Bearded dragons are susceptible to several diseases; understanding these diseases may help you prevent them from occurring in your pet and know when to seek veterinary attention. In addition to the diseases listed in this handout, bearded dragons are susceptible to other health problems —see the handout “Bearded Dragons – Problems” for more information.
Bearded dragons are amazing pets that can live 10-15 years when properly cared for. However, like any pet they can develop health issues. One concern many bearded dragon owners have is coughing. Coughing may sound like a human condition but bearded dragons can make sounds that resemble coughing. This article will explore the possible causes and treatments for bearded dragon coughing to help you provide the best care for your scaly friend.
Can Bearded Dragons Actually Cough?
While bearded dragons don’t have lungs like humans, they can force air out of their mouths in a way that sounds like coughing to us. However true coughing requires specialized anatomical structures that reptiles lack.
Bearded dragons have salt glands in their nasal passages that help them absorb water and expel excess salt. They often make noises that sound like coughing when they are cleaning out these glands. So that weird sound your bearded dragon is making is likely just its normal nasal/salt gland cleaning routine rather than an actual cough.
What Does Bearded Dragon Coughing Sound Like?
When a bearded dragon “coughs,” it may sound like a soft squeak or puff of air. You may also notice a slight head bobbing motion. Their beard may puff out a bit as well. It is usually a quick sound rather than prolonged coughing. Keep an eye out for other symptoms if you notice excessive coughing episodes.
Why Is My Bearded Dragon Coughing? Possible Causes
There are a few reasons why your bearded dragon may be making coughing or gagging noises:
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Eating: Bearded dragons can accidentally inhale some of their food, especially live insects. The coughing motion helps clear their throat.
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Drinking Just like with eating, bearded dragons can aspirate water, causing them to cough. Providing clean drinking water is essential, but can lead to occasional coughing
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Bathing: Water getting into their nasal passages during bath time can induce coughing. This is perfectly normal post-bath behavior.
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Respiratory infection: Chronic coughing/wheezing can be a sign of a respiratory infection. This is often caused by poor humidity or temperatures. Other symptoms may include discharge, mouth gaping, or lethargy. Respiratory infections require veterinary treatment.
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Irritation: Inhalation of smoke, dust, or other irritants can cause temporary coughing. Check your bearded dragon’s habitat for anything airborne that could cause irritation.
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Shedding: Some bearded dragons will cough up mucus before a shed. Unless other symptoms develop, this is nothing to worry about.
Pay attention to when the coughing occurs and if any other symptoms accompany it to help determine the cause. Occasional coughing immediately after eating or drinking is usually normal.
Can Bearded Dragons Get Human Colds?
No, bearded dragons cannot catch human colds or viruses. Viruses are species-specific, meaning they only infect certain types of animals. There are a few exceptions like rabies that can cross between warm-blooded species, but reptiles remain unaffected by human cold and flu viruses.
How To Treat Bearded Dragon Coughing
If your bearded dragon is displaying signs of a respiratory infection like frequent coughing, wheezing, discharge, or lethargy, they need to see a veterinarian for proper treatment. Antibiotics are required to clear respiratory infections.
You can help prevent respiratory infections by:
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Maintaining proper temperatures on the cool and warm ends of the habitat
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Keeping humidity within the ideal range of 20-40%
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Avoiding dusty substrates like sand
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Providing a hygienic habitat free of waste buildup
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Cleaning water bowls frequently
For occasional coughing after eating, drinking, or bathing, no treatment is needed. Just monitor your bearded dragon to ensure they return to normal. Seek medical attention if coughing persists or seems severe.
With attentive care and husbandry, bearded dragon owners can avoid issues like respiratory infections leading to chronic coughing. But if your bearded dragon does start coughing more than normal, contact your exotic vet right away for an examination and proper treatment. Acting quickly gives your bearded dragon the best chance at recovery.
The odd coughing noise from your bearded dragon is not necessarily anything to worry about. In most cases, it is just clearing their throat of something that went down the wrong way. But increased coughing episodes or coughing combined with other symptoms warrants a trip to the veterinarian to address a possible respiratory issue.
