https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Research on juvenile bearded dragons found that supplementing with vitamin D3 in doses as high as 4 times the average dietary recommendation was ineffective whereas UVB exposure to the skin was significantly beneficial (Oonincx 2010). 5 Levels higher than 14 mg per dL (3.5 mmol per L) can be life . Being able to identify unusual behavior is essential for noticing hypercalcemia. Welcome to Reptiles Time, your perfect world to learn more about your reptile pet. Therefore even if you must drive a long distance for a proper vet, itll be worth it in the end. The body cannot use calcium unless it has vitamin D3. Read on for more information on hypercalcemia, how to spot it, and how to prevent your dragon from getting it. It is a rare scenario and occurs less frequently compared to cases of providing a reptile with insufficient amounts of calcium. Knowing the precise amount to give the lizard is one of the most effective ways of preventing hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia in these reptiles. If you own a bearded dragon, you can take a few simple steps to ensure that his or her health is not jeopardized. Holding A Bearded Dragon: When Is The Right Time? They may include: Digestive symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, poor appetite, or constipation. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice. In: Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al, editors. In artificially lit environments, just as it is important that the light is putting out enough UVB it is equally important not to overdo it. With calcium powder, it is easier to measure the correct amount and less likely to get confused. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Calcium is not going to be metabolized if there is no extra vitamin D3, so just make sure your calcium has no D3 and supplement D3 occasionally with multivitamins and provide UVB. Bearded dragons that are provided with time outdoors in direct sunlight will need lower supplementation, unlike those kept indoor. The taste of the water is unpalatable and it will increase bacteria (Stahl and Donoghue 2010). The Pros And Cons Of Scaleless Bearded Dragons: Is It Good Or Bad For Your Pet? Schmidt et al (2017) conducted a survey on 529 bearded dragons presented to three different exotic animal clinics in Central Europe. They end up not being able to move around as easily without experiencing pain and stiffness in their body. Additionally, look for a supplement that is made with a form of calcium that is easily absorbed by the body, such as calcium citrate. For urgent issues please use the Beardie ER forum. Be diligent in changing out your UVB lamps as per the manufacturers instructions. Vitamin D also plays an important role in maintaining calcium levels because your body needs it to absorb calcium from the food you eat. Click here for an email preview. How to Calm a Stressed Bearded Dragon. Youll want to ensure your beardie has a good basking spot and a place to get away and cool down. Healthcare providers often catch it early from routine blood tests. Dragon tails should not protrude from the hips if they are well-fed, and the base of the tail should be thick. Furthermore, calcium powder is a great supplement that they can add to their diet to ensure they get the calcium they need for strong bones. As the muscles and soft tissues stiffen, there will be a lack of mobility. In addition to . In turn, this makes the beardie absorb excess amounts of calcium into the blood, and some of the excess calcium causes calcification of the reptiles muscles. Quitting smoking, if applicable: Smoking can increase bone loss. Watson, M. K., & Mitchell, M. A. Has he been brumating or trying to brumate right now? There are eight species of Bearded Dragons, but the most popular one is the Inland or Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps), from the arid to semi-arid southeastern parts of Australia, and we will be discussing the Inland Bearded Dragon in this handout. Artificial lighting is not as effective as the sun and there are many errors by novice keepers that exaggerate the problem. Hypercalcemia is considered mild when the total serum calcium level is between 10.5 and 12 mg/dl. Gut loading insects for bearded dragons is another useful method to feed a highly nutritious diet with calcium supplements. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inadequate UVB exposure and heat for calcium absorption, Excessive levels of vitamin A which competes with vitamin D, High phosphorus diet or improper calcium to phosphorus ratio. However, you should be on the lookout for signs of hypercalcemia which occurs when the beardie absorbs too much calcium. This can cause bone pain and muscle weakness. There are 2 ways to get vitamin D3. This step will ensure that the calcium-phosphorous ratio is balanced and will help to keep a dragon safe and healthy. There are other methods as well that come in a liquid form. Topeka (KS): Mark Morris Institute; 2010. Lack of exposure to UVB source can lead to calcium deficiency in bearded dragons. This can also be a sign of a bacterial infection such as mouth rot, though the symptoms are very different. Although