Illnesses can compromise a bearded dragon’s respiratory system. Similar to other pets, we want to emphasize the fact that these domesticated lizards’ lungs can be unwell from time to time.
A bearded dragon’s respiratory system is among the significant parts of its body. Hence, we want to point out to bearded dragon owners that they should know how to properly respond when their reptile pet is ill.
Bearded dragon keepers who suspect that their tamed lizard has a respiratory infection may feel panicked. Additionally, they would normally want to determine precisely how their bearded dragon acquired the sickness adversely impacting its respiratory system.
In this discussion, we tackled the nature of the common infection in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system. We also explained the disease’s symptoms and why these domesticated reptiles acquire such illness.
We want to assist bearded dragon owners, especially the new ones, in properly responding when they notice that infection strikes their bearded dragon’s respiratory system.
Thus, we provided some useful information regarding veterinary assistance’s importance and some home remedies reptile pet keepers can perform to alleviate the inconvenience for their domesticated lizards.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Infection in a Bearded Dragon’s Respiratory System
Bearded dragons’ lungs cannot be in a healthy condition all the time, and they can become ill now and then. We want our readers not to panic upon learning this fact.
After all, infections in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system are a common health concern when keeping these lizards as domesticated home companions. These ailments involve a bacterial disease affecting a bearded dragon’s upper respiratory part.
Bearded dragons in the wild naturally try their best to hide any signs of weakness. We want to reiterate the fact that it is the very nature of these wild reptiles to conceal their vulnerable natures.
Otherwise, predators in the wild can easily identify them as targets and attack them anytime. With this natural attribute of bearded dragons, they would normally hide their illnesses, including the disease of a bearded dragon’s respiratory system.
They would usually suffer in silence. This reality can be concerning for bearded dragon keepers since it is typically hard to notice any signs of lung infection in its initial stage.
They will certainly worry upon learning that something is wrong with their beloved domesticated home companion. The upper respiratory infection is a health concern for bearded dragons.
As a lung-based bacterial ailment, it usually causes breathing problems in the tamed lizards. We want to point out that the bearded dragon’s respiratory system infections can be challenging to treat.
The domesticated reptiles usually require supportive care during the veterinary process. Although the infection in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system is a relatively common health issue, we want to stress the fact that owners should take it seriously.
If their lizard pets do not receive the necessary care and treatment as soon as possible, they may not be able to live long to keep their owners in good company.
3 Common Causes of Bacterial Disease in a Bearded Dragon’s Respiratory System
New or novice bearded dragon owners usually need more information on how to identify respiratory system issues in their lizard pets. The following situations are the typical ways how bearded dragons acquire infections in their respiratory systems:
1. INFERIOR LIVING CONDITIONS
Bearded dragon owners can be very busy in their family and career lives. Hence, they tend to neglect their domesticated reptile and fail to provide its terrarium with the proper upkeep.
A bearded dragon’s respiratory system can get afflicted by bacterial infections when the tamed lizard’s terrarium has incorrect lighting equipment and temperature ranges. Plus, the high humidity levels and excessive moisture in the bearded dragon’s artificial habitat are responsible for lung disease.
Moreover, reptile pet keepers unaware of the proper substrate to put in the vivarium may use the wrong material such as bark or mulch substrates. These tank accessories are hazardous, leading the bearded dragon tank to retain humidity and the domesticated home companion to get inconvenienced by impaction.
We want to emphasize the fact that, similar to choosing the right reptile carpet, selecting the correct substrate helps in customizing bearded dragon tanks to offer healthful living conditions to the lizard pets.
2. INCORRECT BATHING PRACTICES
Bathing bearded dragons several or once per week is essential to ensure the proper hygiene of the tamed reptile. With this fact, we want to emphasize to bearded dragon owners that they should closely monitor the bathwater levels.
Infections in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system happen when this factor is higher than the lizard pet’s vents. Hence, the bearded dragon can breathe in very high bathing water levels and aspirate them in their lungs.
This harmful situation can impair the bearded dragon’s respiratory system and cause serious problems to it.
3. EXPOSURE TO STRESSORS
Infections in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system can arise when these tamed reptiles experience considerable amounts of stress.
We want to inform reptile pet keepers that their domesticated lizards can feel anxious or uncomfortable when subjected to major life changes, such as being newly adopted in a new residence or being transferred into a new vivarium.
With these stressful scenarios, owners should remember that their bearded dragons’ immune systems can become weak, and their overall health can subsequently get compromised, especially when the psychological stressors constantly materialize and for long periods.
