Fairytale Story: Beardy Nursed Back to Health and Found Forever Home
Zen Habitats spoke with Danielle (Dan) Frisher, Veterinary Care Director at Hernando Reptile and Exotics Rescue in Florida, a Zen Reptile Relief partner, about one memorable beardie rescue.
Zen Habitats: Is there a particular rescue that sticks out in your mind?
Dan:I have a wonderful rehab story to share about a special bearded dragon we named Broken Beardie and call BB for short.
Zen Habitats: What is her backstory?
Dan: She was purchased from a pet store originally, and the owners tried to return her six months later after not providing proper heat, UVB, or an actual nutritional diet.
Zen Habitats: What were her medical issues?
Dan:She had an unknown trauma that resulted in a caudal spinal fracture. She was extremely pale, lethargic, paretic in her hindlimbs, had severe MBD and hypocalcemic tremor.
Zen Habitats: What was the outlook for her?
Dan: Things were not looking too good for the first few weeks.
Zen Habitats: What treatment did she receive?
Dan: It took several months of prescription medicine, proper heat/UVB, physical therapy, water therapy, syringe feeding, introducing solid foods, fresh greens, small crickets, and long hours of individual attention.
Zen Habitats: Did she recover fully?
Dan: Eventually, she started to hold herself up on all four legs long, enough to eat on her own from a bowl. She began walking more, climbing more, and even started running when she had the energy. Her spine had fused in a tent-like position, and it will stay that way for the rest of her life, but she was feeling like a normal lizard for the first time in her young life. She became more independent and could eat on her own consistently.
Zen Habitats: Is she still at the rescue?
Dan: We put her up for adoption and found the perfect home with people who understand all the special needs she will require for the rest of her life. The owners are completely invested in her well-being. We still get photos and updates, and she is living her best life now. All because of proper husbandry and diet!