What Is The Weird Lump On My Bearded Dragon Body?
Knowing your bearded dragon well will help you recognize when something is wrong with it.
Regular handling, observation, and familiarity with your bearded dragon’s personality and habits will enable you to see any problems—like a lump—as soon as they arise.
Lumps can indicate a variety of conditions, including metabolic bone disease, shattered bones, and abscesses.
For thorough details on what your bearded dragon’s lump might be, keep reading.
Metabolic Bone Disease
A complicated condition known as metabolic bone disease (MBD) is rife among captive bearded dragons.
Younger dragons, those under two years old, frequently exhibit this behavior.
A poor diet that is high in phosphorus and deficient in calcium and vitamin D3 is frequently the cause of metabolic bone disease.
A shortage of UV radiation, which dragons require to produce vitamin D, may also be to blame.
In bearded dragons, typical symptoms of metabolic bone disease include:
lower jaw enlargement
softening of the face and jawbones
swelling in the back legs
While the reptile tries to walk, its legs tremble.
Lethargy
unfit to walk
Getting down on all fours
Typical bone fractures
twitching of muscles
reduced appetite
Seizures
Metabolic bone disease will occur from improper UVB setting.
You must take your bearded dragon to the veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment if you think it might have metabolic bone disease.
Blood tests will be performed to check for low calcium levels or phosphorus and calcium imbalances.
Abscess
Anywhere on the body of your bearded dragon, an abscess can develop; it typically looks like a hard lump.
Abscesses are swollen, pus-filled, diseased spots in the bodily tissues that are difficult to see until they become very large.
Abscesses typically develop as a result of bacteria or fungi invading the tissue as a result of an injury, such as a bite wound, parasite invasion, or your pet self-scratching on something.
Just under the skin abscesses are fairly typical in bearded dragons.
The abscess will be identified by your reptile veterinarian, who will then surgically remove it while flushing out any infection.
Food In Throat
mouth bugle
Bearded dragons, like birds, have the capacity to store food in their throats, albeit it is not a reliable method for long-term food preservation.
Despite the fact that short-term storage is acceptable, it is vital to emphasize that this practice is relatively risky.
If you find that your bearded dragon is saving food, give it to it in smaller pieces while keeping an eye on how much it consumes. This will prevent you from overfeeding your pet to the point where it becomes unable to consume any more and is more likely to store food for later.
Cancer
Unfortunately, bearded dragons can develop cancer, with a recently discovered malignancy appearing more frequently in caged dragons.
GNT, a malignant cancer, is what it is (Gastric Neuroendocrine Carcinoma). They quickly spread throughout the body’s organs. Being new to the realm of veterinary medicine, there is sadly no established treatment at this time.
Beginning in the stomach, gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma quickly spreads to the liver, pancreas, and kidneys.
Indications that your bearded dragon may have GNT cancer include the following:
reduced or absent appetite
Loss of weight
Lethargy
Vomiting
cloacal bleeding
high amounts of blood sugar
Anemia
Younger bearded dragons are more frequently diagnosed with this malignancy.
Broken Bones
When handling a baby bearded dragon, use caution. Broken bones can occur when someone falls.
Because bearded dragons are curious and active, many pet owners give their reptiles time to play and explore outside of their enclosures.
Bearded dragons occasionally break a bone, whether through sliding from their basking platform or crashing from your sofa to the floor.
Swelling and possibly a lump are signs of broken bones.
Depending on the severity of the break, bearded dragon broken bones might take four weeks to three months to mend.
If you suspect your pet has a fractured bone, it is advised that you always take them to the vet to be examined.
Impaction
Impaction, a severe form of constipation that affects many bearded dragons, is a highly serious condition.
A bulge between the vertebrae on your pet’s back may indicate impaction, and a bloated stomach may also be present.
Your pet can start to look unwell and start to lose weight. In addition to completely losing their appetite, bearded dragons with impaction frequently regurgitate their food, which is abnormal.
Impaction typically happens when there is a blockage in your pet’s stomach. This can be brought on by them consuming substrate while they are looking for food or by them eating anything that is too large for them to digest.
When you see impaction symptoms, give your bearded dragon a warm bath.
It is advised to give your bearded dragon a warm bath for up to fifteen minutes, as well as giving them a light belly rub, to stimulate your pet to poop.
While you wait for your appointment with the vet, you should take a warm bath. Keep in mind that impaction is quite harmful and can be fatal if ignored.
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