If anybody knows please tell me?

[Beardeddragon]

I put a thread up a while ago asking what was wrong with my dragon and someone told me that is may be "stargazing" i don't know what that is or means please if anybody knows tell me! Thankx

-Amy
www.calicodragons.com

[ChunkyMunky]

“Stargazing” and other strange postures that are maintained for extended periods of time are syptoms of a disease called Inclusion Body Disease-(IBD)- results from an unknown virus that attacks the brain and spinal tissues. Isolation and disinfection protocol are of utmost importance, as there is no known cure for this disease and limiting the spread of the virus is essential. Hope this helps.

[Beardeddragon]

Ive put her with others before! Are there any other symtoms then just looking up all the time that i could look for to be sure?
thankx for your help and i sure hope she doesn't have that!

[DragnDrop]

I've never heard of IBD being diagnosed in lizards. Anything I've ever read was about snakes contracting it. Is it definitely a lizard problem too?

[augerdvm]

IBD does NOT affect Lizards .its a retrovirus that affect priamlrily boidae but other have been known to carry
Stargazing (if this is what your beardie is doind) is a neurological sign...can also be a form of seizure....i have seen vit B12 dificiency cause neurol signs aswell.. have your beardie checked at yourr vets...maybe a vit shot can help....bacterial meningitis could alsocause stargazing and antibiotics may be warranted ...hope this helpss

Daren

[DragnDrop]

Thanks for the info, Doctor. Nothing beats getting the right info from someone who knows.

[beardiedragon]

heres info I got from Cheri Smith at reptile rooms.

Author: CheriS
Date: Sat Jun 26 21:00:02 2004
Subject: Stargazing and Ataxia are similiar Both usually have the same base cause, but effect different muscle or areas of the brain...

Stargazing effects the area of the brain that controls the upper neck muscles

Ataxia can effect the lower muscles, causing the head to draw down instead of up.

These symptoms can also be signs of other minor problems that can be corrected.

Some things to try:

Up the calcium for a few weeks and make sure the dragon is under a good working UVB light, if you can not meter it and have doubts, change it with a new one.... if your not using one, thats probably your problem.

Vitamin B's, add some more in to the diet, either in food or supplements (you can use human grade Vitamin B but just a small pinch every other day and try that for a few weeks.

Dragons that have recovered from this usually had lack of one of the two above and it may not be just in the diet, the baby may not be absorbing them properly.

IF neither of those things improve the situation, they only testing can tell you if it is viral (thats the most common cause in babies) bacterial or neurological base. And sadly in each of those, there is not a good survival rate.

Another thought... have you been cleaning with bleach?
Any plastic surface and silicon will absorb bleach and then when put under heat will create toxic fumes.

If you use bleach, make sure to really flush out the tank, basking platforms or area well.

Shelf liner is a nice ground cover for beardies (we use it with reptile carpet, paper towel and sand boxes), but it has to be cleaned with hot water and soap or nolvasan. Same with the plastic or resin basking areas or jungle gym for babies, they can absorb or trap bleach water and then when heated in a tank become dangerous.

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www.reptilerooms.com