Bearded dragons don’t appear to be sensitive to any illnesses. But the facts point in a different direction. They are quite prone to infection if they are not cared for appropriately. Their eyes are a better sign of how they’re doing. The eyes of a healthy beardie should be clear, bright, and sparkling, whereas the eyes of an unhealthy bearded dragon will be sleepy. But what about the sunken eyes?
Sunken eyes are one of the most prevalent issues in Beardies. This may make you anxious if you just got your bearded dragon because you won’t fully realize what’s happening at this point. The sunken eyes of bearded dragons might have been brought on by illness, dehydration, or improper habitat setup. If the beardies’ eyes are sunken, this is a sign of problems with their health.
If you see that your bearded dragon’s eyes are sunken, this is a sign that it is sick, and you need to provide it with some medical attention as soon as you notice it. Sunken eyes should be followed by thick, yellow urine.
Sunken eyes in a beardie are simple to spot, but if you’re unprepared, you panic. If you observed your beardie and want to know what’s wrong and what to do, you’re at the perfect spot.
Reasons for Sunken Eyes in Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons may have sunken eyes for several reasons, including the following:
- Dehydration
If bearded dragons are not provided with an adequate amount of water, there is a significant chance that they may get dehydrated. Because of this, you must provide your pet with access to clean and fresh water.
If dehydration is the source of bearded dragons’ sunken eyes, there will be additional symptoms like dry mouth, frequent drooling, and lethargy.
In most situations, the bearded dragon will have sunken eyes with bloodshot whites and dark spots surrounding them. As soon as they start to get dehydrated, give them fluids by dropping food that has been soaked in water into their mouths or putting some drops on their tongues with an eyedropper.
- Wrong Habitat Setup
The second cause of sunken eyes might be the habitat. It is also essential to remember that bearded dragons are adapted to living in semi-arid environments.
This indicates that the artificial environment that they are kept in should be similar to their natural habitat when they are in cages. Bearded dragons need to have the appropriate temperature and amount of light.
But many people don’t realize this. Many tanks have temperature and lighting systems that are improper or unsuitable for their surroundings. The beardies’ habitat has two temperatures: basking and cooling.
Keep in mind that their habitat should be designed to be similar to their native habitat when they are in captivity. Bearded dragons are clever creatures with a sense of adventure. Therefore, they require a larger tank with adequate area for rest and exploration.
- Parasites
Bearded dragons are susceptible to a great deal of discomfort when it comes to parasites. They tend to cause sunken eyes when they bite in the eyes area. When parasites invade a beardie’s body, the symptoms vary depending on the type of parasite but may also include weight loss or incapability to eat.
If your dragon gets an eye infection due to parasites (a condition that can have many variants), you should take him to a doctor straight away so he can provide medicine and treatment- if needed.
- Inadequate Nutrition
A lack of appropriate nutrients frequently causes sunken eyes. This might be due to a deficiency of essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, and an overall shortage of food.
- Too Much Weight Loss
A loss of weight sometimes accompanies the appearance of sunken eyes. Bearded dragons are not required to diet; therefore, there may be underlying problems if they begin losing weight. Illness and intestinal obstruction are two of the most common causes of weight loss.
Impaction may be present if your bearded dragon seems to be quite thin yet has a broad belly or if you feel a hard lump in the stomach of your bearded dragon at any time. It is most probable that you will need to arrange an appointment with your veterinarian in order to get this resolved, so go ahead and give them a call.
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- Different Illnesses
Due to a lack of adequate illumination, the bearded dragon’s sunken eyes indicate a condition, such as metabolic bone disease.
How to Fix Sunken Eyes in Bearded Dragons
- Provide water
Ensure that your bearded dragon has purified, fresh water available to it. You may try leaving a bowl of water in its habitat each day, or you could use a spray bottle to moisten its cage lightly.
- Feed them with Greens
Bearded dragons can acquire sunken eyes if they do not get enough leafy greens and other vegetables in their diet. Make sure your bearded dragon gets enough vegetables and leafy greens every day to avoid this problem. Give them the quantity as much they can consume in 15 minutes, two to three times a day.
- Reduce Stress
It will be helpful if there were more hiding places in the tank. Dragons have the least amount of stress when they can cover up themselves from their surroundings; therefore, providing them with additional hiding spots is an effective strategy to reduce their anxiety levels. Also, try to avoid touching your dragon an excessive amount. It may be appealing to pick them up and hug them, but doing so can be quite stressful for dragons. If you need to handle them for any reason, make sure you do so carefully and replace them as soon as possible.
- Fatten up the Beardie
Because the eyes of a bearded dragon that has lost too much weight might get sunken into their sockets, it is essential to ensure that your bearded dragon receives a proper diet to avoid this unattractive condition.
Give them an adequate amount of food, such as hornworms, waxworms, or super worms, so that most of their diet comprises fatty foods rather than protein sources that do not have a particularly high-fat content.
- Proper Humidity and Temperature
Make sure that you give them access to a reliable source of hydration, such as a shallow dish filled with water that is placed in an area that is convenient for them to reach. It is also essential that you monitor the temperature of their environment to ensure that it is not either too hot or too cold for them. A bearded dragon needs 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Do Bearded Dragons’ Eyes Bulge Out?
Their eyes do tend to protrude somewhat at times. They may do this to expand the skin around their eyes before shedding. Because it happens so rapidly, the owners are completely unaware that it has occurred most of the time.
What Is the Best Way to Hydrate a Bearded Dragon?
A warm bath is generally the quickest way to hydrate a bearded dragon. However, feeding your bearded dragon fruits and vegetables with high water content and spraying your bearded dragon are other helpful ways to hydrate your bearded dragon quickly.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) at Nation Taiwan University,Master of Science (M.S.) in Biomedical Engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology