beardie flipping

Question
QUESTION: Hi, i have a 3 year old bearded dragon who is opening her mouth, turning her head and rolling over. She has slowed in her food intake but is still eating (i have put this down to the cold weather at night. Its been -16 in England on and off for the past month) She is pooing ok but does seem to be using her body to help her walk. Rear legs seem fine and no swelling in any of her limbs.

temps are 85-95 with 110 basking
uvb Arcadia D3+ 12% about 2 months old (mounted about 12" above with a reflector)
calcium on greens all the time (not eating much of this)
Metabol once a week on greens
locusts as and when (currently about 2 every 3-4 days dusted)
Been bathed. Did take a drink and pooed.

Seems a tiny bit sluggish but still fairly alert and moving about.

Could this be ear infection, mbd, gout etc

Kind regards

Steve

ANSWER: Hello Steve,

Your lighting should be fine, as the Arcadia tube bulbs are very good.  The reflector use is great in increasing emissions.
Has she been in a brumation phase recently since she has slown down?
The metabol is it a vitamin supplement with calcium?  Do you give straight calcium?  She could be low in calcium yes, if she is not getting straight calcium.  A lot of times, the vitamin mixes do not have enough calcium but focus more on the vitamins.  If she has started to scoot herself, that is a sign of hypocalcemia.  It could be other issues too but strength loss is a classic sign of Metabolic bone disease.
What are the temperatures in the tank, & what type of thermometer do you use to measure the temperatures?
Do you have any pictures of her?

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Hi Tracie,
Thanks for the quick response. To answer your questions, she has not been in true brumation (i didnt shorten the day or drop her temps off and let her sleep) but she has had several long periods (5-7 days) without eating through the winter so i guess she hasn't been getting as much calcium as normal. Yes she does get straight calcium on greens daily (although not eating them daily at minute) and i do dip locusts in calcium. Yes the metabol does have calcium in also. I use a digital thermometer which has two probes in the tank all the time and a stick on dial thermometer also. Temps are 85 cool end, 90 middle, 95 hot end and 110 on basking rock (never really on the basking rock). What you are saying seems to make sense as she perhaps has not been eating enough greens to be getting her calcium dust, and why she drank when bathed (dehydrated). Just off to work now so will try and get a photo to you later. Once again thanks for your reply it is appreciated.

regards Steve

ANSWER: Hello Steve,

How is she doing today?
I would try to find the Calypso calcium powder or the Miner-All calcium powder & have her take that in at least 3-4 times per week right now.  Decrease the Metabol to 1 time per week.  The vitamins are not near as important as the calcium, if she eats a relatively decent diet & your bugs/insects are properly gutloaded.

I think your temperatures should be fine, since you are using a type that has the probes to measure.  Try to get more oral fluids into her if possible.  Let me know how she doing.

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Hi Tracie, She went to the vets today who admitted that it wasn't her area of expertise(the usual rep vet was on holiday). My wife showed a video of Rocco rolling over but the vet had not seen this before and had no explanation for it. She has given us some Baytril 2.5% which i think is a general antibiotic  to cover possible infections. She also suggested that we mix 1 part calcium dust to 2 parts water and drip feed this too her. The dust we are using at the moment is Propet calci dust which is 100% calcium. She went and ate some greens when she was returned to her viv and seems to have calmed down a bit and although is still opening her mouth and a bit stiff appears not to be rolling. I will continue the drip fed liquid calci dust and baytril for a couple of days and see how it goes . Just a quick question though. My uvb tube is mounted on the viv roof about 12" high. I have read that they should be 6 -8" high but have also read that if too close it can cause a uv burn/blindness. Which is correct. Once again i appreciate your time and any more advice you can give would be most welcome.

Kind Regards

Steve

Answer
Hello Steve,

Ok, the Baytril is harsh on their system, but if you keep her well hydrated she will hopefully not get too dehydrated.  Do you have probiotics to give her to help settle her tummy like non dairy soy yogurt or acidophiliz?
The UVB tubes can be mounted 6-8 inches from them as long as they are mounted alongside of a bright white basking light to help protect the eyes.  This light puts out a safe UVB spectrum, so along with bright white light she should be fine.
I am hoping that it is hypocalcemia.  If it is, hopefully you have caught it in time & it will self correct relatively quickly.  She did not give any liquid calcium?  The powdered is ok, but glubionate or gluonate absorbs much easier & has less of a tendency to cause kidney stone problems.

Let me know how she is doing.

Tracie