These three common causes of infections in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system can often lead to the lizard pet exhibiting the symptoms of the lung disease. We advise the lizard pet keepers to learn these common signs to execute the proper responses immediately.
Learning about the Bearded Dragon Lung Ailment’s Indicators
Bearded dragon owners can tell if their tamed home companion is a healthy one. The latter usually do not demonstrate the tell-tale signs of respiratory diseases.
Among these symptoms are lethargy or sluggishness, lack of appetite and consequent weight loss, and a puffy or bloated body or throat. We want to point out the fact that lizard pet keepers will usually notice these typical symptoms of infection in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system as happening all of a sudden.
Additionally, bearded dragon owners may feel concerned if they recognize noises from their domesticated home companion’s mouth and throat, including wheezing, snorting, and sniffling. Bearded dragons with upper respiratory infections usually have trouble breathing and discharge runny substances or mucous from their snouts or mouths.
Finally, these tamed reptiles exhibit black-bearding and mouth-gaping or breathing. We want to highlight the fact that these indicators should alert the bearded dragon owners and follow the proper steps to address these health problems of their domesticated lizards right away.
9 Techniques to Properly Resolve Bearded Dragon Respiratory Infection
We want to assure bearded dragon owners that they can still feel calm despite learning that their bearded dragon’s respiratory system is not in proper condition.
The following methods comprise professional assistance and home remedies as solutions to resolve the infection in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system:
1. SEEKING THE VETERINARIAN’S HELP IMMEDIATELY
As animal health specialists, veterinarians can accurately diagnose the infection in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system. They are animal physicians capable of finding the exact cause of the lung sickness adversely affecting the lizard pet.
Moreover, veterinarians can provide the right remedy. They prescribe the correct medications bearded dragon owners may need to administer to their domesticated home companions orally and daily using a syringe.
Veterinarians also determine the proper dosage of the medicines that help treat infections in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system by basing it on the tamed reptile’s size.
We want to point out to bearded dragon owners that veterinarians can also prescribe the F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant. This hospital-grade disinfectant cleaner approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency features high sterilizing properties.
In higher doses, the F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant can exterminate the bacteria that causes the upper respiratory infection in bearded dragons. It is also handy when cleaning the terrarium, treating yellow fungus, and sterilizing anything in the vivarium.
2. ENSURING THE CORRECT SETUP AND TEMPERATURE RANGES IN THE TERRARIUM.
Diseases in the bearded dragon’s lungs can be prevented when the artificial habitat has correct temperature ranges, proper humidity management, UV lamp provision emitting sufficient UVA and UVB lights, and so forth.
We want to reiterate the fact that the bearded dragon’s respiratory system can suffer from various kinds of wellness problems, including respiratory infection due to low tank temperature and high humidity levels.
Furthermore, bearded dragon owners may be too busy with their family and career lives that they neglect and forget to closely monitor the condition of their bearded dragon’s tank.
A respiratory infection could result from excessive moisture, and this undesirable scenario can be resolved by fixing the tank’s setup.
We assure bearded dragon owners that they can keep their bearded dragon’s respiratory system in sound condition if there is a hot side in the tank, which is the bearded dragon’s basking area.
For adult bearded dragons, this section should have temperature ranges between 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Celsius and 105 degrees Fahrenheit or 41 degrees Celsius. For the cool side, a temperature of around 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended.
Baby bearded dragons benefit from the basking side of their enclosure, with temperatures ranging between 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 41 degrees Celsius and 110 degrees Fahrenheit or 43 degrees Celsius.
We highly recommend using a thermometer when fixing the bearded dragon tank’s arrangement. This tool facilitates the vivarium’s proper setup with a cool and hot side, indicating adequate tank temperatures for both the lizard pet’s basking and cooling off activities.
3. KEEPING THE TANK’S HUMIDITY LEVELS BETWEEN 30 TO 40 PERCENT.
Bearded dragons in the wild are naturally arid desert dwellers in various parts of Australia. This fact makes them accustomed to a hot and dry climate.
We want to highlight the fact that too much moisture in the air can be hazardous for these lizard pets’ sensitive lungs. Hence, we advise bearded dragon owners to understand the humidity levels as significant considerations when keeping bearded dragons in a vivarium.
Since keeping bearded dragons as pets requires the simulation of their natural habitats, the ideal humidity ranges in the terrarium are in the neighborhood of 30 and 40 percent. These levels best emulate the actual climate in the bearded dragons’ natural habitats in Australia.
