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My bearded dragon is lethargic and his back legs are dangling. What's wrong?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My bearded dragon has become lethargic over the past few days. To the point where when I pick him up, his back legs just dangle.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on February 20th, 2017
Extreme lethargy requires an immediate veterinary check up and treatment. Nutritional support and antibiotics may be needed. Metabolic disorders (like Metabolic Bone Disease) and systemic infections are only two of the possible diseases that are affecting Brat.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 8th, 2017
Confirm proper environmental parameters first. Make sure his enclosure is warm enough. Low temps will make a beardie appear sluggish or lethargic. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will warm him up and treat or prevent mild dehydration. If he hasn't defecated recently, you can gently massage his abdomen, from front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. Make sure he is getting adequate UVB lighting and vitamin and mineral supplementation. If his behavior persists, have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragons back legs haven’t worked for about two months, what’s going on?
This may be due to trauma, infection or a nutritional deficiency. Corona should be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose the underlying cause. Treatment, if any, will depend on the diagnosis. In the meantime, provide a balanced diet, hydration, vitamin/mineral supplementation, heat support and adequate UVB lighting until she sees the doctor.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Bearded Dragons tail and neck has turned black today. He has become very lethargic and will not move from his corner. He is not usually a fan of being handled or touched as he is still young however he will not bat an eye while we touch him. He is ju
Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specific advices, these signs are quite concerning. A skin rot in his case is on top of differential list and I would recommend immediate check up as antibiotic may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon I just got which is a month and 3 weeks old is having problems with back legs. I noticed her back legs wobble and shake, and seems unenergized. Anything I can do to help her ?
This may be due to nutritional deficiency or digestive issue (impaction impinging on nerves). If Medusa is defecating normally, it likely is not a digestion issue. If she is having difficulty defecating, soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. Gently massage her abdomen during the soak to encourage defecation. Feed appropriately sized prey to prevent impaction/constipation. Prey should be no bigger than the space between her eyes. Gut load prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Check temperatures since low temps can affect appetite and digestion. A calcium deficiency is another possible cause. Juvenile beardies need more calcium and vitamin supplementation than adult beardies. Rep-Cal's Herptivite multivitamin powder and Calcium with D3 powder are the gold standards for supplements. Dust prey twice weekly with the multivitamin and 5 days per week with the calcium powder. As your beardies mature, they will requ
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My beardie LJ seems kinda depressed. How can I help him?
Confirm proper environmental parameters first. Make sure his enclosure is warm enough. Low temps will make a beardie appear sluggish or lethargic. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will warm him up and treat or prevent mild dehydration. If he hasn't defecated recently, you can gently massage his abdomen, from front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. Make sure he is getting adequate UVB lighting and vitamin and mineral supplementation. If his behavior persists, have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my bearded dragon seems to be acting weird and I was wondering if someone could help me no why. I keep seeing her with her tongue out and when you pick her up she’s like a rag doll. She is not as active as she was and she isn’t eating or drinking
Thanks for reaching out about Anastasia and including photos. By the pictures she appears very thin and pliable. Metabolic bone disease (calcium deficiency) would be a primary concern. This could be due to inappropriate diet, lack of UVB radiation, too low temperature or metabolic disorders to prevent intestinal absorption. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The open mouth breathing could be due to muscle weakness, pneumonia, as well as other problems. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello! My bearded dragon has been acting very lethargic and hasn’t been eating. This has been going on for about a couple months now. What should I do?
Thanks for reaching out about Bonita. Check and correct husbandry including temperature gradient (daily high and lows, warm and cool ends), UVB exposure and diet. Since this has been going on a long time, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide diagnostic/treatment plan. Try offering water and food via a syringe prior to the vet appointment. Intestinal infections or parasites, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), other infections and more are all possible. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon has a lump on his lower back and has been having troubles moving his back legs. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do?
Thanks for reaching out about Mushu and including pictures. You should be concerned and a veterinary visit is recommended. The lump on the back appears to involve the spine. The rear legs appear swollen and front legs held awkwardly. First thoughts are around metabolic bone disease, which arises from calcium deficiency, whether lack in diet, lack of absorption or lack of ultraviolet radiation. A veterinary visit can help with diagnosis and prognosis, provide injections of calcium and vitamin D3, and oral calcium supplements. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Bearded dragon cant use back legs and hasnt had bowel movement in 5 days. Also jas hump on top of tail...
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon is behaving strangely. Her right forearm and hand look puffy. She's walking with what looks similar to a limp. She's been acting normal up until yesterday evening. Now she's not eating much and won't move much. She hasn't fallen. He
A big concern regarding the swelling and lameness would be metabolic bone disease (MBD). Ideally, Beans should be examined by your herp veterinarian to diagnose injury or illness. In the meantime, review the diet, vitamin/mineral supplementation and UVB lighting. Confirm the bulb is not obstructed by glass or plexiglass and replace if older than 6 months old. Gut load all prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize3 nutritional value. Use quality supplements such as Rep-Cal HerptiVite and Calcium w/Vit D3.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
How can I differ brumation and dehydration with my bearded dragon?
Symptoms of both can include lethargy and decreased or lost appetite. Telltale symptoms of dehydration are sunken eyes and wrinkled skin. If you pinch up some loose skin, it will remain in a tent.
Captive beardies, as well as young ones, do not "need" to brumate since temperatures are constant and food is readily available year round.
If Gibbler is dehydrated, you can soak her daily for 20 minutes in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. If her condition does not improve, have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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