While hypercalcemia is super rare, its better to know the symptoms to watch out for in case you accidentally give them too much. Just like humans, calcium performs a wide array of bodily functions in bearded dragons. Reducing its intake will help reduce the amount of calcium the beardie absorbs into the bloodstream. The vet can still offer treatment, but the beardie may take a long time to recover. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/05/2022. 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). In a conversation on calcium, vitamin D cannot be left out. Hypercalcemia is considered mild when the total serum calcium level is between 10.5 and 12 mg/dl. Hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia are medical conditions that both have to do with the amount of calcium in your blood the difference is how much. 2017. Vitamin D3 given as a supplement orally is not as effective as it is from giving access to sunlight without any barriers between the UVB and the bearded dragon. Get Them Used to Your Scent. Discuss health questions, issues, problems, etc! MDText.com. A mistake people often make is not taking the time to research how much their beardie needs depending on their age and size. Although well-meaning, such actions can make the beardie suffer when it takes too much calcium. While leopard geckos in the wild have been shedding their skin without any problem, the same can't be said about leos in captivity. Fatigue. Bearded dragons can suffer from calcium deficiency, which is caused by an insufficient diet and/or not enough exposure to ultraviolet light. In prolonged cases, the beardie might die due to calcium overdose. Treatment and prevention Diagnosis involves looking at the patient's history, clinical signs, radiograph (X-rays), bloodwork, including those that measure blood calcium level, among other tests. It's really only available at a few centers across the country. Hypercalcemia. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. On this site you will find articles that cover everything you need to know about your reptile pet! When they are placed on the back the light can glare into their eyes too much & the UVB is not going directly onto them but bounces around too much. A regular vet isnt going to be as knowledgeable. Frances Baines (MRCVS). There is a serious health risk associated with MBD for bearded dragons, and they should be kept well away from it. My parents have a cockatiel who is 36 years old this year. Avoid foods such as spinach, beetroot and rhubarb leaves. 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279129/. See the post on setting up lighting and heating for more information. This isnt limited to just calcium; your beardie may also need other nutrients to stay healthy such as vitamin D and multivitamins. It may vary from one brand to another depending on the calcium contents in the products. In mild cases of hypercalcemia, your healthcare provider may tell you to: If the hypercalcemia is due to an overactive parathyroid gland, your provider will most likely recommend surgery to have the overactive parathyroid gland(s) removed. The liver metabolises vitamin D2 into 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, and vitamin D3 into 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/hypercalcemia. Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer that starts in bone marrow) Your cancer or the treatment . Without Vitamin D3 over intake, hypercalcemia is less likely to occur. AskMayoExpert. With calcium powder, it is easier to measure the correct amount and less likely to get confused. Some products on the market contain both calcium and vitamin D3. If they do not receive adequate bone nutrition, they may develop metabolic bone disease, which is painful and sometimes fatal. This could give an explanation as to how bearded dragons get calcium in the wild, at least for these specimens. Almost 19% of the bearded dragons had musculoskeletal disorders with the most prevalent being osteodystrophy and limb fractures. Hypercalcemia is caused by: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. More-severe cases produce signs and symptoms related to the parts of your body affected by the high calcium levels in your blood. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine,23(4), 369-379. And most often, it's just one of them that develops a tumor of it. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of If your bearded dragon exhibits any of these symptoms, you should seek veterinary care immediately. Select foods that can improve the Ca:P ratio and that dont have high levels of anti-nutrients that can block absorption. Depending on their age and size, In addition to . Too much calcium in your blood can weaken your bones, create kidney stones, and interfere with how your heart and brain work. Give them a light dusting and feed them. Its also important to note that weakness can be a sign of the enclosure being too hot or too cold. Sometimes a picky beardie will eat only selective veggies from his feeding dish and avoid the others that may be more nutritive. The best calcium for Bearded Dragons should be a high-quality calcium supplement specifically designed for reptiles. Hypercalcemia can lead to weakness, lethargy, vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite. Your First Bearded Dragon Care Information. Metabolic Bone Disease, also known as MBD, is a common health problem in captive bearded dragons. Headaches. In addition, such an assessment provides room for you further to understand the perfect diet specific to your beardie. All bearded dragons require calcium, and supplementation with calcium powder is the best way to ensure they get enough. Feingold KR, et al, eds. