Why is my bearded dragon breathing with mouth open and puffing air?

Thanks for reaching out about Drago. Check and correct husbandry including environmental temperature and UVB exposure. If too cold, metabolic, appetite and immune systems are suppressed. Try offering vegetables by hand or pureed through a syringe. Open mouth breathing could be a respiratory infection, enlarged internal organ or metabolic concern. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. A diagnosis early in the problem, usually has a better prognosis. Good luck.

If you suspect a URI, have her seen by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet for confirmation and treatment. Additional symptoms include wheezing or popping sounds while breathing, lethargy, decreased or lost appetite and discharge from the nose or mouth. You are correct in that prey that is too large is also a potential cause. Feed prey that is no bigger than the space between her eyes to ensure she will not have difficulty eating. If mealworms are offered, feed only freshly mooted ones to decrease the amount of chitin ingested. This can pose a problem for juvenile beardies.

He should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian. The symptoms described may indicate a respiratory infection. The vet can confirm or rule out this possibility then dispense antibiotics if necessary. In the meantime, increase ambient temperature by about 5-10 degrees F to aid in recovery. Make sure he stays hydrated and continues to eat normally.

Thanks for reaching out about Anastasia and including photos. By the pictures she appears very thin and pliable. Metabolic bone disease (calcium deficiency) would be a primary concern. This could be due to inappropriate diet, lack of UVB radiation, too low temperature or metabolic disorders to prevent intestinal absorption. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The open mouth breathing could be due to muscle weakness, pneumonia, as well as other problems. Good luck.

Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Monitor Drogon for difficulty breathing, blowing bubbles, lethargy, or odd sounds while breathing. These are symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. Parasites or URI may cause the condition you are seeing. Bump cage temps up by about 5F for a few days. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte twice daily for 15-20 minutes. Make sure the UVB light source is not older than 6 months and use quality vitamin and mineral supplements. If Drogon gets worse or does not begin eating soon, have him examined by an experienced herp veterinarian.

Confirm proper temperature and humidity. Incorrect environmental parameters may lead to respiratory infections. Provide adequate UVB lighting or unfiltered sunlight also. UVB light is critical to vitamin D metabolism and general health. Dragons cannot vomit and coughing may indicate an upper respiratory infection. This can be serious if not treated appropriately and promptly. Legally, we are prohibited from providing doses for medications in the absence of a physical exam and VPCR (veterinarian-patient-client relationship). Your veterinarian should be able to consult with a reptile specialist via phone or online and can then dispense or administer medication if indicated. You can review dragon care at the link below. www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

Thanks for reaching out about June and including a photo. By the photo, the mandible is dropped and am having concerns she is having difficulty using the jaw or tongue, resulting in inability to swallow saliva. Calcium or vitamin A deficiencies, or a trauma could be the cause. A visit to the veterinarian is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Check environmental temperature and UVB exposure, as UVB bulbs need to be changed every 6 months. Good luck.