Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Sept 2012

Husbandry, Diseases, and Veterinary Care of the Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

DVM, DABVP (Reptile and Amphibian)
Page Range: 117 – 131
DOI: 10.5818/1529-9651-22.3.117
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Abstract

The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is (perhaps) the most common pet lizard in the United States. The purpose of this review article is to provide a practical overview of the natural history, husbandry, nutrition, reproduction, physical examination method, diagnostic techniques, currently recognized diseases, and therapeutics found useful for the bearded dragon. Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and trauma attributable to cage-mate aggression are common problems encountered in juvenile dragons. Intestinal impaction and renal and cardiac diseases are more commonly seen in adult dragons. Newly described malignancies such as periocular squamous cell carcinoma and gastric carcinoma have also been reported in juvenile and adult bearded dragons.

Keywords: Bearded dragon; diseases; husbandry; lizard; Pogona vitticeps ; reptile
Copyright: © 2012 Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery 2012
Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Acrodont dentition is characterized by fusion of the teeth to the crests of the maxillae and mandibles.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

An ultrasonic Doppler monitor crystal is placed caudal to the scapulo-humeral joint to assess the heart.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

(A) Male bearded dragons possess larger femoral pores than females (B). (B) Note the severe cloacitis attributable to oxyurids in this female bearded dragon.

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

(A) Ovarian follicles (arrowheads) are visible radiographically as a cluster of spherical soft tissue densities occupying the caudal coelomic cavity. (B) Shelled eggs are visible as oblong densities with distinct borders that occupy most of the coelomic cavity.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

(A) In this radiographic image, a soft tissue mass (black asterisks) in the cranial coelomic cavity is causing dorso-caudal displacement of the lungs (white asterisk). (B) Echocardiographic image of the same case reveals cardiomegaly attributable to pericardial effusion (PE) (V = ventricle; LA = left atrium).

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

Coelioscopy reveals renomegaly (asterisk) in a bearded dragon with visceral gout.

Figure 7.
Figure 7.

The caudal coelomic membranes (asterisks) of the bearded dragon are normally pigmented with melanin.

Figure 8.
Figure 8.

(A) This aneurysm is dorsal to the squamosal bone. (B) Ultrasonographic image of the aneurysm (asterisks); note the hyperechoic core surrounded by areas of mixed echogenicity.

Figure 9.
Figure 9.

(A) Swollen phalangeal joints in a bearded dragon afflicted with articular gout; all four extremities were affected. (B) Radiographic appearance of the same foot; note the multiple radiopacities surrounding the joints and lysis within the joints. (C) Microscopic view of uric acid crystals obtained by arthrocentesis from the radiocarpal joint. (Unstained, original magnification × 10.)

Figure 10.
Figure 10.

Hepatic lipidosis. Hepatic lipidosis is characterized by distention of hepatocytes with lipid vacuoles. (Hematoxylin and eosin stain, original magnification × 20.)

Figure 11.
Figure 11.

Microsporidial infection. Numerous microsporidial organisms (arrowheads) in a hepatic granuloma. (Hematoxylin and eosin stain, original magnification × 200.)

Figure 12.
Figure 12.

(A) A plantigrade stance and severe fibrous osteodystrophy are seen in advanced cases of NMBD in juvenile bearded dragons. (B) Radiographic appearance of the same dragon demonstrates replacement of skeleton by fibrous tissue.

Figure 13.
Figure 13.

Coelomitis with adhesions encapsulating the coelomic viscera of a juvenile bearded dragon infected with Salmonella sp.

Figure 14.
Figure 14.

Radiographic appearance of osteomyelitis of the distal femur of a bearded dragon that was attacked by a green iguana. A pure culture of Acinetobacter baumanii was isolated.

Figure 15.
Figure 15.

In bearded dragons, gastric endocrine carcinomas originate within the lumen of the stomach prior to systemic metastasis (Courtesy Steven Barten).

Figure 16.
Figure 16.

This testicular interstitial cell tumor in a juvenile bearded dragon (arrowheads) caused massive distention of the coelomic cavity.

Figure 17.
Figure 17.

A squamous cell carcinoma (asterisk) of the palpebral conjunctiva in a 4-yr-old bearded dragon (Courtesy J.C. Burcham).

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