What is your diagnosis? Joint and associated tissue aspirates from a Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Abstract

A 10-month-old female Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented with a 3-week history of inappetence, drinking less, lethargy, constipation, swelling of both rear legs, and stiffness in the right rear leg. The owner administered corn oil orally and was soaking the animal in warm water baths, which resolved the constipation (per owner). The pet was fed primarily crickets and superworms (Zophobas morio), with occasional vegetables. Calcium powder was given regularly. The animal was kept in a 40 gallon tank with a basking temperature of 32°C (90°F), an ambient temperature of 27°C (80°F), and humidity of 10-15%. The tank was equipped with a UVB lamp, 75 W blue day lamp, and a 75 W night heat lamp. On physical examination, the left rear leg was flaccid, moderately swollen, and painful around the distal tibia. All other physical examination findings were normal. Radiographs of the left rear leg revealed soft tissue swelling with no bone abnormalities. Fine-needle aspirates taken from the left tibiotarsal joint and the subcutaneous swelling adjacent to the joint were submitted for cytologic evaluation (Figure 1).