We want to stress the fact that the humidity ranges in the tank should never exceed 40 percent to prevent respiratory illnesses for bearded dragons. Moreover, we suggest investing in a reliable hygrometer.
This helpful tool aids in verifying the humidity level in the bearded dragon’s tank. The hygrometer also ensures that the humidity level is correct to assure the wellness of the bearded dragon’s respiratory system.
4. SCHEDULING REGULAR DISINFECTING AND CLEANING OF THE BEARDED DRAGON TANK.
Bearded dragon keepers should deep-cleanse their reptile pet’s vivarium at least once a month. With the help of a reptile cleaner, they should make sure to eliminate the moisture, mold, and other harmful elements that can build up over time in the bearded dragon’s artificial habitat.
Furthermore, we highly recommend lizard pet owners read informative online articles about the proper techniques of cleaning and disinfecting their bearded dragon’s tank.
After all, the manner they cleanse their reptile pet’s artificial habitat heavily impacts these bearded dragons’ respiratory systems and overall health.
5. APPLYING THE FOGGER TREATMENT TO THE REPTILE PET FOR ONE WEEK.
Infections in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system can be alleviated with the help of a fogger. Using this equipment for one week transforms liquids into a vapor that a bearded dragon can inhale directly into their lungs.
The fogger then aids in treating the lizard pet’s lung disease directly and efficiently. We recommend this home remedy because, even if it is not a better alternative to seeking a veterinarian’s help, it aids in lessening the discomfort in bearded dragons that may have very weak and undeveloped respiratory systems.
6. USING A CERAMIC HEAT EMITTER.
A ceramic heat emitter or ceramic lighting is a secondary heat source. We highly recommend bearded dragon owners avail one.
The ceramic heat emitters can help prevent infection in the bearded dragon’s respiratory system. They are useful if the temperature in a bearded dragon’s vivarium drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
7. ELEVATING THE BEARDED DRAGON TO FACILITATE MUCOUS DRAINING.
We suggest this effective home remedy in which a bearded dragon keeper props up their lizard pet on a folded blanket or towel with its face angling downwards. This measure facilitates the mucous to drain from their tamed lizard’s throat.
Additionally, elevating the bearded dragon to drain mucous is ideal, with approximately 10 to 15 degrees as the sufficient angle. This step is highly recommended for bearded dragon owners to perform, especially if they suspect their domesticated home companion’s respiratory system is already very congested.
8. INCORPORATING A HIGH-TECH DEHUMIDIFIER
We want to highlight the fact that keeping bearded dragons as pets is more than providing them with a proper diet of green leafy vegetables, mealworms, and Dubia roaches in their feeders, and supplying regular doses of multivitamin supplements, liquid vitamins, or calcium powder with vitamin D.
After all, these reptile pets’ respiratory systems can get unwell from time to time. Upper respiratory infection is a common occurrence when a bearded dragon lives in an environment where moisture is abundant.
By employing a dehumidifier, bearded dragon owners can maintain the tank’s humidity level under 40 percent. This useful equipment also helps in lowering humidity levels throughout the home or in an entire room.
Reptile pet keepers can mount the state-of-the-art dehumidifier up high inside the bearded dragon’s tank. They can also find cost-effective versions of this tool that are great ways to pull excess moisture from the vivarium.
These advanced dehumidifiers can be wireless and only need to be recharged about once a month.
9. PROVIDING THE TAMED LIZARDS WITH A SLURRY WITH SERRAPEPTASE.
This home remedy comprises an enzyme called serrapeptase derived from silkworms that thin mucous. It is essentially a miracle ingredient for helping resolve a bearded dragon’s upper respiratory infection.
We agree that it is good to have serrapeptase at home, besides the bearded dragon’s calcium supplements, calcium powder with vitamin D, liquid vitamins, or multivitamin supplements. After all, this home remedy effectively prevents or fights bacterial infections in the domesticated reptile’s lungs.
We recommend that bearded dragon keepers research and learn the recipe for a supercharged upper respiratory infection slurry to fight off the disease in their bearded dragon’s respiratory system.
In this article, we aimed to help bearded dragon owners respond to the infection in a bearded dragon’s respiratory system. We discussed this sickness’s nature, causes, signs, and professional and home treatment options.
Besides following our advice, we greatly advocate seeking a veterinarian’s immediate assistance. In this way, a bearded dragon’s respiratory system, if unwell, can regain its health back at the soonest possible time, resulting in a happy and wholesome bearded dragon and its owner.
