Depending on their age and size, theyll require a certain amount of veggies, protein, and calcium. If youve already looked into it, you know there are primarily two ways you can offer your dragon supplements at home: liquid or powder. In this case, you would want to supplement about three times a week to ensure your dragon is getting enough of both supplements. A typical baby bearded dragon will "urinate" the most at anywhere from 1 to 3 times daily via passing the white part of the poop (urate). As a rule of thumb, a Vitamin D3 supplement can be safely provided about two to three times a week. But for 3 days i used no calcium, to get most of it out of his system. In fact, we would say almost all soon-to-be or inexperienced owners know this. Bearded dragons can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings even if they look healthy and clean. Donoghue, S. ARAV (2015) Companion Reptile Care Series. OR do i have to take him to an animal hospital or reptile veterinarian? This is a very common sign of hypercalcemia and should be looked into by a vet right away. Schmidt et al (2017) conducted a survey on 529 bearded dragons presented to three different exotic animal clinics in Central Europe. See the post on setting up lighting and heating for more information. Since bearded dragons should be getting 12 hours of UVB exposure a day, they dont necessarily need this supplement on a daily basis. Elsevier Health Sciences. Keep an eye out for any signs of illness. However, one of the most important items in a bearded dragon's diet is calcium. Be mindful over the level of phosphorus in the diet. They should have enough space in the enclosure to move around and also something to climb onto to bask. Once your insects are dusted, place them in the bin with your dragon for mealtime. Quitting smoking, if applicable: Smoking can increase bone loss. (Baines, 2017). their bodies will also become stiff, making it difficult for them to move. how much protein should a large breed dog have EN; shawnee, ok police arrests; does bandlab copyright your music Setting up the lighting and heating well provides a solid foundation to build a healthy bearded dragon from. If your dragon displays symptoms of hypercalcemia, it must be taken to a vet immediately. Signs of calcium overdose in bearded dragons includes lethargy, muscle weakness and constipation. Spinal and bone deformities (like scoliosis), Juveniles typically facing low dietary calcium intake or Calcium deprivation. The following table shows this data with the amount of calcium to be fed as a percentage of the dry matter and the calcium to phosphorus ratios: How often you give your bearded dragon calcium with D3 greatly depends on the amount of UV light exposure. Blood vitamin D3 metabolite concentrations of adult female bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) remain stable after ceasing UVb exposure. Metabolic bone disease is a condition that affects several types of domestic reptiles. (Ed.). What it all comes down to is creating a happy and healthy life for your pets and ours. If possible, consider dusting more docile insects like roaches instead of crickets. You may find that your dragon doesnt enjoy their favorite foods as often anymore. Please answer quick. However, too much of it can impact the beardies health. Mild cases can be treated by proper diet. Greenstick fractures (folded or bent bones), If you are looking for a calcium-rich feeder insect, try, If you have questions or would like to give feedback, please email us at. Dead bugs? Providing foods with vitamin D2 does not replace the need for vitamin D3. The disease causes serious bone, muscle, and tissue damage, which can result in paralysis or death. The symptoms are very similar to hypercalcemia, but the physical alterations are often more noticeable and permanent. I would back down on the calcium to once a day and see if it helps. For most species, 0.1% calcium appears adequate for a maintenance diet. Vitamin A supplements are often given presumptively to reptiles . Just like humans, calcium performs a wide array of bodily functions in bearded dragons. Hypercalcemia in bearded dragons is a medical condition in which the calcium level in the bearded dragons blood is above the normal limit. Kindly take your bearded dragon to an experienced vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Of course, you can also mix it with water, but there is no guarantee your dragon will consume it all. #3. Hypocalcaemia is low levels calcium in the blood. If they are fed, feed in small portions alternating with other foods. While you cant rely on this entirely, this will provide a good baseline and a bit of variety. One reason it's important to be educated on bearded dragon health concerns, is because your beardie will hide symptoms. Soft tissue mineralisation, muscle calcification and hardening of muscles occurs. That is for you and your vet to determine. Hypercalcemia is seen in bearded dragons with excessive exposure to UVB light along with excessive oral supplementation with calcium and vitamin D3. You are using an out of date browser. While some are worse than others, none of them are pleasant. Exo Terra Reptile Calcium with vitamin D3. 