My bearded dragon has wobbly back legs. Could it be a birth defect?

This may be due to nutritional deficiency or digestive issue (impaction impinging on nerves). If Medusa is defecating normally, it likely is not a digestion issue. If she is having difficulty defecating, soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. Gently massage her abdomen during the soak to encourage defecation. Feed appropriately sized prey to prevent impaction/constipation. Prey should be no bigger than the space between her eyes. Gut load prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Check temperatures since low temps can affect appetite and digestion. A calcium deficiency is another possible cause. Juvenile beardies need more calcium and vitamin supplementation than adult beardies. Rep-Cal's Herptivite multivitamin powder and Calcium with D3 powder are the gold standards for supplements. Dust prey twice weekly with the multivitamin and 5 days per week with the calcium powder. As your beardies mature, they will require less frequent supplementation. An adequate UVB light source is also required to allow proper utilization of the D3. Change the bulb every 6 months. Make sure it is not blocked by glass or plexiglass and confirm it is not too far from Medusa to be effective. Trauma from a fall may be another cause. Arrange cage furniture to prevent falls from heights. Monitor for other signs of injury (swelling, scrapes, bleeding,etc). If husbandry changes do not improve Medusa's condition, have her examined by your veterinarian or by a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

This may be due to trauma, infection or a nutritional deficiency. Corona should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose the underlying cause. Treatment, if any, will depend on the diagnosis. In the meantime, provide a balanced diet, hydration, vitamin/mineral supplementation, heat support and adequate UVB lighting until she sees the doctor.

Thanks for reaching out about Pablosita and including a photo. A veterinary visit is recommended in an attempt to determine spinal trauma vs. soft tissue trauma. Both conditions have a better prognosis is treated early. Calcium deficiencies can lead to weaker both more sensitive to trauma. Besides anti-inflammtories, acupuncture and other alternative medicine modalities could be beneficial. Good luck.

I am concerned about Squid (cute name BTW). The fact that he can't use his back legs could indicate a spinal issue or metabolic problem or even a broken bone. The bump on the tail could also be an injury or an infection. I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to give you more insight into what could be causing these issues by doing an exam and possible blood work or x-rays if needed. They will also be able to discuss with you in detail about his habitat and diet to ensure everything is correct there. A lot of their problems can be caused due to husbandry issues but may need more extensive treatment than just a change in husbandry. Unfortunately, Squid sounds like he needs more treatment than just a change in lighting, temperature, etc. I hope this helps and he starts to feel better soon.

Thanks for reaching out about Baby and including photos. Could you include the radiograph? The arm does appear swollen. Calcium deficiencies and metabolic bone disease, are the most common. Has the UV bulb been changed in the last 6 months? Neurological problems can also cause twitching, so if the radiographs are normal, a comprehensive reptilian profile is probably the next step, as kidney disease can also cause tremors. Good luck.

Hello, sorry to hear about Spice. It sounds like she may be having metabolic bine disease from some dietary deficiencies. Other causes may be due to rough flooring or substrate in its cage. Your veterinarian may have recommended some changes in her diet, however metabolic bone disease may carry a poor prognosis as it is challenging to correct this disease if it is too advanced. It will take quite some time also, to see improvement. Best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Gabe. If calcium and other husbandry items are appropriate, one should consider metabolic concerns such atadenovirus, enteric parasites, other infections, liver or renal disease and neurologic problems. An experienced reptile veterinarian should be consulted for an examination and possible diagnostic testing. If housed with others, it is recommended to separate and quarantine, as several of these possibilities are contagious to other reptiles. Good luck.