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which Your body normally carefully controls the level of calcium in your blood, but certain medications and conditions can result in high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia). 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. Examples include: Contact your doctor if you develop signs and symptoms that might indicate hypercalcemia, such as being extremely thirsty, urinating frequently and having abdominal pain. Companion animal care and welfare: The UFAW companion animal handbook. Alternatively, you can buy a UV meter to the UVB output of the lamp. Your tank though is excellent, it looks very nice. Cusack, L., Rivera, S., Lock, B., Benboe, D., Brothers, D., & Divers, S. (2017). How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! Lethargy A bearded dragon can become lethargic for various reasons, including calcium overdose. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice. Being able to identify unusual behavior is essential for noticing hypercalcemia. Stop taking or lower your dose of calcium-rich antacid tablets. A. Hypercalcemia is frequently encountered by primary care physicians. Your parathyroid glands are located behind your thyroid gland in your neck. The condition known as metabolic bone disorder (MBD) is potentially fatal to bearded dragons. More severe and/or long-term cases of hypercalcemia may cause the following symptoms: More frequent urination and thirst. In: Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, et al, editors. With mild cases of hypercalcemia, the vet will recommend a diet specific to the beardie. Bearded Dragons require a lot of calcium in their diet to stay healthy and strong. Too little (hypocalcemia) or too much (hypercalcemia) calcium can cause problems with both the growth and the strength of a bearded dragon's bones. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Add calcium rich foods to the diet. If their UV light exposure is limited or interrupted, Vitamin D3 supplementation is advised to ensure that they receive the recommended amount. Oxalic and phytic acids bind to calcium making it unavailable. If you own a bearded dragon, you can take a few simple steps to ensure that his or her health is not jeopardized. NO Roommates. Below, we will explore more on hypercalcemia in bearded dragons, its causes, signs, and more to help you as the pet owner know how to avoid it or detect it early enough and thus provide your pet with ultimate living conditions. Prognosis, like treatment, depends on the cause and severity of hypercalcemia. This diet is not necessarily good for the insects health. Has he been brumating or trying to brumate right now? kidney stones. The professional will assess the health status of the lizard and verify the underlying problem. Lamps below 290 nm are of no use for bearded dragons. Bearded Dragons skin naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to UVB. You should sprinkle calcium powder lightly over their food every day, and you should keep an eye on their weight and activity level to ensure they get the amount of calcium they need. Proper lighting and a balanced diet is the best way to prevent hypercalcemia. Dehydration can decrease the level of nutrients absorbed. UVB radiations of only 280-320 nm wavelengths are useful for bearded dragons for vitamin D production in their skin. 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. If they are fed, feed in small portions alternating with other foods. It is crucial to adhere to the recommendation and take your pet for review once the period is over. Drinking plenty of water: Staying hydrated may lower blood calcium levels, and it can help prevent kidney stones. Yes, you must provide calcium for your bearded dragon. Gut loading insects for bearded dragons is another useful method to feed a highly nutritious diet with calcium supplements. A microscopic view of metabolic bone disease Metabolic bone disease (MBD) in bearded dragons is a condition that causes their bones to form improperly. (2018) Maders Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery- E-Book. Patients with mild hypercalcemia are often asymptomatic. These tests allow healthcare providers to detect abnormally high calcium levels early. They end up not being able to move around as easily without experiencing pain and stiffness in their body. 5 Levels higher than 14 mg per dL (3.5 mmol per L) can be life . Hypercalcemia happens when you have higher-than-normal levels of calcium in your blood. Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changesCole Eye entrance closingVisitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Notice of Intelligent Business Solutions data eventLearn more. Bearded dragons may be fed calcium with or without vitamin D3. 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. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. As a matter of interest, unlike most other feeders, soldier fly larvae have a higher calcium to phosphorus ratio (Divers 2018). Environmental factors like UVB lighting and heat including amount of exposure to direct sunlight versus artificial UVB. B., Leeuwen, J. P. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? Bearded dragons do not need regular visits to the vet as much as other pets such as cats and dogs do. (5 weight loss tips), My Bearded Dragon died, emotional moments. 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). Constipation. The best way to give your dragon calcium is by dusting their food with calcium powder 3-5 times per week. Your pet will act lazy and generally exhibit reduced movement and activity in the cage. Symptoms due to high calcium level may vary, depending on the cause and how long the problem has been present. 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