How long to see MBD recovery signs in my bearded dragon with lighting?

Hello, I’m glad you are taking steps to correct the MBD. Oral calcium is important as well as vitamin A and hydration. I like Repashy vitamin A dust on crickets every 2 weeks and calcium powder dust with every other feeding. Make sure the humidity stays above 50-60%. This is very hard inside in the winter so it will be a constant battle. Gut load and dust all insects fed, if you have a drip or misting system, ensure that is working well. The UVB light should be changed every 6 months. MBD lizards are at higher risk of infections and fractures so keep a close eye on his appetite and activity. Pad branches and lower branches if he seems unsteady. Most of all, be patient. Reptiles take a long time to get sick and take just as long to recover. It can take several months for him to bounce back, and any distortion or trauma to his bones may always be noticeable. If you’d like to discuss this more, don’t hesitate to request a consult. Take care!

Have your herp veterinarian examine Nelson to rule out abscess (infection) or tumor. Make sure the UVB light source is not blocked by glass or plastic. Either blocks the beneficial rays. Position cage furniture so Nelson can bask 6-8 inches from the UVB source. Gut load prey for 24 hours before offering to Nelson to maximize nutritional value. Not all vitamin and mineral supplements are created equally. Herptivite and Reptile Calcium Powder with D3, both by Rep-Cal, are highly recommended. If he's using his hind limbs and can get around normally, there is likely no cause for concern. Beardies are known to strike crazy and humorous poses. Laying that way may be comfortable for him. If he is having difficulty moving around, it can be addressed by your vet during the exam.

If he is getting adequate UVB lighting, a balanced diet and proper vitamin/mineral supplementation, then it may not be MBD. It could be trauma or infection. Either way, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian to make the diagnosis. He may need treatment regardless of the underlying cause. Antibiotics may help infection, vitamin and mineral supplementation may help reverse MBD.

Usually the treatment is based on dietary improvements, calcium and vitamin D supplements, and greater access to full-spectrum ultraviolet light. More severe cases require calcium and vitamin D injections, oral supplements, fluid therapy, and nutritional support.

It looks like you've done a good job rehabbing this poor guy. Getting him up to a warm temperature was definitely a good start. And, I think the liquid coming from the nose and mouth may have been from the bath, so I would not worry too much unless it happens again. Judging from the photos, he has not been well cared for, for a long time. Getting him back to health will be a long process, but can happen if you provide adequate warmth, UV light and the appropriate diet. This is my favorite website for information on caring for bearded dragons: http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html If you follow these guidelines, then you can get this guy back up to health. It depends on how much damage was done though. Sometimes they can be too ill to recover on their own and will need critical care by a veterinarian. It sounds like he's doing much better now, so hopefully he will continue to get better and act more normal soon.

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!

It sounds like it could be due to MBD which is caused due to lack of calcium, unfortunately this condition might be permanent, the only treatment is calcium supplement and calcium injection but it will probably not repair the damage that is already done.

Yes, it sounds like Lightning could be in the process of shedding. Here is great article that should answer all of your questions about the process. http://pogopogona.com/caring-for-bearded-dragons/bearded-dragon-shedding Just be sure that you have all of his husbandry 100% correct (lighting, diet, supplements, humidity, temperature, etc) because that is the #1 reason bearded dragons have health issues. If he is not in the process of shedding then he may be getting sick. https://www.petco.com/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/bearded-dragon.html Hope this helps. If you have more questions feel free to post again. Best wishes.

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.

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