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Lately I have noticed my bearded dragon leaving his mouth slightly open. Sometimes, when his mouth is fully closed, he seems to "exhale" and I can see a little puff of air push out from his lips. Also I can see his beard growing and shrinking as he breathes. His home usually gets around 90 on one end and he eats about 3-4 superworms per day. He has greens though rarely touches them. Calcium sand bedding and a uvb lamp. Is this a normal habit or a cause for concern?

Lately I have noticed my bearded dragon leaving his mouth slightly open. Sometimes, when his mouth is fully closed, he seems to "exhale" and I can see a little puff of air push out from his lips. Also I can see his beard growing and shrinking as he breathes. His home usually gets around 90 on one end and he eats about 3-4 superworms per day. He has greens though rarely touches them. Calcium sand bedding and a uvb lamp. Is this a normal habit or a cause for concern?

Updated On May 17th, 2020

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Answered By Todd Cecil

Veterinarian

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Thanks for reaching out about Smaug and including photos. Husbandry sounds good but diet is poor. Insects are not a complete diet and are highly deficient in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. The clinical signs you mentioned are possible early signs of metabolic bone disease (difficulty inhaling) or a respiratory infection. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Try syringe feeding a vegetable puree or Gerber's vegetable baby food until a veterinary visit can be scheduled. If a respiratory infection, antibiotics will likely be needed to provide recovery. Good luck.

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