11 Year Old Beardie

Question
Hi, I have two bearded dragons approaching 11.  Currently, I believe they are going through a hibernation stage, which is typical...especially for my lizard Kermit.  However, given that Kermit is 11 and he has had his eyes swollen all day (which I know can be typical when shedding skin), I was wondering if this is a sign of dying?  I am not sure what to look for or expect, I just know their time is coming soon.  Thanks

Answer
Hi Amanda,
I congratulate you on getting your beardies to that age!! That is wonderful!!
Newer studies have shown that beardies that get more of the dark leafy greens than of insects are living longer, although as I said, 11 years is very good for a beardie!!! With beardies, especially this time of year with brumation, its really hard to tell if its just brumation or if its illness or old age.
I'm not sure if you have read the newer information on some uvb sources but there were some problems with the compacts.  I will include some links where you can read more about this.
What was happening is that some reptiles were getting what amounts to snow blindness.  There are pictures on the one link.
The good news is that once the offending light was replaced with a safe one, the problem corrected.
On the other end of the problems it can be is kidney problems. This can cause swollen eyes and of course Metabolic Bone Disease can also cause it. Over supplementation with some vitamins can also cause swollen eyes. If you are able to, I would try getting more water into him and try to figure out if its possibly kidney, mbd or over supplementation, and of course, the uvb problem lights.
I'm including my "general paragraph" on Lighting, which has the links to the other info on the snow blindness, etc.
LIGHTING
Supplying uvb can be done in a few ways. By special lights that come in fluorescent tubes or special screw in bulbs (mercury vapor)that are designed to produce uvb and heat. The tubes do not produce heat. UVB is needed by the bearded dragon to be able to absorb the calcium in the foods they eat. With out the uvb, they will develop metabolic bone disease. There are tubes that say ''full spectrum'' but they do not produce any uvb.

With the correct tubes, they must say that they produce BOTH uvb and uva. The uvb needs to be 5% or higher. Repti Sun 10.0 and the Repti Glo 8.0's are a great source for uvb. The old "favorites" are the repti sun 5.0 or the Iguana light..which are the same tube, just different package. These need to be positioned 6-8 inches over the bearded dragon for the 5% and 8% and 8-10 inches for the 10% so that they get the uvb that is needed.  The tubes need to be replaced every 6-9 months as that they stop producing UVB long before they stop producing light.Using a fixture that holds one or  two uvb tubes of at least 2 feet in length will provide adequate uvb for your bearded dragon. There has been new studies that have proven that compact uvb lights, both the spiral/coil type and the ones that look like long "U's" laying on their side and a few other brands are causing what basically amounts to snow blindness in reptiles.  To read more on this, you can go to
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/index.htm

The link below will take you to my discussion group and to a post that tells how to tell the new compacts from the old ones.  IF your beardie is using one of the new ones, then the light should not be the problem.  http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/UVB_Meter_Owners/message/6721

On the mercury vapor , they also produce heat. They also produce the uvb and uva. The best on the market now are the Mega Rays.(http://www.reptileuv.com) The distance from these are greater than the uvb tubes and the directions must be followed that are listed for the light. When using the mercury vapor lights, you don't need to have one light for uvb and one for heat. The Mercury vapor lights provide both.

Looking at mouth color may help a bit.  Generally, when not feeling well for some reason that involves kidneys their mouth will be a lighter shade.  I would keep an eye on him as you most likely have a real good idea of what his normal is for brumation.

If after reading everything, you feel that it isn't a lighting issue, as with every good pet owner, you will know when his time comes and you will know what to do... and it won't be a day to early, or a day to late..
Of course a vet visit and some blood work would be able to tell if its a bone or kidney problem.