Reptile · Pogona vitticeps · typical adult weight 0.38–0.51 kg
Vitamin A is dosed at 2000 IU/kg IM q7-14d x 2-4 treatments in bearded dragons, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles), p.267 — superscript 63 = Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. Corroborated by BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed Part B, Vitamin A, printed p.299 (corpus p.313): 'Reptiles: 1000-2000 IU/kg p.o. q7-14d.' — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Vitamin A is used in bearded dragons for Vitamin A deficiency, hypovitaminosis A, Hypovitaminosis A. Routes documented in bearded dragons: IM, PO. A typical adult bearded dragon weighs 0.38–0.51 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Vitamin A in bearded dragons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency |
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| IM | 2000 IU/kg | q7-14d x 2-4 treatments | 2-4 treatments | Vitamin A deficiency, hypovitaminosis A | Anecdotal | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles), p.267 — superscript 63 = Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. Corroborated by BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed Part B, Vitamin A, printed p.299 (corpus p.313): 'Reptiles: 1000-2000 IU/kg p.o. q7-14d.' — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
| PO | 2000 IU/kg | q7-14d x 2-4 treatments | Ongoing dietary supplementation | Hypovitaminosis A | Anecdotal | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 4.9, p.267 — superscript 63 = Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. Corroborated by BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed Part B, Vitamin A, p.313: 'Reptiles: 1000-2000 IU/kg p.o. q7-14d.' — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, ; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, ; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (iu/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000–2000 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.313 | 1000-2000 IU/kg p.o. q7-14d |
| 2000 | PO | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.8 | 2000 U/kg PO, SC, IM q7-14d × 2-4 treatments34,37 2000 U/30 g BW PO once, repeat in 7 days114,314 Most species/hypovitaminosis A Chameleons/eye swelling, respiratory disease, hemip |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your bearded dragon's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Essential fat-soluble vitamin required for vision, epithelial integrity, immune function, and reproduction. Deficiency common in captive reptiles and turtles on inadequate diets.
NARROW therapeutic index — hypervitaminosis A causes hepatotoxicity and skin sloughing. Do not overdose. Particularly important in chelonians and box turtles. Toxicity signs include skin peeling.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for bearded dragons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Vitamin A dose ranges in bearded dragons, with cited source references: IM 2000 IU/kg q7-14d x 2-4 treatments; PO 2000 IU/kg q7-14d x 2-4 treatments. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Vitamin A in bearded dragons: IM, PO.
Cited course lengths for Vitamin A in bearded dragons include: 2-4 treatments; Ongoing dietary supplementation. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Vitamin A is indicated in bearded dragons for: Vitamin A deficiency, hypovitaminosis A, Hypovitaminosis A.
These are general warnings for Vitamin A across species; consult the bearded dragon dosing table above for species-specific guidance. NARROW therapeutic index — hypervitaminosis A causes hepatotoxicity and skin sloughing. Do not overdose. Particularly important in chelonians and box turtles. Toxicity signs include skin peeling.
Why a species-specific page? Vitamin A pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in bearded dragons — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.