Tick what you’re seeing. The checker tells you how urgent it is — emergency, vet visit or a setup fix — and which guide covers each likely cause. It doesn’t diagnose; it helps you decide what to do next.
Go to a vet today, don’t wait, if you see tissue sticking out of the vent, back legs dragging or not working, gasping or collapse, or eyes that are bulging, bright red or blue-tinged. Find a reptile vet near you.
1. How old is your beardie?
2. What are you seeing? Tick everything that applies.
Nothing ticked yet.
Tick at least one sign above to see how urgent it is and what might be causing it.
How the checker decides what’s urgent
Every sign is sorted into one of five levels, taken from our when to take a bearded dragon to the vet guide. The checker shows the most urgent level among the signs you ticked, and moves a combination up a level when the guides say the combination matters — for example, a dragon that is sleeping more and losing weight, or no poop for a week with a swollen belly.
Level
What it means
Examples
Same day
Go to an exotic vet today
Prolapse, back legs dragging, gasping or collapse, bulging or red eyes
Within 24 hours
Call the vet tomorrow at the latest
Wheezing or clicking breathing, eye discharge or squinting, sleeping more with a physical symptom
Within a few days
Book an appointment this week
Not eating for 7–10+ days, mouth swelling, crusty patches, weight loss, runny or bloody poop, twitching
Fix the setup and watch
Usually a husbandry cause you can correct at home
No poop for a week with no other signs, stuck shed on toes, mild dehydration, glass surfing
Usually normal
Common behavior; watch for changes
Puffing up, a brief black beard, dull skin before a shed, eating less in autumn
Two rules run underneath everything. First, check your temperatures and UVB before anything else — a basking spot that’s too cool or a UVB tube that’s past its 12 months causes more lethargy and appetite loss than any illness. Second, bearded dragons hide illness well, so when you’re unsure, call the vet’s office; most clinics will help you triage over the phone.
Frequently asked questions
When is a bearded dragon an emergency?
Go the same day for a prolapse (tissue sticking out of the vent), back leg weakness or paralysis, severe breathing trouble such as gasping, a blue-tinged mouth or collapse, and eyes that are bulging, bright red or blue-tinged. A swollen belly with no poop for a week or more can mean a severe impaction and also needs a vet that day.
How long can a bearded dragon go without eating before I should worry?
A few days off food is common with shedding, stress or a cool basking spot. Appetite loss lasting more than 7 to 10 days is worth a vet visit, even in autumn, because brumation and illness can look the same from the outside. Weight is the tiebreaker: stable weight, keep watching; falling weight, book the vet.
Is my bearded dragon brumating or sick?
Brumation usually affects adults over a year old in autumn and winter, and their weight stays steady. A dragon under a year that is sleeping much more, or any dragon losing weight, with a soft jaw, discharge, wheezing or a swollen belly, is more likely ill. A fecal test before brumation season rules out parasites.
Can this checker diagnose my bearded dragon?
No. It sorts what you are seeing by urgency and points you to the guide for each likely cause. Only an exotic vet can examine your dragon, run a fecal test or take X-rays. If you are unsure, call the clinic.
This tool gives general care information drawn from our health guides. It is not veterinary advice and can’t diagnose your dragon. If you’re worried, contact an exotic vet — use our reptile vet directory to find one.
