My water dragon has MBD and tail issues. What should I do?

This could be an injury or very early MBD (metabolic bone disease). Have Harper examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet for confirmation. Review her diet and vitamin/mineral supplementation regimen. If it is MBD, it can be corrected with just a few tweaks in diet and lighting. Check the age of the UVB bulb. If it is older than 6 months, replace it with a new bulb. You can review care and feeding of bearded dragons at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

Yes possibly these are signs of MBD. Ideally a check up is required to diagnose (an x ray may be needed) and treat it appropriately. Please find reliable sources of informations on this link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/bearded-dragons-diseases. 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.

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

Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Confirm proper environmental parameters. Low temperatures can affect activity, appetite and digestion in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50 /50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20 minutes. This can warm him up and may treat or prevent minor dehydration. Offer appropriately sized crickets and mealworms as well as fresh, chopped greens and fruits. Follow the link below for more information regarding care. http://www.anapsid.org/waterdragons.html

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.

It isn't normal. If you can see bone, have Dash seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. If no bone is exposed, keep the site clean and dry. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean it daily. Use plain paper, tile or slate on the cage bottom to prevent substrate particles from contaminating the wound. If he continues to bite ornchew at his tail, have him seen by your veterinarian.

While it is true that these signs could be due to trauma caused by the other beardie, it is also possible that it could be due to inappropriate nutrition or environment. Make sure that you are providing your bearded dragons with adequate calcium (supplemented in the food), and sufficient heat and UVB lighting in their cages. I also recommend that you take Luchi to see a reptile veterinarian in case he was injured and requires pain medications. You can find a reptile veterinarian in your area on www.arav.org.