6 days RepCal and 1 Day Reptivite or 5 days Repcal and 2 days Reptivite. Youll also want to make sure theyre getting enough protein in addition to the right amount of calcium. Calcium has lots of important roles in a healthy bearded dragon. Oonincx, D.G.A.B., Stevens, Y., Borne J.J.G.C. 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). Calcium is pretty useless without D3. Fluker's Repta Calcium with vitamin D3. Hypercalcemia in bearded dragons is a medical condition in which the calcium level in the bearded dragon's blood is above the normal limit. Depending on the age of a beardie, they may require more or less for growth purposes. There should be nothing blocking the sun light which includes any glass, plastic or otherwise. Both are inversely related and negatively affect the level of each other. How Long Can Bearded Dragons Go Without Heat? The symptoms can often be subtle that may appear to not be an issue, but in these rare cases, hypercalcemia can be very serious and lead to death. 2017. This particularly applies when the bearded dragon is on a calcium-rich diet. One of the most obvious issues youll notice is in their behavior, movements, and energy. Bearded dragons are susceptible to calcium overdoses, which can lead to a variety of symptoms including lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite, and twitching. An 1/8 of a teaspoon or a pinch might be useful, but here is the thing, calcium supplements can only be effective in the right conditions. A beardie that doesnt get enough of this will suffer (which no one wants). Watson, M. K., & Mitchell, M. A. Bearded dragons that are provided with time outdoors in direct sunlight will need lower supplementation, unlike those kept indoor. Signs of metabolic bone disease include: Bumps in the legs (that you can feel/see) Twitches, ticks, spasms, or tremors. Always check with your vet before determining supplements. It also helps prevent metabolic bone disease and keep your dragon healthy and happy. Below is a list of the most common diseases in bearded dragons. The effects of hypocalcemia mostly involve the muscles being more excitable. The reason is not clear but there is potential for it to be for a dietary reason including access to minerals. The Exo Terra calcium liquid offers high absorption, passing the liquid directly into the small intestine. Some invertebrates, such as crickets, cannot be kept alive on calcium gut loading diet for over 3 days as it causes impaction in the cricket and subsequently it dies (Thompson, 2016). The disease may also drastically shorten their lifespan and quality of life. You can prevent hypercalcemia by feeding your bearded dragon the right amount of calcium. This is a much similar but more severe disorder to that of osteoporosis in humans. Cusack, L., Rivera, S., Lock, B., Benboe, D., Brothers, D., & Divers, S. (2017). When there is too much calcium in the blood, the cells tend to lose water excessively, resulting in dehydration. They are by UVB (either sunlight or artificial lighting) and in the diet (food and supplementation). This is a powder that we recommend giving a little extra love before using it. Simply put, its a powder that contains concentrated calcium (and D3 depending on which product you get) that you sprinkle on their food. Without vitamin D3, the calcium wont do much (for better or worse). Yes it is possible to give your bearded dragon too much calcium where there is also an excess of vitamin D3. Foods high in phosphorus should generally be avoided. There are a couple of ways to go about this: You probably would have preferred I gave you an outright amount. Klaphake, E. (2010). Well my new beardie is very active. When taking care of a pregnant bearded dragon, you must provide plenty of calcium. That why its important to get the best UVB light for your bearded dragon possible (and set it up properly). Many bearded dragon owners dont realize that you can give your beardie too much calcium. Thats just our personal preference though! Powdered calcium is fairly popular among Dragon Keepers. Bearded Dragon Impaction: Symptoms and Treatment Causes of impaction in bearded dragons. Thx, Too much calcium can be just as bad as too little. This will allow your bearded dragon to digest it more efficiently, and reduce the risk of any GI issues that lumpy powders can cause. However, too much of it can impact the beardies health. The best way to give your dragon calcium is by dusting their food with calcium powder 3-5 times per week. If you wish, you could also add in a secondary calcium supplement to your dragons feeding schedule, but it isnt necessarily something you have to do. Find out! Bearded dragon calcium overdose symptoms. Its entirely possible for you to be giving your bearded dragon too much calcium without realizing it. 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