Respiratory infections are a common health issue for pet bearded dragons. Also known as upper respiratory infections (URIs), they occur when bacteria builds up in a dragon’s lungs, usually due to excess moisture in their habitat. If left untreated, respiratory infections can be fatal. As a bearded dragon owner, it’s crucial to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for respiratory infections so you can get your pet the care they need.
What Causes Respiratory Infections in Bearded Dragons?
There are a few key factors that can make a bearded dragon prone to developing a respiratory infection:
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Incorrect temperatures or humidity Bearded dragons thrive in hot, dry environments If the temperature drops too low or the humidity gets too high in their habitat, it creates optimal conditions for bacterial growth in their lungs Ideal temperatures range from 95-110°F on the basking side and humidity should stay below 40%.
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Substrate issues: Certain substrates like mulch or bark can retain moisture and harbor mold or bacteria. Reptile carpeting, tile, or shelf liner make better options.
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Poor bathing practices: Water getting into a dragon’s vent during baths can cause aspiration pneumonia. Keep water levels low and monitor them closely.
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Stress: Changes to their environment or routine can stress dragons and weaken their immune systems. Try to minimize handling and changes when possible.
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Vitamin deficiencies: Inadequate vitamin D3, calcium, and other nutrients can make a dragon more vulnerable to infections. Make sure their diet includes proper supplementation.
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Underlying illness: Viruses, parasites, or fungal infections can damage lung tissue and allow secondary bacterial infections to take hold. Have any illness diagnosed and treated promptly.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Respiratory Infections
Watch for these common signs of respiratory infection in bearded dragons
- Labored, open-mouth breathing
- Gaping, puffing out the throat
- Black beard more than usual
- Wheezing, coughing, sneezing
- Bubbling or discharge from the nose/mouth
- Lethargy and loss of appetite
- Swelling around the eyes, neck, or chest
- Weight loss
Symptoms may come on slowly or suddenly if aspiration pneumonia occurs. Seek veterinary care right away if your bearded dragon shows any concerning signs of respiratory distress.
How to Treat a Bearded Dragon’s Respiratory Infection
Only a veterinarian can definitively diagnose and properly treat a respiratory infection in bearded dragons. However, you may be advised to try these measures at home:
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Raise temperatures: Increase the basking area by 3-5°F to help dry out the habitat.
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Adjust humidity Use a dehumidifier to keep levels below 40%
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Hydrate: Give oral fluids to prevent dehydration. Unflavored Pedialyte works well.
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Assist drainage: Position your dragon with the head tilted downward to allow discharge to drain out.
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Nebulize: Use a nebulizer with saline to help loosen mucus. Ask your vet about proper technique.
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Antibiotics: Oral or injectable antibiotics will likely be prescribed for several weeks. Give all medication as directed.
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Follow up visits: Your vet will want to monitor your dragon’s improvement with repeat exams and labs. Don’t stop medication early.
With aggressive treatment, many dragons fully recover from respiratory infections. However, sometimes permanent lung damage occurs. Work closely with your exotic veterinarian for the best outcome.
How to Prevent Respiratory Infections in Bearded Dragons
Stop respiratory infections before they start by keeping your bearded dragon’s habitat clean and environment optimized.
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Maintain proper temperatures and humidity levels consistently.
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Disinfect the tank monthly using a reptile-safe cleaner.
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Spot clean feces and urates daily.
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Use a suitable substrate like reptile carpet. Avoid bark or sand.
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Give baths sparingly and supervise closely.
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Ensure proper UVB lighting and replace bulbs every 6 months.
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Feed a balanced, vitamin-rich diet. Dust insects with calcium supplements.
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Quarantine new dragons for at least 30-60 days before introducing them.
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Avoid overcrowding dragons as it can spread disease.
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Minimize stressors like relocating enclosures or overhandling.
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Act quickly at the first signs of illness and see a qualified exotic vet.
Respiratory infections don’t have to be an inevitable part of owning a bearded dragon. Stay vigilant about your pet’s environment and health, and seek prompt veterinary care if symptoms arise. With attentive husbandry and care, you can help your beloved dragon live a long and healthy life.