(function(){
var root=document.getElementById('sym-check'); if(!root){return;}
var G=[
{t:'Eating and energy',s:[['noeat','Not eating for a few days'],['noeat10','Not eating for 7–10 days or longer'],['sleep','Sleeping much more than usual'],['weak','Weak or floppy when awake, not responding normally'],['wtloss','Losing weight, or hips, spine or tail base showing']]},
{t:'Poop and belly',s:[['nopoop','No poop for 7 days or more'],['runny','Runny, bloody or unusually smelly poop'],['belly','Swollen, hard or bulging belly'],['prolapse','Pink or red tissue sticking out of the vent']]},
{t:'Mouth, eyes and breathing',s:[['mouth','Swelling, cheesy discharge or redness around the mouth'],['wheeze','Wheezing, clicking, bubbles or mucus at the nose or mouth'],['gasp','Gasping, blue-tinged mouth or collapse'],['eyes','Squinting, or discharge from the eyes'],['eyebulge','Eyes bulging, bright red or blue-tinged'],['headtilt','Head tilted up or to one side, circling, or poor balance']]},
{t:'Body and legs',s:[['legs','Back legs dragging, weak or not working'],['twitch','Twitching toes or legs, tremors'],['jaw','Soft or rubbery jaw, bowed legs, or a kinked tail or spine']]},
{t:'Skin and color',s:[['crust','Yellow, brown or dark crusty patches on the skin'],['stuckshed','Old skin stuck on toes, tail tip or spikes'],['dull','Dull, grey or chalky skin in patches'],['wrinkly','Wrinkled or loose skin, sunken eyes'],['stressmarks','Dark ovals or stripes on the belly (stress marks)'],['blackbeard','Black beard']]},
{t:'Behavior',s:[['glass','Running or scratching at the glass'],['puff','Puffing up the beard or body'],['puffbath','Puffing up in the bath'],['hiding','Hiding a lot, not basking']]}
];
var C={
prolapse:{n:'Prolapse',l:0,u:'/health-wellness/when-to-take-bearded-dragon-to-vet/',d:'Tissue outside the vent can dry out and die. Keep it moist with a clean damp cloth and go to a vet now, not tomorrow.'},
paralysis:{n:'Severe impaction or spinal pressure',l:0,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-impaction/',d:'Back leg weakness is one of the clearest emergency signs. A blockage pressing on the spine can get worse quickly.'},
impactsev:{n:'Possible severe impaction',l:0,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-impaction/',d:'A swollen or hard belly together with no poop for a week or more needs a vet the same day.'},
breathing:{n:'Severe breathing trouble',l:0,u:'/health-wellness/when-to-take-bearded-dragon-to-vet/',d:'Gasping, a blue-tinged mouth or collapse means a same-day emergency visit.'},
eyeemerg:{n:'Eye emergency',l:0,u:'/health-wellness/when-to-take-bearded-dragon-to-vet/',d:'Bulging, bright red or blue-tinged eyes need a vet the same day.'},
resp:{n:'Respiratory infection',l:1,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-sleeping-too-much/',d:'Wheezing, clicking or mucus is the one medical cause behind puffing and a common cause of lethargy. Call the vet within 24 hours, and check that the basking spot isn’t too cool.'},
eye:{n:'Eye irritation or infection',l:1,u:'/health-wellness/when-to-take-bearded-dragon-to-vet/',d:'Squinting that doesn’t clear after a gentle saline rinse, or any discharge, is worth a vet call within 24 hours. Loose substrate is a common cause.'},
mbd:{n:'Metabolic bone disease (MBD)',l:2,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-metabolic-bone-disease/',d:'Twitching, a soft jaw, bowed legs or a kinked tail point to a calcium and UVB problem. Early MBD is treatable; see a vet this week and check your UVB bulb’s age and calcium routine.'},
mouthrot:{n:'Mouth rot (infectious stomatitis)',l:2,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-mouth-rot/',d:'Mouth rot doesn’t clear up on its own and needs antibiotics. Early cases are simple to treat; book a vet within a few days.'},
fungus:{n:'Yellow fungus disease',l:2,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-yellow-fungus/',d:'Crusty yellow, brown or dark patches that spread need prescription antifungal treatment. Separate the dragon from other reptiles and book a vet promptly.'},
