🧬 Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors in Bearded Dragons: A Vet’s 2025 Guide to Emerging Cancer Care | Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

A concerning new form of cancer is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in pet bearded dragons. Called gastric neuroendocrine tumors (GNT), this disease is aggressive, fast-spreading, and difficult to treat. 🦎💔

In this guide, we’ll cover what GNT is, how to recognize it early, what diagnostic steps your vet will take, and how to provide supportive care. 🧠🩺

🔬 What Are Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors?

GNTs are malignant tumors that arise in the stomach and often spread rapidly to the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and other internal organs. They have only recently been identified in captive reptiles and appear most common in young bearded dragons. 🧬📉

📍 Primary Sites:

• 🍽️ Stomach (origin site)
• 🩸 Liver (most common site of spread)
• 🧠 Kidneys, intestines, heart, pancreas, oviducts

🧠 Symptoms of GNT

Signs are vague and non-specific — often grouped under the term “ADR” or “ain’t doing right.” Bearded dragons may show:

• 🥱 Lethargy or depression
• 📉 Weight loss or failure to thrive
• 🍽️ Reduced or absent appetite
• 🤮 Vomiting
• 🩸 Blood in stool or cloacal bleeding (melena)
• 🧪 Elevated blood glucose levels (rare in reptiles)

High blood sugar may indicate a possible GNT — unlike mammals, diabetes is extremely rare in reptiles. 🧠⚠️

🧪 Diagnosis

Because symptoms are non-specific, diagnosis typically involves multiple steps:

• 📋 Thorough history and physical examination
• 🩸 Bloodwork (CBC & plasma chemistry)
• 📸 X-rays to detect masses or organ enlargement

However, definitive diagnosis requires a stomach biopsy. This tissue sample must be submitted to a specialized laboratory to confirm the tumor type. 🧬🔬

What Your Vet Looks For:

• 📍 Presence of a stomach mass
• 🧪 High blood glucose levels (suggestive, not conclusive)
• 📦 Spread to liver or other organs

💉 Treatment Options

Currently, no standard treatment protocol exists for GNT in bearded dragons. The prognosis is poor, even with early surgery. 💔

Supportive Care Focuses On:

• 🧊 Keeping your dragon comfortable
• 💉 Managing pain and inflammation
• 🧴 Nutritional support and hydration
• 📉 Reducing stress and environmental triggers

Your veterinarian will guide you through quality-of-life considerations and when humane euthanasia may be the kindest choice. 🕊️

🛡️ Prevention & Early Detection

There are no known environmental causes for GNT and no proven preventative strategy — this appears to be a genetically linked or spontaneous cancer seen in captive dragons. 📉🧬

That said, you may choose to:

• 🧪 Ask your vet to screen young bearded dragons with bloodwork (especially glucose)
• 🩺 Schedule regular wellness exams at least once a year
• 👀 Monitor appetite and weight carefully

There Is No Zoonotic Risk

GNT is not contagious to humans or other pets. There is no known transmission pathway, and the disease is not infectious. ❌🧫

📈 Prognosis

• ☠️ GNT is highly malignant with rapid progression
• 🕒 Most dragons succumb within weeks to months of diagnosis

Early detection may allow for surgical removal and some life extension, but recurrence and metastasis are likely. 😢

📱 Need Expert Support? AskAVet.com

If your bearded dragon is showing vague signs of illness or has unexplained high blood sugar, download the Ask A Vet app to connect with reptile-savvy veterinarians. Get advice, discuss testing, and explore options for comfort and care. 🐾💬

GNT may be new — but you’re not alone. Let’s give every dragon the best possible quality of life. 💚🦎