Journal of Endocrinology: 64-81. After all, isnt it the job of the Dragon Keeper to recreate the natural environment of their bearded dragon to the best of their ability? B. G., Heijboer, A. C., van Leeuwen, J. P. T. M., Hendriks, J. P. & Kik, M. (2013). Symptoms of calcium overdose in beardies range from lethargic behavior to general weakness, constipation . That is for you and your vet to determine. Bearded dragons can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings even if they look healthy and clean. Calcium is essential for growth in bearded dragons. Drinking plenty of water: Staying hydrated may lower blood calcium levels, and it can help prevent kidney stones. Because of this, we feel confident recommending the following two bearded dragon calcium powders. It is a serious condition that can be avoided with proper care. For bearded dragons kept indoors, buy calcium powders with cholecalciferol, also known as vitamin D3. Should you offer supplementsif so, powdered or liquid? Its also best to check with a vet who will be able to determine the right amount. But what if the light is too close? The Bearded Dragon is a well-known lizard and currently considered one of the best pet lizards. As a generalisation, the recommendation of numerous veterinarians, researchers and herpetologists, suggest you should give your bearded dragon calcium and vitamin D3 supplement as follows: Shortest answer is yes you should give your bearded dragon D3 (cholecalciferol). When you combine that with any other calcium-related efforts, you could end up with an overdose. Companion animal care and welfare: The UFAW companion animal handbook. 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. Calcium is nothing to your dragon without Vitamin D3. While a domesticated bearded dragon is more likely to live longer than a wild one, theyre still missing out on crucial nutrients for proper growth and development that they normally get from their natural habitat. . Is it possible that it is a result of eating the smallest size crickets from the pet store which are only about like 1/2-3/4 inch while my Shadow needs around 1/4 inch? Of course, the exception would be a dragon who has metabolic bone disease or another condition which would require a more intense supplement regimen. Change the bulb in your dragons tank every six months or so, no later than every year. 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). However, one of the most important items in a bearded dragon's diet is calcium. Being transparent (such as glass) does not mean it allows UVB rays to pass through it. Its important to note that each of these should not be used on their own. This isnt limited to just calcium; your beardie may also need other nutrients to stay healthy such as vitamin D and multivitamins. A bearded dragon's growth is considered juvenile as it approaches the age of five months or 18 months. Frances Baines (MRCVS). Sometimes bearded dragon owners unintentionally give their pets too much calcium. Note: The above-listed signs can also apply to other health complications in bearded dragons. In severe cases, a bearded dragon may suffer from paralysis, twitches, and seizures. In the right environment, bearded dragons can move in and out of the UVB light as they need it. Schmidt et al (2017) conducted a survey on 529 bearded dragons presented to three different exotic animal clinics in Central Europe. Leafy greens are a great source of calcium for bearded dragons, especially the following options: Other foods that can boost your dragons calcium intake: Calcium and Vitamin D3 play an important role in your dragons overall health and wellness. Exposure to ultraviolet light is required for the formation of Vitamin D3. (2) Beardies need vitamin D3 to use phosphorus and calcium in their bodies to reinforce bone health. Together they are referred to as calcifediol. We know tons of owners who swear by this powder, and weve had great success with it as well. And if left unchecked, all of these health complications can lead to death. This is because supplemental Vitamin A can quickly rise to toxic levels in bearded dragons, resulting in illness that includes vomiting, weight loss, and loss of energy. 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. Bearded dragons cant metabolize calcium without vitamin D3. Toxic bugs and plants can cause the quick death of a bearded dragon. #3. These germs can easily spread to their bodies and anything in the area where they live and roam. Add vitamin D3 for bearded dragons into the mix and it might start to sound a little confusing. Watson, M. K., & Mitchell, M. A. UVB radiations of only 280-320 nm wavelengths are useful for bearded dragons for vitamin D production in their skin. Their bones can become brittle as well. Rep-Cal Phosphorous-Free Calcium with Vitamin D Ultrafine Powder. (2014). Another issue Dragon Keepers wonder about is exactly how often they need to provide supplements with calcium and Vitamin D3. This particularly applies when the bearded dragon is on a calcium-rich diet. Avoid any calcium powder that has phosphorus in it. Resulting most frequently from a lack of calcium and/or Vitamin D3, MBD can be life threatening if left unattended. Calcium, alongside vitamin D3, is arguably the most essential nutrient to bearded . For tricks of the trade (so to speak) to get your bearded dragon to eat greens see the post on. Read on to find out more about why Bearded Dragons need calcium, how to tell if . Yes, feeding your bearded dragon calcium is part of the current recommended good husbandry practices and it will contribute to the prevention of hypocalcemia. This is a much similar but more severe disorder to that of osteoporosis in humans. Elsevier Health Sciences. