Internal Parasites
Seen mainly in wild caught water dragons, but captive bred animals can be contaminated with internal parasites by cross contamination with other infected animals or through some food items.
The parasite load is generally worsened by poor import and pet trade conditions. Internal parasites in a newly acquired reptile who may be stressed and suffering from other ailments can become opportunistic and overwhelm the animal causing lethargy, lack of, or decreased, appetite, diarrhea or loose smelly frequent stool, and failure to thrive.
This ailment requires a visit to the vet, or at least a fresh stool sample being taken to the vet. The vet will determine what kind of parasites the animal might have and prescribe the proper medications to eradicate them. Over the counter meds, and medications bought in pet stores are usually not sufficient.
Seen mainly in wild caught water dragons, but captive bred animals can be contaminated with internal parasites by cross contamination with other infected animals or through some food items.
The parasite load is generally worsened by poor import and pet trade conditions. Internal parasites in a newly acquired reptile who may be stressed and suffering from other ailments can become opportunistic and overwhelm the animal causing lethargy, lack of, or decreased, appetite, diarrhea or loose smelly frequent stool, and failure to thrive.
This ailment requires a visit to the vet, or at least a fresh stool sample being taken to the vet. The vet will determine what kind of parasites the animal might have and prescribe the proper medications to eradicate them. Over the counter meds, and medications bought in pet stores are usually not sufficient.
Metabolic Bone Disease (Hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia)
This is a very serious ailment that requires immediate veterinary attention of you suspect your dragon has MBD.
Causes include a poor diet low in calcium and or very high in phosphorus; insufficient UVB lighting by either inadequate exposure to unfiltered sunlight on a regular basis, or inadequate exposure to specially formulated FLUORESCENT TUBES that produce light in the 290 to 310 nm range (where UVB is located in the spectrum), or improperly set up fluorescent lighting; and/or inadequate heating (reptiles need to be kept at their proper temperature setting so that they may digest their food, and thus absorb the calcium and other nutrients in the food items properly).
Symptoms of metabolic bone disease include muscle tremors, spontaneous bone fractures, skeletal deformities, and inadequately calcified eggs.
This is a very serious ailment that requires immediate veterinary attention of you suspect your dragon has MBD.
Causes include a poor diet low in calcium and or very high in phosphorus; insufficient UVB lighting by either inadequate exposure to unfiltered sunlight on a regular basis, or inadequate exposure to specially formulated FLUORESCENT TUBES that produce light in the 290 to 310 nm range (where UVB is located in the spectrum), or improperly set up fluorescent lighting; and/or inadequate heating (reptiles need to be kept at their proper temperature setting so that they may digest their food, and thus absorb the calcium and other nutrients in the food items properly).
Symptoms of metabolic bone disease include muscle tremors, spontaneous bone fractures, skeletal deformities, and inadequately calcified eggs.
Nostril/Snout Damage
Generally seen in Wild caught dragons that have been hurt during importation, or in water dragons that have been kept in either too small enclosures, or glass walled enclosures. Water dragons do not understand the concept of glass and will repeatedly bang their snouts against the glass (and screen!) while trying to get out of the enclosure. Snout damage and banging can lead to infection, mouthrot and major tissue damage. Severe injury can result in tissue being rubbed off, and even bone infection and bone death. The tissue and bone will not grow back if it is damaged. Preventing snout rubbing behavior is the key to preventing such damage.
Generally seen in Wild caught dragons that have been hurt during importation, or in water dragons that have been kept in either too small enclosures, or glass walled enclosures. Water dragons do not understand the concept of glass and will repeatedly bang their snouts against the glass (and screen!) while trying to get out of the enclosure. Snout damage and banging can lead to infection, mouthrot and major tissue damage. Severe injury can result in tissue being rubbed off, and even bone infection and bone death. The tissue and bone will not grow back if it is damaged. Preventing snout rubbing behavior is the key to preventing such damage.
Toe, Spike or end of tail damage and loss
Darkening of, obvious damage to, and loss of toes, spikes and the end of the tail can be the result of a number of problems.
Improper Shedding can result in the skin becoming stuck to a toe, spike or the end of the tail. If the skin remains stuck onto the appendage while the tissue below continues to grow the circulation to the area may become decreased and lead to dry gangrene, infection, and death of the tissue.
Breaks from falls or becoming stuck in tight areas can result in broken toes, or the end of the tail snapping off. The end of the tail may also snap off if grabbed in an effort to keep the struggling animal from getting away, or may even drop suddenly when the animal is frightened by something (although this last is least likely to occur with water dragons).
It is always wise to take your reptile in for a visit to the vet if there has been an unexplained fracture of the toe, foot or leg (for the animals sake!) because the break could be a sign and symptom of a more serious ailment such as Metabolic bone disease (often calcium deficiency). If your reptile is suffering from MBD it is best to catch it in the early stages before it becomes so serious as to cause irreparable damage (bent crooked back, misaligned jaw!) or death.
Darkening of, obvious damage to, and loss of toes, spikes and the end of the tail can be the result of a number of problems.
Improper Shedding can result in the skin becoming stuck to a toe, spike or the end of the tail. If the skin remains stuck onto the appendage while the tissue below continues to grow the circulation to the area may become decreased and lead to dry gangrene, infection, and death of the tissue.
Breaks from falls or becoming stuck in tight areas can result in broken toes, or the end of the tail snapping off. The end of the tail may also snap off if grabbed in an effort to keep the struggling animal from getting away, or may even drop suddenly when the animal is frightened by something (although this last is least likely to occur with water dragons).
It is always wise to take your reptile in for a visit to the vet if there has been an unexplained fracture of the toe, foot or leg (for the animals sake!) because the break could be a sign and symptom of a more serious ailment such as Metabolic bone disease (often calcium deficiency). If your reptile is suffering from MBD it is best to catch it in the early stages before it becomes so serious as to cause irreparable damage (bent crooked back, misaligned jaw!) or death.