Treatment of Respiratory Infections in Reptiles
Veterinarians alter the treatment of respiratory disease depending on the root cause of infection. However, veterinarians often cannot find a particular reason for the pet’s illness. In these cases, veterinarians may administer the following drugs:
- Antibiotics (i.e., enrofloxacin, ceftazidime)
- Anti-parasitic drugs (i.e., ivermectin)
- Anti-fungal medications (i.e., itraconazole)
Often, treatments are injectable, not oral, due to easier administration and better absorption in reptiles. Some pathogens, especially some viruses, do not have a specific treatment. Supportive care and treatment to prevent secondary infections may be helpful in these cases. Supportive care includes fluid therapy, heat support, potential oxygen therapy, and improved husbandry.
Overall care plays a vital role in the recovery of respiratory infections. Temperature is crucial for a successful recovery. Improper temperatures allow pathogens to replicate more efficiently while also causing the reptile additional stress and decreased healing abilities.
Veterinarians often encourage pet parents to keep their sick reptiles on the higher end of their temperature range during healing. Pet parents and veterinarians should work together to determine any changes required in the pet’s diet and environment.
Proper husbandry cannot be stressed enough for reptile species successful recovery and long-term survival. While there is no proven or recommended home remedy to treat upper respiratory infections in reptiles, proper husbandry can prevent most respiratory infections.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Respiratory Infections in Reptiles
Veterinarians will require a thorough history, including a detailed list of the reptile’s husbandry which may aid in the diagnosis. Veterinarians may suspect respiratory infections based on the physical exam alone, specifically nasal and oral discharge and louder breathing noises.
Typically, the next diagnostic step to diagnose respiratory illness involves radiographs (X-rays.) Veterinarians use radiographs to examine the inside of the body and look for changes consistent with fluid, masses, inflammation, or other signs of infection within the lung tissues.
Routine blood work (complete blood count and blood chemistry) and a fecal sample evaluation are also beneficial in determining other underlying conditions that may complicate a pet’s recovery. Respiratory pathogen testing, such as PCR testing, can identify the DNA of specific pathogens.
Some reptiles require sedation to safely obtain routine diagnostics, which can be dangerous in a critically ill patient. If it is safe for the reptile, most veterinarians will attempt to obtain blood work and radiographs without sedation. However, if the pet becomes too stressed for these procedures, mild sedatives or complete anesthesia may be the best option.
While routine testing does not always require sedation, other diagnostics require deep levels of sedation and anesthesia. Such diagnostics include lung washes, which involve intubating the pet and flushing the lungs with sterile saline. During this process, veterinarians collect samples deep within the respiratory tract for analysis, including cytology and culture. PCR testing may be utilized from these samples, as well.
To obtain a diagnosis in more complicated cases, veterinarians can use advanced imaging, such as CT, MRI, TEM, and bronchoscopy. These procedures require sedation and anesthesia.
How to Cure a Respiratory Infection in Lizards
FAQ
Can a bearded dragon survive a respiratory infection?
I haven’t gone through this personally but I have friends who have. The good news is all of the beardies I know of who got proper vet treatment and antibiotics went on to make a full recovery! Left untreated RI can certainly be fatal, but the prognosis is good for beardies who are being treated!
What to do if a lizard has a respiratory infection?
Prepare a shallow bath consisting of 1/2 water and 1/2 electrolyte solution. Soak your dragon for about 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Reptiles can absorb the electrolytes and fluids through their vents (where droppings pass out), so make the water deep enough to cover the vent. Be sure to supervise closely.
What are the three signs of a respiratory infection?
Check if you have a respiratory tract infection
sneezing. a stuffy or runny nose. a sore throat. headaches.
What is the most common cause of death in bearded dragons?
Impaction is one of the conditions that frequently causes the death of bearded dragons. In the case of a major impaction, the animal will not be very mobile, and one or both back legs may appear paralyzed. If the impaction is higher in the digestive track, the front legs may also be paralyzed.