parasites:{n:'Internal parasites',l:2,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-parasites/',d:'Weight loss, runny or smelly poop, or eating normally but losing condition are the classic signs. A vet fecal test confirms it; treatment is a prescription dewormer.'},
adeno:{n:'Adenovirus or a neurological problem',l:2,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-adenovirus/',d:'An upward head tilt (stargazing), circling or poor balance, especially in a young dragon, needs a reptile-experienced vet. Diagnosis is a PCR swab.'},
appetite:{n:'Long-term appetite loss',l:2,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-not-eating/',d:'More than 7–10 days off food is worth a vet visit even in autumn, because brumation shouldn’t be assumed without ruling out illness.'},
impaction:{n:'Mild impaction or constipation',l:3,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-impaction/',d:'No poop for a week with no other signs often responds to warm baths and correct basking temperatures. Remove loose substrate. If the belly swells or the legs weaken, it becomes an emergency.'},
dehydration:{n:'Dehydration',l:3,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-dehydration/',d:'Try the pinch test on the back. Mild cases respond to fresh water, water-rich greens and a warm soak; weakness or weight loss means a vet visit for fluids.'},
stuckshed:{n:'Stuck shed',l:3,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-shedding/',d:'Old skin left on toes or the tail tip can cut off circulation. Warm baths and a humid hide usually loosen it; never pull skin that hasn’t separated. See a vet if a toe or tail tip turns dark.'},
setup:{n:'Setup problem: temperature, UVB or light hours',l:3,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-sleeping-too-much/',d:'A basking spot 10–15°F too cool, a UVB tube over 12 months old, or the wrong light hours cause more sleepiness and appetite loss than any illness. Check with a temp gun: basking surface 100–110°F for an adult.'},
stress:{n:'Stress or environment',l:3,u:'/behavior-handling/bearded-dragon-stress-marks/',d:'Stress marks, glass surfing and hiding usually trace to a new home, a small enclosure, reflections, other pets in view, or temperatures. Persistent marks with poor appetite are worth a vet check.'},
glass:{n:'Glass surfing',l:3,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-glass-surfing/',d:'Usually a reflection, an enclosure smaller than 4x2x2 ft, or a missing heat gradient. Cover three sides and check temperatures.'},
bath:{n:'Bath water too deep',l:3,u:'/behavior-handling/bearded-dragon-puffing-up/',d:'Puffing in the bath is a float reflex. Lower the water to elbow depth — 1–2 inches for an adult — right away. Bearded dragons can drown.'},
brumation:{n:'Brumation',l:4,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-brumation/',d:'Adults often sleep more and eat less from late September to February. It’s normal only if weight stays steady and nothing else is wrong; weigh weekly and get a fecal test before the deep sleep.'},
shed:{n:'Shedding',l:4,u:'/health-wellness/bearded-dragon-shedding/',d:'Dull or grey patches, less appetite and rubbing on decor are normal before and during a shed.'},
display:{n:'Normal display or mood',l:4,u:'/behavior-handling/bearded-dragon-black-beard/',d:'Puffing up and a black beard are usually stretching, excitement, a territorial display or a brief stress response. Worry only if it lasts for hours or comes with other signs.'}
};
var L=[
{t:'Go to a vet today',s:'Same-day emergency',c:'sc-l0',p:'Don’t wait for a routine appointment. Call ahead so the clinic is ready, and if your regular vet can’t see reptiles today, try a 24/7 emergency clinic that treats exotics.'},
{t:'Call the vet within 24 hours',s:'Urgent',c:'sc-l1',p:'This needs a vet soon, but it isn’t an emergency yet. Keep temperatures and lighting normal in the meantime, and go the same day if anything gets worse.'},
{t:'Book a vet visit this week',s:'Needs a vet',c:'sc-l2',p:'These problems don’t fix themselves. Book an appointment in the next few days and fix the setup checks below while you wait.'},
