| Bearded Dragons are extremely hardy | | | | that they were being kept in were not |
| lizards, when they are provided with the | | | | exactly as clean as you would have |
| proper temperatures and lighting in | | | | liked. |
| their environment. However, they are | | | | They may be infested with coccidia, |
| also pets who do their best to hide | | | | roundworms, pinworms, hookworms, or |
| their symptoms from us when they become | | | | numerous other pests. If you should buy |
| ill, as do most other reptiles. This is | | | | from a reputable breeder, this is much |
| no doubt an instinctual behavior, since | | | | less likely to be the case, but even |
| a sick Beardie, in the wild, would | | | | then, it is possible. |
| probably not live for very long. | | | | For this reason, once you have had your |
| Since your Beardie can't groan or | | | | dragon for two weeks, you should make it |
| complain about where it hurts, you must | | | | a point to have him or her seen by a |
| use your observation skills to determine | | | | reputable vet, who is well versed in the |
| when something is not right. There are | | | | care of reptiles, and take in a stool |
| times when a healthy Beardie will act | | | | sample for testing. Give your dragon at |
| differently, but these changes should be | | | | least two weeks to settle in, unless it |
| seen for what they are by the | | | | is apparent that they are ill, as when |
| experienced veterinarian. | | | | they are stressed, their parasite count, |
| Because of this, you need to be very | | | | particularly the coccidia count, may be |
| aware of what normal behavior is for | | | | higher than normal. |
| each of your particular dragons, and | | | | Diseases and Disorders |
| what is not. An alert eye can generally | | | | Normally, if you provide your dragon the |
| spot a problem long before it becomes a | | | | standard habitat, food and care, you |
| major concern. Particular attention | | | | will have the healthiest bearded dragon |
| should be paid to each dragon's eating | | | | on earth. But, from time to time your |
| habits, and the amounts that they | | | | dragon could get sick. The most often |
| usually eat, as well as what is the norm | | | | diseases, beardies get are: |
| as far as how often they present with | | | | 1. Mites |
| bowel movements, and what they usually | | | | 2. Terminal Ingestion |
| look like, when they do. Attention | | | | 3. Thermal Burns |
| should also be paid to the amount of | | | | 4. Calcium Deficiency |
| urates (the white solid or powdery | | | | 5. Impaction |
| materials) that are passed within the | | | | 6. Hypovitaminosis A |
| bowel movements, as a change in this can | | | | 7. Respiratory Infections |
| be a sign of kidney problems. | | | | 8. Dehydration |
| If you purchased your dragons from a pet | | | | 9. Stomatitis |
| shop, unfortunately you may have gotten | | | | 10. Internal Parasites |
| more than the one living thing that you | | | | 11. Coccidia |
| paid for... there is a better than a 50% | | | | 12. Other Parasites |
| chance that your dragon may be carrying | | | | 13. Dystocia (Egg Binding) |
| some type of intestinal parasite, | | | | 14. MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) |
| particularly if they were being housed | | | | 15. |
| with other dragons, and the conditions | | | | |