The taste of the water is unpalatable and it will increase bacteria (Stahl and Donoghue 2010). Dragons require high temperature for proper feed digestion so temperature of vivarium should be high enough to proper utilization of feed in intestine (heat lamps orlight generated heat source can be used as if needed) Should be given free access to water to avoid dehydration. Avoid supplements containing Vitamin A; opt for beta carotene instead. OR do i have to take him to an animal hospital or reptile veterinarian? It cant be metabolic bone disease cuz i dust his crickets every meal which is twice a day every day. Keeping them on a regular feeding schedule can help identify digestion issues. Diehl, J. J. E., Baines, F. M., Heijboer, A. C., van Leeuwen, J. P., Kik, M., Hendriks, W. H., & Oonincx, D. G. A. Calcium Supplements. The effects of hypocalcemia mostly involve the muscles being more excitable. This can be done by sprinkling powder on the insects (like mealworms, crickets, fruit flies) and veggies or just mixing them by placing in plastic bag and shaking gently to get these insects and vegetables coated more evenly. Why they need it, what happens if you give them too much, and the best sources of calcium are things that many new owners cant answer. Many bearded dragons end up with preventable diseases through lack of understanding the basics of calcium and D3 supplementation. Like the product above, the Repta Calcium powder also contains D3 to allow your bearded dragon to absorb the calcium properly. They may even walk strangely and significantly less. As a rule of thumb, a Vitamin D3 supplement can be safely provided about two to three times a week. Kindly take your bearded dragon to an experienced vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Youll also want to make sure theyre getting enough protein in addition to the right amount of calcium. Dusting salad and insects with a high-quality calcium and D3 supplement is the most effective. Your pet bearded dragon needs sufficient calcium and vitamin D3 for its growth. Most commonly, the cause is a hard substrate such as sand, or chitin shells of insects that are too hard to digest, such as beetles or mealworms. So the early symptoms of calcium deficiency are diverse, and often easily mistaken for other problems. Bearded Dragon Calcium Overdose. One setback to using calcium powder: it can be a messy business. Effects of a light-emitting diode on the production of cholecalciferol and associated blood parameters in the bearded dragon (pogona vitticeps). Schmidt et al (2017) conducted a survey on 529 bearded dragons presented to three different exotic animal clinics in Central Europe. Learn more. When you combine that with any other calcium-related efforts, you could end up with an overdose. It can lead to many health problems and, in severe cases, death. Metabolic bone disease (also known as nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism or fibrous osteodystrophy) refers to a group of painful skeletal illnesses caused by a calcium deficiency in the body. Choose a powder that has a reputation for sticking to insects. To dust your insects, place them in an airtight container with the calcium powder and shake them thoroughly. This is most effectively done through powder, so thats what well speak to in this section. One case where you may want to select a liquid supplement over a powder would be if your dragon steadily refuses to eat or finish her food. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inadequate UVB exposure and heat for calcium absorption, Excessive levels of vitamin A which competes with vitamin D, High phosphorus diet or improper calcium to phosphorus ratio. Keep reading to learn how to save your bearded dragon from this potentially fatal disease. If you notice any signs of discomfort in your bearded dragon, it could be that they are in pain. What initially started as curiosity quickly turned into a deep passion for herpetology, and a connection with the reptile community as a whole. This is a much similar but more severe disorder to that of osteoporosis in humans. Outside of the calcium already provided in the foods naturally, you can give your bearded dragon calcium by: Another means to give your bearded dragon calcium is to provide bone meal tablets (small or crushed) or powder (Stahl and Donoghue 2010). Treatment. Technically supplements can be given by injection, but this would usually only be in the case of a vet treating a dragon for metabolic bone disease or another condition which would require such an intervention. (2018). When a reptile is exposed to sunlight or UVB, the calcium consumed is used to produce D3 which is used to build strong bones. Bearded dragons are a very popular pet and many people bathe. Be diligent in changing out your UVB lamps as per the manufacturers instructions. A diurnal lizard, bearded dragons are awake and active during the daytime. When giving your bearded dragon an overdose of calcium, you need a balance of vitamin D3 for your bearded dragon to digest the calcium in its body. Supplementing with calcium helps you have more control over how much calcium