{t:'Fix the setup and watch closely',s:'Home care first',c:'sc-l3',p:'This is usually a husbandry cause you can correct at home. Make the changes below, weigh your dragon, and book a vet if it hasn’t improved in a few days or any new sign appears.'},
{t:'Probably normal — keep watching',s:'Likely normal',c:'sc-l4',p:'These signs are common and usually harmless on their own. Watch for changes over the next few days and weigh your dragon so you can spot a trend.'}
];
var age='adult';
var sel={};
function has(k){ return sel[k]===true; }
var box=document.getElementById('sc-groups');
var htmlParts=[];
for(var i=0;i<G.length;i++){ var g=G[i]; var h='<div class="sc-group"><h4>'+g.t+'</h4>'; for(var j=0;j<g.s.length;j++){ h+='<label class="sc-opt"><input type="checkbox" value="'+g.s[j][0]+'"> <span>'+g.s[j][1]+'</span></label>'; } h+='</div>'; htmlParts.push(h); }
box.innerHTML=htmlParts.join('');
function inSeason(){ var m=new Date().getMonth(); return (m>=8)?true:(m<=1); }
function build(){
var keys=Object.keys(sel).filter(function(k){ return sel[k]; });
document.getElementById('sc-count').innerHTML=keys.length===0?'Nothing ticked yet.':(keys.length+' sign'+(keys.length===1?'':'s')+' ticked. <a href="#sc-out">See the result ↓</a>');
var out=document.getElementById('sc-out');
if(keys.length===0){ out.innerHTML='<div class="sc-empty">Tick at least one sign above to see how urgent it is and what might be causing it.</div>'; return; }
var found={}; var why=[];
function add(id,reason){ if(!found[id]){ found[id]=0; } found[id]+=1; if(reason){ why.push(reason); } }
var physical=['wtloss','jaw','mouth','wheeze','belly','eyes','legs','weak','runny'].filter(has);
var lethargic=has('sleep')?true:has('weak');
if(has('prolapse')){ add('prolapse','Tissue outside the vent is always a same-day emergency.'); }
if(has('legs')){ add('paralysis','Back leg weakness is one of the clearest emergency signs.'); }
if(has('gasp')){ add('breathing','Gasping, a blue-tinged mouth or collapse is a same-day emergency.'); }
if(has('eyebulge')){ add('eyeemerg','Bulging, red or blue-tinged eyes need a vet the same day.'); }
if(has('belly')){ if(has('nopoop')){ add('impactsev','A swollen belly plus no poop for a week can mean a severe impaction.'); } else { add('impaction'); add('parasites'); } }
if(has('wheeze')){ add('resp','Abnormal breathing — wheezing, clicking, mucus — needs a vet within 24 hours.'); add('setup'); }
if(has('eyes')){ add('eye','Squinting or eye discharge needs a vet within 24 hours.'); }
if(has('twitch')){ add('mbd','Twitching or tremors are an early MBD sign.'); add('setup'); }
if(has('jaw')){ add('mbd','A soft jaw, bowed legs or a kinked tail or spine point to MBD.'); }
if(has('mouth')){ add('mouthrot','Mouth swelling or discharge needs antibiotics from a vet.'); }
if(has('crust')){ add('fungus','Crusty, discolored patches need a vet promptly.'); }
if(has('runny')){ add('parasites','Runny, bloody or smelly poop is a classic parasite sign.'); }
if(has('wtloss')){ add('parasites','Weight loss is never a wait-and-see sign.'); add('appetite'); }
if(has('headtilt')){ add('adeno','Head tilting, stargazing or poor balance needs a reptile vet.'); }
if(has('noeat10')){ add('appetite','More than 7–10 days off food is worth a vet visit.'); add('setup'); }
if(has('noeat')){ add('setup'); add('shed'); add('stress'); }
if(has('nopoop')){ if(!has('belly')){ add('impaction','No poop for a week with no other signs is usually fixable at home.'); } add('dehydration'); add('setup'); }
if(has('wrinkly')){ add('dehydration','Wrinkled skin and sunken eyes suggest dehydration.'); }
if(has('stuckshed')){ add('stuckshed','Stuck shed on toes or the tail tip should be loosened, not left.'); }
if(has('dull')){ add('shed'); }
if(has('sleep')){ add('setup','A cool basking spot or an old UVB tube is the most common fixable cause of extra sleep.'); }
if(has('weak')){ add('setup'); add('dehydration'); }
if(has('stressmarks')){ add('stress'); }
if(has('hiding')){ add('stress'); add('setup'); }
if(has('glass')){ add('glass'); }
if(has('puffbath')){ add('bath','Puffing in the bath means the water is too deep.'); }
if(has('puff')){ if(has('wheeze')){ } else { add('display'); } }
if(has('blackbeard')){ add('display'); add('stress'); }
