Why are my beardie's fat pads sunken and she's drinking excess water?

If there is any chance the beardies are any older, I would be thinking that one could be pregnant. This usually doesn't occur until at the youngest around 10-12 months however. It is best that they don't breed until even older than this as well, so hopefully this is not the case. Other causes of distended abdomen in these lizards are gastrointestinal impactions, constipation, overeating, obesity, and certain cancers. GI Impaction seems unlikely in this scenario due to the movement of the bowels. If this is an issue with constipation, enemas can be provided though I would not recommend performing this at home unless you are very familiar with reptilian anatomy. An x-ray would really help in this case provide all the information we need. It would show us if there are any eggs, if there is constipation, any sort of tumor (probably), and many other possible issues. Hope this helps!

Thanks for reaching out about Anastasia and including photos. By the pictures she appears very thin and pliable. Metabolic bone disease (calcium deficiency) would be a primary concern. This could be due to inappropriate diet, lack of UVB radiation, too low temperature or metabolic disorders to prevent intestinal absorption. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The open mouth breathing could be due to muscle weakness, pneumonia, as well as other problems. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Phelix and including a photo. The picture looks like urate concentrates and might be an indication of dehydration or kidney disease. Daily warm water soaks might encourage drinking and rehydration. Water can be offered via a syringe. If the problem persists, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess kidney function. Good luck.

I am sorry that this is happening to you and Abe. It sounds like she is sick, and I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian. They will gather information about her husbandry, including her temperatures. Often if the husbandry is not perfect for our reptiles, they can become sick - temperature is a common one that can be implicated in this. While at the veterinarian, they will perform a thorough physical examination, and may also recommend performing diagnostic testing including radiographs (x-rays) and blood work to evaluate systemic health. Based on what they find, they will make treatment recommendations. There are a number of veterinarians within a couple of hours drive from you, including one in Golden who is comfortable seeing reptiles. If needed, you can also make an appointment with our service at Colorado State University as well. We are a bit further from you, however. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I hope Abe feels better soon!

There are a number of disease processes that can result in the clinical signs that you have described. These include fluid in the belly, masses in the belly, enlarged organs, constipation/impaction, infectious diseases (bacteria, parasites, etc.), stress (they will puff up with air to look bigger), and others. The decrease in activity is, unfortunately, not specific for any problem, but may further indicate that LJ is not feeling well. I would recommend having LJ evaluated by a veterinarian. They will be able to perform an examination and see if anything abnormal is felt in the belly. Depending on what they find, they may recommend diagnostic testing such as radiographs (x-rays) to look at the contents of the belly, or blood work to evaluate systemic health. I hope that gives you a place to start, and that LJ feels better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Bonita. Check and correct husbandry including temperature gradient (daily high and lows, warm and cool ends), UVB exposure and diet. Since this has been going on a long time, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide diagnostic/treatment plan. Try offering water and food via a syringe prior to the vet appointment. Intestinal infections or parasites, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), other infections and more are all possible. Good luck.

You can increase the amount of food being fed temporarily to get weight back on. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, loose droppings or no droppings. These are all symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. It is near impossible to determine the cause for the weight loss without an exam and diagnostics. It is not uncommon for beardies to stop eating and drinking before, during or for a short period after a shed. This could account for minor weight loss.