Symptoms of hypercalcemia in bearded dragons include lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, increased urination and thirst, depression, and skin irritation. Most of the cases about 90% are due to primary hyperparathyroidism and cancer-related hypercalcemia (hypercalcemia of malignancy). Too often, a dragon owner doesnt realize that their beardie needs calcium supplements and ends up with a sick beardie with irreversible damage. Hypercalcemia is a medical condition in bearded dragons that results from excess calcium intake. Symptoms of a gravid bearded dragon are following: Pregnant bearded dragon's weight will increase, and her belly will look plump or swollen. Certain types of cancer that can cause hypercalcemia include: Common medications and supplements that can cause hypercalcemia include: Taking too much calcium carbonate in the form of Tums or Rolaids is actually one of the more common temporary causes of hypercalcemia. Thank you for the support! None of the information on this website is intended as a replacement or substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. Why do we dust calcium? A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. privacy practices. Bearded dragons dont get calcium dusting in the wild but they are very good at converting UVB radiation (sunlight) into vitamin D3. Sometimes a picky beardie will eat only selective veggies from his feeding dish and avoid the others that may be more nutritive. The liver metabolises vitamin D2 into 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, and vitamin D3 into 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Oonincx, D. G. A. Accessed Jan. 22, 2020. Since in the wild they are able to effectively convert UVB radiation to into vitamin D3, they are able to make use of the calcium they can absorb in their diet. Bearded Dragons skin naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to UVB. https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/hypercalcemia. Depending on the age of a beardie, they may require more or less for growth purposes. Your bearded dragon will have difficulty walking and climbing. 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. Vitamin D3 supports the metabolism and absorption of calcium and phosphorus. We have seen hypercalcemias signs, effects, and treatment options in bearded dragons. The Bearded Dragon is a well-known lizard and currently considered one of the best pet lizards. It may also be drooping down, and their beards may be black due to stress and discomfort. They may also indicate other underlying conditions. John Wiley & Sons. These germs can easily spread to their bodies and anything in the area where they live and roam. Check the ingredients of the food before supplementing. Shoback D, Sellmeyer D, Bilke D. Metabolic Bone Disease. If you experience swelling of the face, mouth, or back legs, lethargy, trembling limbs, muscle twitching, general weakness, unusual posture, or deformities, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Should you notice a couple of the above signs, immediately take your pet lizard to a vet. Two, follow the recommended dosage provided by the supplement manufacturer. Other less common causes of hypercalcemia include: Hypercalcemia is a fairly common finding on routine blood tests such as a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) or basic metabolic panel (BMP), which include a calcium blood test. Applied Nutritional Studies with Zoological Reptiles. Bearded dragons can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings even if they look healthy and clean. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/hypercalcemia), (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000365.htm), (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430714/), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. Setting up the lighting and heating well provides a solid foundation to build a healthy bearded dragon from. In primary hyperparathyroidism, one or more of your four parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone the hormone responsible for controlling blood calcium levels. You dont pay more but it gives me a commission when you buy it through my affiliate link. Your bones to release calcium into your blood, Your digestive tract to absorb more calcium, Your kidneys to excrete less calcium and activate more vitamin D, which plays a vital role in calcium absorption. Recently, I watched. In most cases, the excess calcium in your blood was leached from your bones, which weakens them. Calcium deficiency is often accompanied by vitamin D3 deficiency. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) occurs in plant sources vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) from plant and animal sources. Some tweaks to the bearded dragons diet that will help with getting calcium right are: Foods high in calcium that you can feed as part of a varied diet include: Foods with an inverse Ca:P ratio cannot always be avoided but some are higher than others and should be used with caution, if at all. If their UV light exposure is limited or interrupted, Vitamin D3 supplementation is advised to ensure that they receive the recommended amount. Divers, S. J., & Mader, D. R. How to Calm a Stressed Bearded Dragon. Your dragons first visit can cost anywhere from $75 to $150, and may include a series of tests to ensure that he is in good health. Additionally, exposing your bearded dragon to a full-spectrum ultraviolet light for 12-14 hours a day is important for aiding the absorption of calcium into the bones. Proper lighting and a balanced diet is the best way to prevent hypercalcemia. Your tank though is excellent, it looks very nice. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Be mindful over the level of phosphorus in the diet. You should also be measuring the amount of calcium in supplements they are getting in addition to foods that contain calcium. These symptoms alone arent always a sign of hypercalcemia. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Yes, bearded dragons can get calcium deposits. Add vitamin D3 for bearded dragons into the mix and it might start to sound a little confusing. Doing so ensures that the beardie lives an optimally healthy life. Know that hypercalcemia is treatable and that symptoms usually go away once your calcium levels are back to normal. The diet aims to regularize the calcium levels in the bearded dragons blood. This is a much similar but more severe disorder to that of osteoporosis in humans. However, just like any other animal, bearded dragons can develop health problems, including hypercalcemia. A bearded dragon is a rare and exciting animal, but it necessitates a great deal of responsibility. Sometimes bearded dragon owners unintentionally give their pets too much calcium. Accessed Jan. 22, 2020. Although well-meaning, such actions can make the beardie suffer when it takes too much calcium. You can get sick from touching your bearded dragon or anything in its environment, and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing Salmonella germs. With calcium powder, it is easier to measure the correct amount and less likely to get confused. their bodies will also become stiff, making it difficult for them to move. As previously discussed, there are two ways to provide UVB exposure to your bearded dragon. 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). In patients with severe hypercalcemia (calcium >14 . You might not have signs or symptoms if your hypercalcemia is mild. Hyperkeratosis later affects how your pet eats and breathes. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition. These lizards need to be taken to the vet for regular check-ups and vaccinations to ensure they stay healthy. If your blood calcium level is elevated, your provider will review your medications and medical history and conduct a physical exam. Therefore even if you must drive a long distance for a proper vet, itll be worth it in the end. Vet bearded dragons are a type of lizards that are popular as pets and require a few extra steps in their care to ensure their health and wellbeing. My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. Keeping them on a regular feeding schedule can help identify digestion issues. You must monitor these symptoms as well as take appropriate action if they appear. Supplementing the diet with calcium alone is of no value unless you provide UVB exposure to your bearded dragon. multiple hours per week), oral D3 supplementation should be reduced or not fed at all. Dust insects, they are naturally low in calcium. Foods high in oxalates and phytates can inhibit the uptake of calcium and caution must be used. There is a problem with A beardie needs Vitamin D3 to absorb calcium. In: Anatomy and Ultrastructure of bone Histogenesis, growth and remodeling. In addition to the above, other signs of calcium overdose in bearded dragons include bloody stool, closing the eyes frequently, lack of appetite, avoiding the basking area, and any other heat source. Hypercalcemia happens when you have higher-than-normal levels of calcium in your blood. If youre experiencing symptoms of hypercalcemia, contact your healthcare provider. Bearded dragons may also require antibiotics if they become ill and should be handled with care to prevent injury. Calcium overdose also has more severe effects on them, and their health deteriorates much faster when they suffer from hypercalcemia. It can lead to many health problems and, in severe cases, death. the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. 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. One, through the UVB interaction with the epidermis (skin) and two, orally through food and supplementation. Bearded dragons are generally very hardy lizards and can live a long, healthy life in proper conditions. It requires generation of a choline isotope onsite. Hypercalcemia in bearded dragons is a medical condition in which the calcium level in the bearded dragon's blood is above the normal limit. 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. Effective treatment needs correct and accurate diagnosis. There are a lot of people who own bearded dragons, and one of the most common causes of death for these beloved pets is impaction. Are Bearded Dragons Spiky? B. G., Heijboer, A. C., van Leeuwen, J. P. T. M., Hendriks, J. P. & Kik, M. (2013). Calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are mostly seen in dragons fed on diets high in fruits, celery etc. In the serum, about 45% of calcium is bound to proteins, 45% exists . The prefix hypo- means low or not enough. Hypocalcemia means you have lower-than-normal levels of calcium in your blood. With mild cases of hypercalcemia, the vet will recommend a diet specific to the beardie. Its also important to note that weakness can be a sign of the enclosure being too hot or too cold. (2005). Otherwise, your bearded dragon could end up with a bone disease that could be painful for them for the rest of their lives. However, if you are feeding your bearded dragon 50% or more of the total diet with commercially prepared diets, supplementation should not be required (Stahl and Donoghue 2010). Avoid taking dietary supplements, vitamins or minerals without first discussing them with your provider. Furthermore, the amount of calcium found in a bearded dragons diet is important in its prevention of MBD. 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. Quitting smoking, if applicable: Smoking can increase bone loss. Hatchlings, baby bearded dragons, and the aged ones are at a higher risk of hypercalcemia than the other moderately aged and adult bearded dragons. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Brain. Most cases of hypercalcemia arent life-threatening and many people dont have any symptoms. Dont be afraid to ask your healthcare team questions about hypercalcemia and its management. Besides building strong bones and teeth, calcium helps muscles contract and nerves transmit signals. Hypercalcemia can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Unfortunately, it can be very problematic if they ingest an excessive amount of calcium. Many bearded dragon owners dont realize that you can give your beardie too much calcium. Getting a new diagnosis can be stressful. 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. Keep your bearded dragon needs to be kept hydrated. Symptoms. NO Roommates. Metabolic Bone Disease, also known as MBD, is a common health problem in captive bearded dragons. As the muscles and soft tissues stiffen, there will be a lack of mobility. The tighter the mesh, the less UVB it will allow through. Calcium is pretty useless without D3. vomiting. Hypercalcemia can interfere with how your brain works, resulting in confusion, lethargy and fatigue. 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. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? Headaches. 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279129/. Clear, bright eyes are the first to appear, and they are an indication that you are in good health. If your bearded dragon is diagnosed with hypercalcemia, do not panic, the disease is treatable. Excess exposure to natural sunlight radiation will cause skin thickening, lesions, and callouses in a bearded dragon. ). If youre unsure about the amounts you should be feeding them, consult with your vet, and they will help with a meal plan. Be diligent in changing out your UVB lamps as per the manufacturers instructions. Offer Food Daily. It can make the pet sick and even lead to death in extreme cases. Being able to identify unusual behavior is essential for noticing hypercalcemia. And most often, it's just one of them that develops a tumor of it. (Ed.). Symptoms of hypercalcemia (elevated calcium levels) are often described as "moans, stones, groans, and bones." "Moans" symptoms of hypercalcemia refer to gastrointestinal conditions including. kidney stones. Vitamin D3 is required for calcium absorption and metabolism. Your healthcare provider may order any of the following tests to help diagnose hypercalcemia and its cause: If your provider suspects primary hyperparathyroidism is causing hypercalcemia, theyll likely recommend an imaging test to see if there are any growths on your parathyroid gland(s) or if theyre enlarged. What causes hypercalcemia? Kidney cancer. Calcium overdose (hypercalcemia) can occur with the use of too much calcium and vitamin D3 supplements and over-exposure to UVB light. Other causes of hypercalcemia include cancer, certain other medical disorders, some medications, and taking too much of calcium and vitamin D supplements. However, where sunlight is provided on a regular basis (i.e. These tests allow healthcare providers to detect abnormally high calcium levels early. In the right environment, bearded dragons can move in and out of the UVB light as they need it. It may also be drooping down, and their beards may be black due to stress and discomfort. 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