FAQ: Health of Bearded Dragons

Is it normal for my Bearded Dragon to keep his mouth open?
Gaping is a way that they cool off. If he does it all the time your temps may be to hot or it could be an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). If he is gaping all the time, has a mucus around the mouth or nose or has difficulty breathing, get to a vet for a prescription of Baytril ASAP.

My Bearded Dragon sleeps standing up. Is this normal?
Just like children they will sleep in almost any position, don’t worry about it.

My Bearded Dragons tail came off, what do I do? Will it grow back?
It will not grow back. This is why you don’t pick your Bearded Dragon up by the tail. If your Bearded Dragon is with other Bearded Dragons, separate him. You can use an antibiotic cream to reduce chances of infection. If there is a lot of blood or persistent bleeding, get to a vet ASAP. If the break is close to the body go to a vet. If it does not star healing in a few days go to a vet.

Why is his beard black all the time? He seems agitated.
As long as he is still eating ok, it’s probably nothing to worry about. Sometimes they get excited at their reflection or if you have a dog or cat or other predator that scares them. Too much stress can cause loss of appetite as well as an increase in the level of internal parasites.

Do Bearded Dragons like water?
Most Bearded Dragons do like water and enjoy a misting or bath. I have found the best way to bathe them is to fill a “bath tub” for them. Give them a container on a slope. Put water in it so they have a deep end and a shallow end. That way they can submerge themselves as much as they like without the fear of drowning. You can even buy them a kiddy pool and put an island in it so they can swim around and then come out to bask. This is great with outdoor Bearded Dragons so they don’t overheat. Just make sure they still have a shady spot.

What could be causing my Bearded Dragon to throw up?
Bearded Dragons digest their food with the help of heat from a basking light. Poor digestion is normally associated with temperatures below 105-115F. It is also possible that the food items he is trying to eat are to large. Crickets should not be larger than the space between your Bearded Dragons eyes. To much food, especially meal worms and super worms can cause vomiting or worse. They can also cause impaction that leads to death. Anytime a Bearded Dragon throws up, it is a serious matter. They have bacteria in their stomach to help digest food. The loss of this “gut flora” makes it harder to digest food and so it needs to be replaced. A probiotic should always be given when a Bearded Dragon has digestive problems. Pedialyte is good to help rehydrate him and replace fluids.

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