Scaleless Bearded Dragon needs her Foot Amputated :(

Today's "case study" video features two lizards that needed surgery- A leopard gecko with a mouth abscess, and a bearded dragon needing her foot amputated. Don't worry, there's a happy ending for both!
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Music by BenSound and Epidemic Sound

[@marissastockton793]

I think little girl is Meg (Meg AH rah) from Hercules :)

[@ProudAuntieEST2016]

That is what I was going to say!❤

[@beyedoc]

My thought exactly

[@hummingbirdwof]

Oh that’s cool I didn’t think of that

[@ryanawilson8549]

Came to say the same thing

[@ashleeotto8248]

Ditto 😂

[@SwornQuietus]

it could be possible that the bearded dragon is diabetic... the extremities becoming necrotic is a sign of sustained hyperglycemia.

[@highjinx6519]

Can reptiles be diabetic I wonder?

[@TroubledRaccoon]

@@highjinx6519they can but its a very rare thing since nothing they eat will give enough sugar to matter so the only way it can happen is if they get a REALLY bad diet

[@cooldudenibb]

​@@TroubledRaccoonsomething like tons of fruits most days or something?

[@Somedude20282]

Silkies have no scales to protect them from minor bumps and scrapes, putting them at a higher risk of infection. Along with needing a moist environment it was the perfect breeding ground for infections

[@highjinx6519]

@@TroubledRaccoon that’s what I figured, I wouldn’t think they would have much sugar in a healthy diet.

[@karigarcia8316]

Silkie bearded cannot live a normal bearded dragon life. They cannot have substrate, the decor cant be anything spikey or rough edges. Uvb can actually burn them. They have alot of issues with shedding. People who produce Silkies are not reputable breeders. Im glad you were able to help this one. Shes one of the lucky ones

[@PhoenixRoseYT]

Vets are crazy amazing honestly. Doctors have 4+ years to learn medicine for one species but vets learn about EVERYTHING in the same amount of time! The tumor surgery on Ember is amazing. The jugular vein is such a huge vessel, one nick could end in death. Your vet is a hero!

[@zakuraRabbit]

Human doctors also often specialize in certain parts of the body too, you got eye doctors, digestion doctors, gynocologists... vets may specialize in a few species of animals but its the whole animal.

[@alexmcmurdo9866]

i really hope shes ok now

[@gggthsb]

​@@zakuraRabbit you do have some specialised vets as well, Kardiologists or Onkologists for example, some specialised in teeth. But yes, most Vets are not specialised and treat the whole animal, but sometimes you need a specialist for some cases. (Like another example is surgery on the spine and such) I just wish Vets would be as valued by society as human doctors are. The respect for Vets is just simply not there.

[@Ash_ok33]

They are both really hard things to specialize, comparing them would be comparing an apple to an orange

[@ChicagoMel23]

@@gggthsbit's Cardiologists and Oncologists

[@-sakura-.]

poor Mary :(. wishing her a long love-filled and relaxing life as a pretty lil beardie

[@RealQuin]

merry

[@Journeyto180]

I had a silkie for a while. I ended up having to give her to a rescue that could care for her better than I could. I just couldn't keep up with her skin issues. It seemed like no matter what I did or how well I cared for her she just kept having issues. Now I have a male who is completely scaled and who is doing great. He's wonderful.

[@cooldudenibb]

I'm sure it was hard to give her up, but major props to you for doing the right thing for the beardie!

[@Somedude20282]

You did the right thing!! Tbh they shouldn't have sold you that baby as a first time owner

[@Journeyto180]

@@Somedude20282 What's worse is they didn't telle that she wasn't a normal dragon either. I knew she didn't look like one but I just assumed she was a leatherback. It wasn't until she started having skin issues and I took her to the vet for them that I learned she was a silkie.

[@Julaeable]

Thank you for going the painful, but right route ❤ I hope you enjoy life with your new dragon 🐲😊

[@franciscorosa1498]

I didn't realize scaleless bearded dragons were a thing, odd

[@melodyswain2588]

There's actually two different types of the scaleless morph in beardies. Leatherback and Silkie. Leatherbacks still have some scales but they're very very tiny compared to normal beardie scales. The one featured in today's video was a silkie which is a true scaleless beardie. :)

[@catcando1131]

It’s best if most don’t know, they have so many health issues I question wether or not they should even be breed.

[@blackfirehedgehog7725]

They're just as lovely as any dragon but silkbacks tend to have a lot of health issues (shedding for one) and they get hurt a lot more easily without scales. I've heard they can't even breed without injuries. I'm not sure how healthy leatherbacks tend to be.

[@lindsaymcmuffin]

​@@blackfirehedgehog7725 leatherbacks are so much better healthwise. Silkies have so many issues.

[@caterscarrots3407]

@@lindsaymcmuffin Yeah, leatherbacks are basically like normal scale bearded dragons in terms of their health, just a different look and feel to them.

[@YochevedDesigns]

Morphs: just because you can, doesn't mean you should. 😢

[@rowanbarrett8275]

I saw another commenter say that Mary might be diabetic and I totally agree!! Diabetic neuropathy and swollen limbs (edema) are common issues with unregulated diabetes.

[@Somedude20282]

Reptiles aren't commonly diabetic, it's far more likely she scraped herself with a nail or in her tank and got an infection

[@Alvarnea]

I also don't know if this morph is common or where she came from - I imagine possible inbreeding could also increase likelihood of type 1 diabetes? Tho this is an utter and complete guess. XD

[@shego1142]

I was wondering if it could possibly be Raynaud’s or some other circulatory condition? I did some precursory research and found basically absolutely nothing but that’s not really evidence that it doesn’t happen, more so just that it’s not something well studied. Idk, was just wondering. I do also agree with a different comment I saw about how she’s a silkie and having thin skin and no scales plus needing to live in a high humidity environment can be a breeding ground for infections. But it was interesting that she had not just a foot infected but also multiple toes and her other hand wasn’t looking good.

[@Sakisasvictorianmask]

@@Somedude20282 But would that explain why multiple limbs go necrotic at once?

[@lucalopez9604]

"i have a wife and children" "dont worry, Ill eat them too" Im crying 😂

[@benjamindailey8812]

😂 😂 where r the kids?? In me belly

[@86fifty]

Wow, I was definitely not thinking the beardie would pull through, with the existing health issues and her poor crusty eyes! :( But she really did! All that energy there at the end! And you got her a home with an employee you trust, that's really heartwarming! Props to Lucy, thank you for loving the disabled ones :)

[@billflatley168]

She's doing great here at Lucy's house/zoo...and she's a sweetie.

[@Annie_Annie__]

Just fyi, Megara is usually pronounced MEG-uh-ruh. It’s an Anglicized version of Megaera, who was the first wife of Herakles/Hercules. They had a son and a daughter. Hera struck Herc with temporary madness and he ended Megara and their children brutally and had to perform his Twelve Labors to repent.

[@ChicagoMel23]

yeah Disney totally left out all the dark and creepy parts

[@bouncebird3760]

It's a bit disappointing that you say that Silkies can live a normal life, when basking can actually cause severe burns, they need to be moisturized and generally just have issues living a normal beardie life.

[@kampfgeist7703]

Agreed. Silkies should not be bred at all

[@SmolAliens]

Well done beardie! My greyhound had a leg amputated recently, it seems like most animals adapt really well after a few weeks. Fingers crossed for her :)

[@Lori0Tas]

I have a tripawed. Mainly cattle dog in build. He's rear wheel drive (missing a front leg). He lost it at 2yo and is now 11, and it's never slowed him down. My other dog is an ex-racing greyhound. She only gets off the couch under duress.

[@ChicagoMel23]

The exception is big animals. I've heard of an elephant getting a prosthesis and living but for horses and cows it's often fatal. They are too heavy to do well on three legs and I guess prosthetics are complicated and expensive

[@annadavenport2594]

Being from Alabama, i never thought id get to see Snake Discovery in person but today, dreams came true! My husband, daughter, were there an hour early because I couldn’t wait 🤭 we got to meet Emily, Lucy, and Kalie in person and I am still coming off of cloud 9! Thank you so much to Emily and the staff today (May 3) for making our day so special! My little Sofia got to meet the rattlesnake Sophia in person and is still talking about it ❤️

[@firefoxkari]

These poor animals. I would to see a more vlogs on animals in the rescue or those in quarantine to help them with adoption.

[@Crovus804]

Thank you Lucy for taking care of beardies in need!! It's wonderful knowing the silkie got adopted into a great home

[@beyedoc]

I thought Mary's color and hydration looked better immediately after surgery, and I know nothing about bearded dragons.

[@jcwittig]

I am extremely surprised that you do not have a suture removal kit. They're easy to get and you can probably get one from your veterinarian. They said a whole lot easier and you end up not having to poke them or pull at the sutures as you cut them makes it a lot easier and less painful for the poor patient you're trying to get them out of. As well as dirt a lot smaller than the scissors that you eventually use. I would highly recommend you get a suture removal kit.