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This is why youll see these talked about in tandem throughout this article. Divers, S. J., & Mader, D. R. Calcium is critical for bone growth and maintenance as well as muscle function in bearded dragons and without high levels of this nutrient, they are likely to suffer from illnesses such as metabolic bone disease (MBD).. Provide them with the necessary light, a good diet, and a little bit of calcium powder. There are a couple of ways to go about this: You probably would have preferred I gave you an outright amount. The exact content of the bone meal tablets varies with manufacturer. 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). Depending on the age of a beardie, they may require more or less for growth purposes. If calcium isnt something you havent been paying much attention to, its likely the opposite. Bearded dragons are susceptible to calcium overdoses, which can lead to a variety of symptoms including lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite, and twitching. You probably wont be a Dragon Keeper for very long without hearing how vital calcium is for bearded dragons' health and wellbeing. Most often, symptoms associated with weak and soft limbs indicate a low calcium and or/vitamin D3 in your bearded dragon's body. Since bearded dragons should be getting 12 hours of UVB exposure a day, they dont necessarily need this supplement on a daily basis. Nonetheless, it is important to identify the exact factors that contribute to the development of the disease. John Wiley & Sons. Calcium to phosphorus ratio is crucial to understand in the bearded dragons diet. Bearded dragons dont poop too often, to begin with, but as their owner, youre likely aware of how often your beardie defecates on a regular basis. Lethargy is often characterized by inactivity and unresponsiveness. It contains 8% calcium and 1% magnesium to promote a strong bone structure. You can also use a live feeder that is higher in calcium, like black soldier fly larvae, and cut out the calcium supplementing entirely. 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. 4. In fact, in this article alone we will be discussing 17 bearded dragon diseases, health concerns, and illnesses that all owners should be aware of!. Reptile medicine and surgery. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Expert Tip: If you coat the food in too much powder your bearded dragon might decide not to eat it. Hypercalcemia will result in your bearded dragon becoming sick and, in some cases, it is fatal. De Vosjoil, P., Sommella, T. M., Mailloux, R., Donoghue, S., & Klingenberg, R. J. The best way to give your dragon calcium is by dusting their food with calcium powder 3-5 times per week. 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). Calcium Supplements. Ask your vet how much water is recommended for your bearded dragon's situation, and make sure the water bowl isn't too deep. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice. This is a powder that we recommend giving a little extra love before using it. The Surprising Answer, Do Bearded Dragons Eat Their Shed? Some links on this site are paid services or products which contain affiliate links such as Amazon. Bones and muscles. Refer to this post on how much light they need. Bone resorption causes bone tissue to release minerals such as calcium to the blood.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'reptilemaniac_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-reptilemaniac_com-banner-1-0'); An increased concentration of calcium in the blood can impact the health of your bearded dragon in several ways. If you don't have a mercury vapor bulb (think of the REALLY strong, high-priced reptile bulbs, such as the . Providing too much calcium and vitamin D3 supplements to your bearded dragon can cause hypercalcemia. After all, the bearded dragon diet should be omnivorous and should . The effects of hypocalcemia mostly involve the muscles being more excitable. Almost 19% of the bearded dragons had musculoskeletal disorders with the most prevalent being osteodystrophy and limb fractures. Hypercalcemia also causes the muscles to become sore. Hypercalcemia is seen in bearded dragons with excessive exposure to UVB light along with excessive oral supplementation with calcium and vitamin D3. Environmental factors like UVB lighting and heating, Biological stage of the animal, i.e. Overdosing lowers the use of fat, protein and minerals like zinc, iodine, manganese, iron and phosphorus. Dust insects, they are naturally low in calcium. Check your lighting and heating setup against the post on setting up lighting and heating. What calcium-rich foods are good for your bearded dragon? The