Knowing the possible reasons for bearded dragon coughing allows you to determine when it is normal vs. abnormal. Keep a close eye on environmental conditions like temperature and humidity that could lead to respiratory infections. And don’t hesitate to call your exotic vet if your bearded dragon shows signs of a respiratory illness requiring treatment. With prompt care, most bearded dragons fully recover and thrive once again.
What is a respiratory infection?
Respiratory infections, especially pneumonia, can occur in bearded dragons that are stressed, improperly fed, or kept in poor, cold, or dirty conditions. Respiratory tract infections may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Infections with any of the above diseases may weaken your bearded dragon’s immune system and allow bacteria to invade the respiratory tract. Affected lizards may sneeze, have discharge from their eyes or nose, bubbles from the mouth or nose, unnaturally rapid or shallow breathing, open-mouthed breathing, decreased appetite, and lethargy. These cases call for immediate attention and aggressive therapy from your bearded dragon’s veterinary team.
What is infectious stomatitis?
Infectious stomatitis (mouth rot) is not seen in bearded dragons as often as it is in other lizards, such as iguanas. It is a bacterial infection of the gums and/or jawbone that appears as pinpoint hemorrhages on the gums, gum swelling, or excessive thick mucus production. Oftentimes, a material resembling cottage cheese may be seen in the mouth. In advanced cases, infectious stomatitis can also cause swelling of the jaw when the infection invades the bones of the jaw.
Parasites, especially pinworms, motile protozoa (single-cell organisms), and coccidia (Isospora amphiboluri), are common in the intestinal tracts of pet bearded dragons. The pet may show no clinical signs or just mild loose stool formation. These parasites are diagnosed by a microscopic examination of the fecal material by a veterinarian. In advanced cases, parasites may cause foul-smelling feces, profuse diarrhea, and/or weight loss. Pinworms and several types of motile protozoa are common parasites that live within bearded dragons’ gastrointestinal tracts in small numbers. They are probably commensal organisms, in which the parasite benefits from living in the lizard while the lizard is neither harmed nor benefits from the parasite. Problems occur when there are excessive numbers of these intestinal parasites. Mites and ticks may be found on bearded dragons’ skin. These parasites are transmitted from other bearded dragons. They are often seen moving around, under or between scales, around the lizard’s head, and in skin folds.
Bearded dragon coughing
FAQ
What does it mean if your bearded dragon is coughing?
The most common things that cause this in beardies are aspiration of foreign material (bedding, calcium powder, food, etc.) or a respiratory infection. I would recommend that you increase his ambient temperature to the upper end of his thermal gradient, and also increase the ambient humidity.
How do I know if my bearded dragon has a respiratory infection?
- Respiratory Issues:
- Wheezing or rattling sounds: when breathing.
- Open-mouthed breathing: or panting.
- Rapid or shallow breathing .
- Discharge from the eyes or nose .
- Bubbles from the mouth or nose .
- Wheezing or rattling sounds: when breathing.
- General Signs of Illness:
- Lethargy or decreased activity .
- Decreased appetite or refusal to eat .
- Weight loss .
- Puffing up their throat .
- Lethargy or decreased activity .
- Other Possible Signs:
- Sneezing or snorting .
- Oral redness .
- Increased respiratory effort .
- Sneezing or snorting .
What are the symptoms of vitamin deficiency in bearded dragons?
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Symptoms:
- Muscle twitching
- Swollen legs
- Fragile bones
- Permanent deformities in limbs, jaw, spine, or tail
- Difficulty walking or moving normally
- Rigid muscles
- Inability to urinate/defecate
- Muscle twitching
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Causes:Inadequate calcium intake, insufficient vitamin D3 (needed for calcium absorption), or a poor calcium to phosphorus ratio in the diet.
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Prevention:Ensure proper UVB lighting for vitamin D3 synthesis, dust food with calcium powder (with vitamin D3) 2-3 times per week, and provide a balanced diet with adequate calcium and phosphorus.
What does it mean when a bearded dragon is gagging?
Bearded dragons can throw up or try to (gagging or wretching). This may be due to indigestion, GI impaction (food not moving through the gut), a spoiled food item, foreign material, high load of GI parasites (like Coccidia), dehydration, or toxic plant ingestion to name some.