[@iheart801]

I have had beardies with nubbins before, and they do callus up. I alway found when they shed their nubbins fascinating as sometime they will shed off like a little cap.

[@Jester-Clownn]

Wow, i haven't ever seen amputation for a reptile. I hope they have a speedy recovery and find a awesome home

[@kyrab7914]

I've actually seen it in alligators before, they're even known to be able to cut off blood supply to wounds.

[@PKBitchGirl]

​@@kyrab7914 I saw a tv programme years ago where someone caught a 3 legged crocodile in australia, it was a show researching crocodile blood as crocs can live in filthy water, lose a limb but have no effects from the filthy water

[@claire6843]

You should watch the video and find out

[@maxinemann2490]

If you remove sutures often, you should get a pair of suture scissors. One blade has a 1/2 circle removed at the end to make getting under stitches easier.

[@shadowjewel]

I wonder if the scaleless beardy is more vulnerable to getting small cuts, so perhaps it was an infection that got out of control in her foot that then caused secondary impacts in her toes. Or, I wonder if the genetics for scaleless, or something else in her genes, means she isn't regulating her temperature very well? Or it's affected her circulation? Temperature or circulation is a reason some humans or animals might loose extremities. All just speculation of course.

[@DY1NGT0P4Z]

Hi

[@MJLover100]

That actually seems like it could be. Good speculation

[@blackfirehedgehog7725]

Oh man, the way Mary looked at that hornworm lol. Most beardies I know absolutely love the things. Silkies are hard to take care of from what I hear, but I'm glad she's doing well. Same with Meg, also a cute lil' gecko.

[@PKBitchGirl]

We cant get horn worms in ireland, I believe they're illegal due to the potential of them becoming invasive in the wild, not sure if its an EU wide ban or not In ireland the feeder insects available are crickets, locusts, wax worms (my leopard gecko loves these), meal worms and feeder roaches

[@giabarrone7422]

I know I’ve said this before, but I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the fact that you follow the story of an animal all the way through to the end. I know how much work it is, and it is GREATLY appreciated!

[@Zafii_Zafii]

It's amazing to see you helping all of those animals, thank you for everything you do for them ❤️

[@snoko2]

Glad they are both feeling better! I have to be honest, the nurse in me was panicking when Emily was talking with her hands and waving that needle around haha

[@ChimkinMcCluckie]

I'm betting Megara is pronounced in the Roman way since it's the name of the female lead in Hercules (Disney version). Meg-uh-ruh. (and of course the wife of Heracles in mythology)

[@fuzzylittlespider]

Poor little Mary, bless Lucy for giving her a new home.

[@celticthunderfan16]

Yay Ember! Thank for having the lump looked at. My husband and I noticed it in the zoo last year, and I know you looked at it then. Sorry, it got worse, but glad he could get that resolved. Keep up the awesome work caring for everyone.

[@mosskat7842]

I really want to call Mary "Moldemort" cause she looks like a piece of moldy cheese and I love her.

[@sborrink]

Did I just blubber over two animals finding their forever homes? Yes, yes I did.

[@naturenut1316]

Thank you Lucy! Hope she thrives and has many happy years with you! 💙

[@blaisearwyn3405]

Maybe Ed & Emily could help out Lucy with the cost of the eye drops. Would be a great appreciative gesture for such a knowledgeable caretaker.

[@LauriFlatley]

As Lucy’s mom, we couldn’t be more grateful for all Ed and Emily did to make sure Merri has the best possible outcome! She’s living her best life with the support of all the Snake Discovery family!

[@blaisearwyn3405]

@@LauriFlatley Happy & relieved to know Lucy & Co. feel supported.

[@Pien-qo9kr]

Hope she’ll recover well! Im glad all the animals have you guys, you help so many animals have a chance at good lives. Thank you for being such kind people

[@naturelover9716]

Vet tech tip! You guys should get some suture scissors. They have a tiny hook that can slip under the suture and prevents you from accidentally cutting them or having to pull on the stitch to get under it.

[@that_lego_furry]

I didn't realize beardies can be scaleless, poor Mary, so glad she's feeling better now! :)

[@jenlong2756]

So glad they are all ok. After all they have been thru, especially Ember, thank goodness they ended up with you all at Snake Discovery. Thank you for all the great videos!

[@Vickie-Bligh]

Ed & Emily, your loving care and willingness to receive any reptile and help it heal is so wonderful. Thank you for sharing these beautiful creatures and I am proud to be a Patreon member.