table below shows general estimates of how much the average bearded dragon would need: Age Dosage Frequency Baby bearded dragons Daily Juvenile bearded dragons One dose 3-4 times per week Adult dragons One dose per week. The first signs of MBD are: stunted growth; a rounded skull, especially when viewed from the side; lack of appetite Vitamins And Your Beardies. Pet dragons primarily get Vitamin D3 through proper UVB lighting in their tank as well as exposure to natural sunlight (this means exposure to natural sunlight outside, not necessarily through a window; its actually dangerous to keep your dragons tank by a window due to risk of burns). Vitamin D3 is very important since it aids in the absorption of calcium. Manyexperienced Dragon Keepers will recommend providing your beardie with a multivitamin in addition to calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements. It can be very dangerous and even lead to death if not properly cared for. Bearded Dragons require an ultraviolet light to be fully healthy (and when combined with calcium supplements helps to prevent Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism and Metabolic Bone Disease). Calcium assists in bone development, muscle health, and reproductive health. Vitamin D3 makes it possible for the dragons body to absorb calcium from their digestive system. This is because vitamin D3 is necessary in order for your bearded dragon to absorb the calcium. I would back down on the calcium to once a day and see if it helps. Second is, provide UVB bulbs in your bearded dragons housing. So its always best to check with a vet first before starting any supplementation. Remember, kale is about 90 percent water. One reason it's important to be educated on bearded dragon health concerns, is because your beardie will hide symptoms. A comparison of UV b compact lamps in enabling cutaneous vitamin D synthesis in growing bearded dragons. Risk of Hypercalcemia. Its mentioned on care sheets, forums, and in pet stores all the time. Elsevier Health Sciences. Select foods that can improve the Ca:P ratio and that dont have high levels of anti-nutrients that can block absorption. This will allow your bearded dragon to digest it more efficiently, and reduce the risk of any GI issues that lumpy powders can cause. Calcium has lots of important roles in a healthy bearded dragon. When taking care of a pregnant bearded dragon, you must provide plenty of calcium. Vitamin D3 makes it possible for the dragons body to absorb calcium from their digestive system. Some of the symptoms of MBD are as follows: Bumps that you can see or feel in the legs. JavaScript is disabled. While this isnt always a surefire sign that the problem is a calcium overdose, loss of appetite can be related to another issue. growing, gravid, The amount of calcium that sticks to the food, Ineffective or absent gut loading of insects, Amount of phosphorus o Level of anti-nutrients that can bind calcium (oxalates) or decrease absorption (phytic acid), Keep diets low in phosphorus and calcium binding oxalates and phytates. Always check with your vet before determining supplements. Thx, Too much calcium can be just as bad as too little. Avoid excess sodium (salt) intake. Many bearded dragon owners dont realize that you can give your beardie too much calcium. Expert Tip: You might also see other issues arise like seizures and constipation. Heat. Avoid foods such as spinach, beetroot and rhubarb leaves. Here are a few tips to combat this issue: Pro Tip: Your dragon may not eat her food if it's too heavily dusted, so it's best to keep it on the light side. This can prolong the lifespan of your bearded dragon. In general, leafy greens tend to pack quite a punch when it comes to calcium. The accumulation of calcium salts in arteries and veins can limit blood flow to critical organs such as the brain. This guide will teach you the fundamentals of why bearded dragons need calcium, how to provide it to them (with our powder recommendations), the way other factors influence how much they need, and much more! Sufficient exposure to UVB light, is necessary. You should contact a vet immediately if you suspect a respiratory issue. Since bearded dragons should be getting 12 hours of UVB exposure a day, they dont necessarily need this supplement on a daily basis. Too much phosphorus or oxalates (oxalic acid) in the diet, Poor lighting, causing a Vitamin D3 deficiency. Can Bearded Dragons Eat Romaine Lettuce? See the frequency for dusting (feeding calcium) further down this post. Avocados, daffodils, rhubarbs, and azaleas are some of the toxic plants to your bearded dragon. #2. multiple hours per week), oral D3 supplementation should be reduced or not fed at all. Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles, and as such, their diet consists of a wide variety of items. Much calcium up with an overdose every six months or so, powdered or liquid D! Are as follows: Bumps that you can see or feel in the,... Immediately if you coat the food in too much powder your bearded dragon constipation... Of five months or 18 months is on a daily basis any other efforts... In pet stores all the time tend to pack quite a punch it! 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