var canBrumate=(age==='adult')?inSeason():false;
var brumSigns=has('sleep')?true:(has('noeat')?true:has('noeat10'));
if(brumSigns){ if(canBrumate){ add('brumation'); } }
var level=4;
Object.keys(found).forEach(function(k){ if(C[k].l<level){ level=C[k].l; } });
if(lethargic){ if(physical.length>0){ if(level>1){ level=1; } why.push('Sleeping more or weakness together with a physical sign is treated as urgent, not as brumation.'); } }
if(has('sleep')){ if(age==='baby'){ if(level>1){ level=1; } why.push('A dragon under 12 months that is sleeping much more with no obvious cause needs a vet soon — young dragons don’t usually brumate.'); } }
if(has('blackbeard')){ if(keys.length>1){ if(physical.length>0){ if(level>1){ level=1; } why.push('A black beard that stays black alongside other symptoms deserves a quick vet call.'); } } }
if(has('wtloss')){ if(level>2){ level=2; } }
if(has('weak')){ if(level>2){ level=2; } }
var ids=Object.keys(found).sort(function(a,b){ if(C[a].l!==C[b].l){ return C[a].l-C[b].l; } return found[b]-found[a]; });
if(level<=2){ ids=ids.filter(function(k){ return k!=='brumation'; }); }
var V=L[level];
var h='<div class="sc-verdict '+V.c+'"><div class="sc-v-label">'+V.s+'</div><div class="sc-v-title">'+V.t+'</div><p>'+V.p+(level<=2?' <a href="/find-a-vet/">Find a reptile vet near you →</a>':'')+'</p></div>';
var uniq=why.filter(function(w,i){ return why.indexOf(w)===i; });
if(uniq.length>0){ h+='<div class="sc-why"><strong>Why this level</strong><ul>'+uniq.map(function(w){ return '<li>'+w+'</li>'; }).join('')+'</ul></div>'; }
h+='<h3 class="sc-h">Possible causes to read up on</h3><div class="sc-causes">';
var pillTxt=['Same day','24 hours','This week','Fix at home','Usually normal']; var pillCls=['sc-p0','sc-p1','sc-p2','',''];
ids.forEach(function(k){ var c=C[k]; h+='<div class="sc-cause"><div class="sc-cause-top"><span class="sc-cause-name">'+c.n+'</span><span class="sc-pill '+pillCls[c.l]+'">'+pillTxt[c.l]+'</span></div><p>'+c.d+' <a href="'+c.u+'">Read the guide →</a></p></div>'; });
h+='</div>';
h+='<div class="sc-check"><strong>Check these first, whatever the result</strong><ul><li>Basking surface temperature with an infrared temp gun: 100–110°F for an adult, slightly warmer for babies. A stick-on dial is not accurate enough.</li><li>UVB tube age: replace a T5 HO every 12 months even if it still lights up. Coil bulbs aren’t enough on their own.</li><li>Weight: weigh on a kitchen scale and write it down. A loss of more than 10% is a vet visit whatever the cause.</li><li>Loose substrate, deep bath water, other reptiles in the same tank.</li></ul></div>';
h+='<div class="sc-cta"><a class="sc-link-btn" href="/find-a-vet/">Find a reptile vet</a><a class="sc-link-btn sc-ghost" href="/health-wellness/when-to-take-bearded-dragon-to-vet/">When to see a vet</a><a class="sc-link-btn sc-ghost" href="/bearded-dragon-care-calendar/">Care calendar</a></div>';
out.innerHTML=h;
}
Array.prototype.forEach.call(root.querySelectorAll('.sc-opt input'),function(cb){ cb.addEventListener('change',function(){ sel[cb.value]=cb.checked; build(); }); });
var segs=root.querySelectorAll('.sc-seg button');
Array.prototype.forEach.call(segs,function(b){ b.addEventListener('click',function(){ Array.prototype.forEach.call(segs,function(x){ x.classList.remove('active'); }); b.classList.add('active'); age=b.getAttribute('data-age'); build(); }); });
document.getElementById('sc-reset').addEventListener('click',function(){ sel={}; Array.prototype.forEach.call(root.querySelectorAll('.sc-opt input'),function(cb){ cb.checked=false; }); build(); });
build();
})();
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
var related = document.querySelector('.entry-related');
if (!related) return;
related.querySelectorAll('h3.entry-title').forEach(function(h3) {
var p = document.createElement('p');
p.className = h3.className;
p.innerHTML = h3.innerHTML;
h3.parentNode.replaceChild(p, h3);
});
});
var kadenceConfig = {"screenReader":{"expand":"Child menu","expandOf":"Child menu of","collapse":"Child menu","collapseOf":"Child menu of"},"breakPoints":{"desktop":"1024","tablet":768},"scrollOffset":"0"};
//# sourceURL=kadence-navigation-js-extra