[@reiherptilelover]

Both cuties are such good girls! It’s so happy to see that they’re healing from the issues and getting back their energy! Thank you SD for saving them, and thank you for who adopted them as a family!

[@TheDisasterIsMe]

YES ANOTHER VID Edit: just watched it, and read the title correctly, I didnt know bearded dragons could be scaleless honestly! But I wish her the best regards

[@Crovus804]

Thank you for taking care of these animals and posting their stories. It's wonderful knowing donations go to animals in need ♥

[@Loaf-wo6np]

Aww those poor babies i am so happy they were surrendered to you so you can help them ❤

[@anacarolvictorio6522]

These adoption and recovery videos are my favorite. I'm so happy you guys are able to provide this care for these animals.

[@Cami_love_pugs]

Poor bearded dragon :(

[@cindyshaw7364]

As a vet tech I enjoyed following these cool cases! I wish I worked with exotics

[@happi0420]

Mary is so calm. I know she will be loved

[@alexh9614]

Oof made me so nervous watching Emily with the uncapped needled 😬

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

I have a five lined skink with three legs,she gets along with no issues,she can run down her food just fine,her mother was wild caught and pregnant when I got her,she laid two or three eggs,and of course I kept the one born with three legs.

[@steelsilver4078]

Poor things!! Wishing them well and happy lives from here on out!

[@katiekorell9776]

I love how well you take care of each and every little critter that comes into your care!❤

[@kellyharper367]

Poor babies! Thank you for your care of these animals!

[@maryjooverocker4510]

I wish I lived closer to adopt one of these beautiful babies

[@Bear_the_shepherd]

happy Friday everyone. poor baby, I'm so grateful for all you do for animals. lots of love to everyone at SD and God bless x

[@deloresrogers685]

So happy you have a great vet! Such small animals to operate on. Wonderful they recovered and found for ever homes that can handle their problems ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hollyxberry]

Yall are amazing! I had a rescue who needed his front left foot amputated and his entire back left leg amputated. He did great getting around with a few tank modifications!

[@FearnirixGames]

I never knew bearded dragons could be scaless oh wait i spelled scaleless wrong i think thats how you spell it

[@Journeyto180]

I used to have one. They can be very difficult to care for as far as their skin goes. Mine had such bad issues that I ended up having to give her to a rescue who could care for her better than I could.

[@rickh3714]

Healthy ones aren't. Over breeding and selecting often has repercussions. Scaleless morphs are the antithesis of being a reptile IMO and should be abandoned as ' projects ' by ethical breeders. Do you really think Featherless birds would take on amongst Avicultural breeders?

[@thebenior]

I heard that they're the byproduct of breeders trying to maximize leatherback production by breeding 2 leatherbacks together instead of 1 leatherback and 1 normal. They get more leatherbacks, but then they get some silkback/scaleless dragons. They've thankfully become less commonly sold over the past decade and a half.

[@TheDisasterIsMe]

Dang 3 entire essay long worthy comments tbh ^

[@rickh3714]

@@TheDisasterIsMe Litracee. Innit grate?

[@enso8379]

I loved this video! Warms my heart to see beautiful animals get care and find loving homes.

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

Thanks for all you do to help our scaly and scale-less friends. 😀

[@thatonestranger2258]

I love how you can see the colour return to both of them as they get better

[@AngD03]

So glad these two got adopted! Love what you guys are doing!!!

[@Kiki-]

Lucy is an animal lover after my own heart, im more of a dog lady but the elderly and disabled ones are my kryptonite, can't help myself

[@KalenaplayzTrumpet]

Isn’t Megara said like Meg from Disney Hercules?😂

[@Smokeybluetheraccoon]

Thank you to the whole team for all the care and love you give all your animals, whether they're the ones you breed, the ones in your zoo, or the ones you help rehabilitate ❤

[@cynthiat6505]

You are so amazing with all your critters. I am so impressed! It’s so obvious how much you love them. Blessings all over you!

[@josephkwiatkowski2735]

It’s probably because I watch videos like yours but I’ve never seen a perfectly healthy silky. I’m sure they’re out there but it definitely seems like a lot of unprepared keepers get them for the cool factor only to end up giving them up.

[@blueheartless36]

Thanks for all you do!

[@Trenton107]

Hope you keep making amazing videos you have taught me so much about reptiles

[@alen-sy5db]

great to see reptiles become healthier in your care!