well-meaning, such actions can make the beardie suffer when it takes too much calcium. Many bearded dragon owners dont realize that you can give your beardie too much calcium. Vitamin D and ultraviolet B radiation considerations for exotic pets. The nutritional demands of adults is 1.5:1 and in egg laying periods it reaches up to the level of 10:1. Primary hyperparathyroidism and various kinds of cancers account for the greatest percentage of all people with hypercalcemia. Causes of bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms The most common cause of hypercalcemia in bearded dragons is from them eating too much calcium from their food or supplements. A swollen beard will be slightly raised above the neck. The amount of calcium you give your bearded dragon can be a bit of guesswork for pet owners. We hope that with this information, owners of bearded dragons can be better prepared to recognize and treat this condition in their beloved pets. Symptoms can include: Peeing frequently. However, too much of it can impact the beardies health. Calcium overdose (hypercalcemia) can occur with the use of too much calcium and vitamin D3 supplements and over-exposure to UVB light. Furthermore, the amount of calcium found in a bearded dragons diet is important in its prevention of MBD. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) occurs in plant sources vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) from plant and animal sources. These signs are not unique to hypercalcemia in bearded dragons. You should notice a few physical evidence around the mouth and nares/nostrils. And that can include various imaging techniques such as ultrasound, parathyroid sestamibi scan, which is a nuclear medicine imaging. Symptoms include: Calcium deficiency also leads to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (aka NSHP, metabolic bone disease). Avoid foods such as spinach, beetroot and rhubarb leaves. Hypercalcemia can be mild or severe and temporary or chronic (lifelong). In addition, it affects the absorption of other essential nutrients and minerals such as zinc, iron, and phosphorus into the bearded dragons bloodstream. This can also be a sign of a bacterial infection such as mouth rot, though the symptoms are very different. Blood vitamin D3 metabolite concentrations of adult female bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) remain stable after ceasing UVb exposure. Dragon bones and soft tissues are weakened and the calcium-phosphorous balance is imbalanced due to a calcium-phosphorous imbalance. The following blood calcium levels indicate different levels of diagnosis and severity of hypercalcemia: If you have symptoms of hypercalcemia or are at risk for developing hypercalcemia due to having a certain kind of cancer, your provider will order different blood tests to determine if you have hypercalcemia. You may need to rearrange parts of their diet so that they arent receiving too much D3. other information we have about you. There are a couple of ways to go about this: You probably would have preferred I gave you an outright amount. Depending on their age and size, It is mainly due to: This low level of calcium in bearded dragons can have serious effects on health. Bearded Dragon Accessories and Enriching Life, 7 Tips to get Bearded Dragon to Eat Vegetables [& Refusal]. Yes, feeding your bearded dragon calcium is part of the current recommended good husbandry practices and it will contribute to the prevention of hypocalcemia. Decrease in appetite. Buying calcium powder both with and without cholecalciferol will provide options for alternate dusting. Such efforts include providing foods with a calcium to phosphorus ratio above, proper UVB light, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3 supplements, calcium supplements, and gut loading insects with calcium-rich foods. The vet can still offer treatment, but the beardie may take a long time to recover. Keeping them on a regular feeding schedule can help identify digestion issues. At night, keep the enclosure at around 70-75 degrees fahrenheit (21-24 celcius). Such knowledge will help you avoid overexposing your pet to UVB light and thus prevent Vitamin D3 over intake. Diehl, J. J. E., Baines, F. M., Heijboer, A. C., van Leeuwen, J. P., Kik, M., Hendriks, W. H., & Oonincx, D. G. A. Mayo Clinic; 2019. Greenstick fractures (bones appear bent/folded but not broken) Paralysis Seizures and tremors Swollen jaw These symptoms are an indication that your bearded dragon has been suffering from MBD for a long period. Kidney cancer. Why do we dust calcium? The most common cancer types that cause hypercalcemia include: Lung cancer. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. More-severe cases produce signs and symptoms related to the parts of your body affected by the high calcium levels in your blood. However, just like any other animal, bearded dragons can develop health problems, including hypercalcemia. Calcium is the most abundant cation found in the human body and plays an integral role in neural transmission, enzyme activity, myocardial function, coagulation and other cellular functions. (2016). Yes, you must provide calcium for your bearded dragon. 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