent her some info to read up on, and she's calling the vet in the morning. Luckily for toothless (the dragon), my aunt is the type of person who will do everything in her power to make sure he is healthy and well taken care of. I'm honestly grateful she adopted him, surely he wouldn't have made it staying in the environment he was in.

 

[PatsyB]

Just so your aunt knows, MBD can be stopped but the damage that was already done can't be reversed. So she may just need to give him some extra help with things as he gets bigger.

 

[Frigga]

Yes thank you, I did tell her that. I also sent her a bunch of website links to read about proper care for beardies and links about mbd.
She has made a vet appointment for the 18th. So we'll know more soon

 

[PatsyB]

Glad to hear she's taking care of him!

 

[Frigga]

Update: Good news! My aunt took her beardie to the vet, they said it does not have MBD. It does have an old fracture in it's front foot, which may or may not heal, it is under weight and malnourished. The vet said it wasn't too concerned about his unusual over bite, but to keep an eye on it.
I am a little skeptical, she lives in a small town, they don't have a reptile specialist vet there so just took him to her regular vet who does treat reptiles. But I'm hopeful
Again thanks everyone for the advice. I have sent my aunt a TON of reading material, and I will continue to be her beardie mentor lol

 

[laswabbie]

Understanding that there is no reversion treatment, haven't I read on the forum that vets can give doses of liquid calcium plus vitamins as a method of stopping the progression of MBD?

Should vet administered calcium+ be considered as a normal part of an annual health care regime?

 

[Frigga]

I'm not entirely sure I understand your questions @laswabbie and I'm no expert, just done a lot of homework. But yes, as treatment for mbd a vet can administration calcium to stop the progression of mbd. But I wouldn't consider doing that as a normal annual regime. If it's getting enough calcium in it's diet on a regular basis it wouldn't be necessary. Too much calcium can cause issues as well.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Frigga you are correct as long as the dragon is getting the supplements the progression of MBD can be managed.. Vets can do shots of various items to boost them if needed... They can get damage with too much calcium they are able to express some of it in their urates shown as yellowish tan coloring, not to forget dehydration will also show up in urates as yellowish and hard...but excess of calcium that can not be expressed can lead to a toxicity of sort.