Dragon Health: Common Bearded Dragon Diseases Explained

Bearded dragon health is a number one priority of an owner. This may sound fairly obvious, but there are many first-time, and uninformed owners out there. It is the reason we put all the time, effort and cash into the correct enclosure, proper lighting, diet, and so on. Unfortunately, even with all the top dollar equipment, the crme de la crme of diets, and enough attention to make a celebrity jealous, then can still fall victim to illnesses. Let's take a look at some of the more common health conditions that can effect even the most well-kept bearded dragons.

Impaction - This is a perfect example of having the right equipment and diet, but still having an issue. Impaction is a blocking of the digestive tracks due to the ingestion of large food items, or items that are hard to digest.

Prevention - Simply ensure that all food items are smaller than the space between the animal's eyes and avoid using loose substrates. You also want to avoid feeding too many insects with hard chitin(shells) at one time.


Coccidia - This is a bacteria that lives within even the healthiest of dragons. However, when improper temperatures lead to digestion problems, this bacteria can grow to deadly levels.

Prevention - Regular stool samples taken to your vet will keep an eye on acceptable levels of coccidia. A proper cleaning schedule of your enclose, as well as the correct temperatures will help with hygiene and proper digestion.


Metabolic Bone Disease - MBD is cause by a lack of calcium being absorbed into the creatures bones. If left untreated, MBD can cause painful deformations of your lizard that are irreversible.

Prevention - You must ensure that your dragon is getting proper UV lighting which produces the vitamin D3 within the body. You must also add calcium and multi-vitamin supplements to the diet.


Photo-kerato-conjunctivitis - This is a painful eye condition caused by extreme exposure to UV light.PKC can be caused by incorrect, or improperly placed lighting.

Prevention - Ensure that you are using a UV light recommended for bearded dragons specifically (usually a fluorescent tube) and that it is set to the recommended distance from the reptile.


Of course, whenever you feel your animal may have an illness, the first thing you should do is get them to the vet. Don't wait for a week to see if they will get better, and don't think you know more than a veterinarian does (If you do, then I suggest finding a new vet). There is no substitute for professional care, and sometimes we need to realize that some things are just out of our control.

Above all you want to pay close attention to your pet everyday. Spend some time bonding and getting to know your pet. This is one of the greatest preventative measures you can take for the well-being of your animal. Having this connection means you will notice even the slightest difference in your beardie's behavior. And early detection is necessary in solving small problems before they become disasters.