bloody mass hanging on the rectum of our bearded dragon

Question
QUESTION: Hello Tracie,
Yesterday evening our daughter found her lizard Spike dragging a bloody mass that is hanging on her rectum. She had just pooped and there was a little trail of blood form the excrement to where she was. I picked her up and touched the mass, thinking it could be that she was just constipated, but it does not look like poop....
It looked like something from her insides: dark, soft and yes very bright bloody. She didn't look good at all, her beard was all black, but she kept moving in the terrarium and making movements like she was trying to defecate.
I just came back form work and she is just the same.
I looked everywhere on the web and could not find what that could be until I read one of your answers about a she dragon trying to pass eggs. Could that be what is happening to Spike?
She is about 6 years old now, never mated.
She is a very very fussy eater. We tried every possible combination of crickets, veggies, fruits, worms. She has never been a voracious eater, although she always seems to be all right - she keeps shedding and growing.
Her favorite food is super worms.  Once in a while she nibbles some collard greens.
We keep her on calci-sand and have 2 bowls with water,where she usually sits in....
We have both UVB light and the spot light directed to a rock where she loves to lay.
We live in the desert and it is usually warm enough. During the winter I put a stronger heating lamp and change to a less voltage one in the summer.
Spike withdraws during the winter and spends most of the time burrowed under her big rock. She refuses to eat, even though we keep offering crickets, greens and worms. This last winter she practically hibernated! Now that is warming up, she came out and we fed her some superworms. A few to start with. She pooped a real stinky blob, but looked OK and ate some more.
Now yesterday she showed that mass on her rectum.
I am really worried. We live in a small town and there are no vets that we can say are specialized in reptiles. We took Spike I to a vet that claimed to know about lizards (and was referred to us by the people from the pet store where we bought her) and she killed him with a shot. She simple punch through the poor lizard's body with that needle. Spike had a spasm and died in a few minutes. It was horrible! I don't want to risk another trauma to my daughter. I'd really appreciate any suggestion you might have.

ANSWER: Hello Monica,

She has a prolapse.  That is where there has been muscular collapse of an organ such as the rectum, intestine, or colon.  
Most of the time, it is caused by calcium deficiency, other nutritional problems, impaction or being egg bound.  Do you use calcium supplementation regularly?  
Which UVB light are you using, is it a fluorescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?  How old is the light?  What type of basking light do you use?
What are the temperatures of the tank?  What are you using to measure the temperatures with, a stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?
Can you post a picture of her for me?
For now, try dissolving 2 tablespoons of sugar into warm water, then add some cool water.  Soak her in the cool sugar water bath for 10 or so minutes.  Sometimes, the sugar helps to decrease the swelling but most of the time with these severe prolpases, they do not go all of the way back in on their own.
You will need to take her to a vet though, as this could become necrotic unless you can get it to go back in.  Do not attempt to put it back in though you could injure her internally.  I have a feeling that she is calcium deficient.  When they have to strain when going to the bathroom that can cause rupturing of muscle tissue or tearing.  Calcium is responsible for smooth muscle contractions & when they become low in calcium reserves it makes it difficult for them to pass stools.
If the UVB is too old, it wont be putting any UVB out which in that case, she isn't able to absorb her calcium properly which contributes to the problem, as well.

Let me know how she is doing.  Don't feed her anymore bugs/insects.  Try giving soft foods like chicken or turkey baby food & squash baby food.  It will be much easier for her to pass those through without any trouble.

Here is a site that might help you find a better vet:

www.herpvetconnection.com


Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


spike 3   QUESTION: And here is the 3rd picture.

Thank you bunches!

monica

Answer
Hello Monica,

Overall the tank looks pretty good.  Have you taken the sand out yet?  Just put down some paper towels right now since she is having this problem.  
I would try to get an x-ray of her to see if she is impacted, or egg bound possibly.  If you can afford it, a blood test would be a good idea also, to determine what her calcium levels are.
Hon, I hope that she makes it.  Things don't look too good at the moment.  

Please let me know how she is doing.

Tracie