My baby bearded dragon's bitten arm is black and swollen. What to do?

Thanks for reaching out about Harley and including photos. The toe appears to be non-viable tissue. The toe should be amputated to prevent further spread of infection found in dead tissue. Keeping the environment clean by removing sand, bark or other particulate substrates and replaced by soft towels to prevent further contamination. Removing feces and urates as soon as possible. Schedule a veterinary visit to help. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Harley and including photos. Infections can cause skin necrosis and pain, and maybe that is why he is chewing on his foot. Pain medications and a bandage, in addition to the antibiotics would be recommended. Not all antibiotics treat all infections, so maybe another choice. Occasionally amputating the affected foot above the diseased area will stop the spread. A second veterinary visit is recommended to help. ARAV.org website can be searched for local reptile veterinarians. Good luck.

A big concern regarding the swelling and lameness would be metabolic bone disease (MBD). Ideally, Beans should be examined by your herp veterinarian to diagnose injury or illness. In the meantime, review the diet, vitamin/mineral supplementation and UVB lighting. Confirm the bulb is not obstructed by glass or plexiglass and replace if older than 6 months old. Gut load all prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize3 nutritional value. Use quality supplements such as Rep-Cal HerptiVite and Calcium w/Vit D3.

It could be a fracture complicated by MBD but an exam and xrays is what Reptar needs to get a definitive diagnosis. It shouldn't cost "thousands". With proper care and some environmental and diet changes, he can recover from MBD. Left untreated, he may suffer permanent damage or even loss of the limb. An experienced herp vet will have the knowledge and experience to give Reptar the best chance at a full recovery. Follow the links to search for a local herp vet. http://www.herpvetconnection.com/calif.shtml http://www.anapsid.org/vets/findingvet.html

The swollen leg may be due to injury, infection or nutritional deficiency. Ideally, Rainn should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. This may require x-rays and lab work. Review his diet and environment with your veterinarian. The basics required include a 10 gallon tank (at minimum), UVB lighting, a heat lamp focused on a basking spot, 2 hides (one on the coolside, one on the warm side and a shallow water bowl. The heat lamp should provide a temperature gradient across the enclosure. Substrate can be reptile carpet, slate, paper towels or wood chips. A balanced diet of appropriately sized prey (crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, Phoenix worms, etc) and fresh greens and vegetables should be offered daily. Vitamin supplements and calcium supplementation should also be provided. You can review dragon care at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

Continue to medicate Lenny as directed by your veterinarian. You can clean the affected area daily using diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution. Consider a recheck if the toe is swollen after the course of antibiotics is finished.

Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specific advices, these signs are quite concerning. A skin rot in his case is on top of differential list and I would recommend immediate check up as antibiotic may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.