[@meld5234]

I want to rename Mary to my grandma's name, Ferol. She also had to have her leg amputated just under the knee due to a car accident. Plus she's orangish just like my grandma's hair was. It's kinda funny, my grandma would swing her stump around like that when she got startled. I wish my apartment complex allowed reptiles so I could adopt someday.

[@karliechardi2229]

Mary is doing great! Megara's eye too... Though just after surgery you could totally tell the lump was removed from looking where it was in the external under her eye.❤❤

[@BELLA.L.S.]

still cute no matter what happens

[@Pentecopterus]

They couldn't ask for better caretakers

[@paranoiarpincess]

I've never felt so connected to an animal in my life. I was born with arthritis and since have been diagnosed with 4 autoimmune diseases. And the latest? All my teeth are falling out :S

[@Kopa_Malphas]

:'(

[@patriciasiefert7140]

I love that you take such great care of all your animals!

[@oldsperfect10ify]

Thanks for being soooo good to these babies

[@LieveHooijer]

She’s soooooo pretty! Also poor girl

[@victoriathomas1402]

Merry did so amazing during the stitches removal. I remember when my stitches were taken out it was such an awful painful experience at some points. It’s all together uncomfortable and seeing her do so well is really sweet. You did such a good job taking care of her!

[@StarrytheArtist]

Glad that you have a vet that can help you take on tough cases and a staff to help. Good support network to help you keep doing what your doing. Keep it up.

[@SaraAson]

It makes sense that a scaleless lizard can look underweight sphynx cats also look very bony without the fur (when at a healthy weight!) makes sense the same would be true for other scale/hairless animals

[@spencersoup845]

Theses are my favourite types of videos (maybe aside from enclosure set ups) though though often sad, it makes me glad that the animals have end up with you and are now loved and properly cared for

[@vani562]

Ohh no, hope there all better soon

[@thebuzzybumblebee15]

That silver honey stuff is great! I’ve used it on dogs, cats, and horses too

[@MajestiquePridol]

Mary looked PISSED the entire time other than at the end, and that is so funny to me

[@BeetleDragon]

Wow! I’m so glad everyone turned out ok! Mary reminds me of my local animal reserve/museum they have a beardie his name is lefty who is about 30, and he was born without his front left leg, and when he was in his 20s his tail was amputated due to a wild mouse breaking into his enclosure and failing to eat his tail. He is still very much alive and nobody is sure how, he is definitely on his last legs but it’s been about 2 years since we started saying that he was close to kicking the bucket and he is still alive!

[@rebeccawicks5111]

Animals adapt SO well, I'm glad Mary & Megara (or Appa! So cute) made it into good hands! Thank you Lucy for adopting special needs pets ❤

[@danisprog355]

Poor little dude

[@Spellbound_Rose]

Glad they both made a safe recovery and have very good homes now! Wishing both Mary and Megara the best!

[@noodleyboodley]

I was NOT expecting you to pull out the stitches yourselves, right then and there, haha wow!!

[@JSLookdev]

The world needs more Lucys

[@Willow_the_arcticfox]

Omg im crying this is so sad😢😢😢

[@ontarioreptilerescue]

Speedy recovery! 💚

[@lorahassani7728]

I really like seeing these rescue and adoption episodes. Loved hearing Mary's story.

[@einsteineinstein7782]

Noooo poor little ones😭😭😭🦎🐊💜💜

[@CeltycSparrow]

Mary and Megara are BEAUTIFUL. I am glad they are both feeling better after surgery. I noticed a black spot on the back of Mary's head, on the right side. Is that her coloration or is that necrotic skin, as well? Poor girl...I am glad she is with you and getting the best care. Will she still be able to move properly and climb without that back foot? Will it affect her mobility at all? And do you know WHY her skin is getting necrotic, so you can stop it?

[@hayleywright6585]

I am so glad that megara and merry’s former owners brought these guys to you. You have such care and compassion for your animals (be they residents or rescues) and your dedication to improving all their lives is wonderful. The way your pattern backers funds are used is a really wholesome use of the funds. So glad to see both recovered and regaining their sass. Merry especially you could see that she just felt so so much better. Scarfing down food, wriggling all over the place. So lovely to see. Thank you for doing what you do, and for sharing their stories

[@Web2014]

Oh no hope they okay

[@slateportraichu5416]

You all do so much for the animals. Giving them a chance. Have a wonderful week., Snake Discovery!

[@jadaakers2417]

I love these types of videos. I’m hoping to be able to get some type of reptile (hopefully a snake) in the future and these videos are showing me all the things I can do to avoid cases like these. Thank you!