your dragon is actually consuming. Although this does provide Vitamin D3, its not quite the same as free range exposure to the Australian desert sun. They know how to regulate their internal temperature and arent always capable of doing so if the temperature is too hot or cold for them. Other symptoms include sneezing, refusing to eat, breathing quickly or taking shallow breaths, and acting tired along with fluid leaking from the eyes and nose. Yes, you can overdose using D3 and vitamins. Change the bulb in your dragons tank every six months or so, no later than every year. For one thing, bearded dragons are notoriously picky eaters. Thats because its just not possible to recreate an exact replica of a dragons natural habitat, although you can come close. Beta caroteneis a lot safer than Vitamin A because of the way your dragons body will absorb it. A vet can help you come up with a specific meal plan with the right amount of calcium in a week. Not to mention that in the wild, bearded dragons are exposed to many more types of foodinsects and plantsthan they ever would be in a domestic setting, so they invariably consume more calcium on a regular basis than they do in captivity. Its important to note that each of these should not be used on their own. Liquid supplements can be a little trickier because you typically have to offer them through a dropper, which your dragon may not enjoy. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. So we attempt to correct the imbalance with oral calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation. Now i dust once a day for 5 times a week. Additionally, a lack of calcium in a bearded dragons diet can cause severe health complications. Feeding your Dragon live Dubia Roaches makes mealtime an experience theyll be looking forward to each day. Unfortunately, MBD is one of the most common diseases among domestic bearded dragons, but its so easily preventable with. Also daily baths 20 minutes at a time will help if the urates are hard. Take caution not to provide too much calcium for your bearded dragon especially if you are supplying vitamin D3 supplements as well since they can overdose on calcium. I would back down on the calcium to once a day and see if it helps. Youll want the enclosure to be at 75-85 degrees fahrenheit during the day (24-29 celcius) with the basking spot between 88-100 degrees fahrenheit (31-38 celcius). Foods high in phosphorus should generally be avoided. Bearded dragons dont get calcium dusting in the wild but they are very good at converting UVB radiation (sunlight) into vitamin D3. Reptile medicine and surgery. Lethargy is often characterized by inactivity and unresponsiveness. Soft tissue mineralisation, muscle calcification and hardening of muscles occurs. Broccoli, Kale and Bok Choy are rich in calcium but also have high oxalate and goitrogen content that negatively affect their nutritional importance. Other sources for how bearded dragons get calcium in the wild include dried bones, snail shells and potentially chalky rock dust. Calcium deficiency is often accompanied by vitamin D3 deficiency. One of the most obvious issues youll notice is in their behavior, movements, and energy. Keep an eye out for any signs of illness. Reptile Direct is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Gravid females (due to their egg laying nature). Schmidt-Ukaj S., Hochleithner M., Richter B., Hochleithner C., Brandstetter D., Knotek Z. Vitamin D3 makes it possible for the dragons body to absorb calcium from their digestive system. This symptom isnt always easy to notice and can be very subtle. Nutritional deficiencies are a significant cause of MBD. Lamps below 290 nm are of no use for bearded dragons. We are not licensed veterinarians. Just like humans, calcium performs a wide array of bodily functions in bearded dragons. High levels of phosphorus cause harm. And if left unchecked, all of these health complications can lead to death. Check the ingredients of the food before supplementing. Symptoms of calcium overdose in beardies range from lethargic behavior to general weakness, constipation . Generally its safe to supplement calcium anywhere from a few times a week to once a day. If your bearded dragon is doing fine so far (aka not exhibiting any of the symptoms we mentioned above) then dont rush out and change everything. Read on to find out more about why Bearded Dragons need calcium, how to tell if . Their bones can become brittle as well. Calcium to phosphorus ratio is crucial to understand in the bearded dragons diet. Vitamin D3 is very important since it aids in the absorption of calcium. Its also best to check with a vet who will be able to determine the right amount. Calcium is an essential mineral for bearded dragons, and is important for their overall health. One of the most common ways this occurs is with a suboptimal light and habitat combination. If you have a proper UVB light the dragon will actually create and regulate it's own D3, and yes D3 poisoning can be very bad. 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). Yeates, J. 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