How can I help my bearded dragon with constipation?
Assist-feeding with canned pumpkin, peach baby food with 1/8 tsp of methylcellulose (eg, Citrucel™) per jar of baby food, or Critical Care for Herbivores™ (Oxbow Hay Company), or other high-fiber product may help stimulate normal defecation. Any diagnosed underlying conditions should be treated.
What is a good laxative for a bearded dragon?
Try feeding your bearded dragon a reptile-safe, natural laxative, like fruit. Some unsweetened, pureed prunes or blueberries can do the trick. If your pet does not have an appetite and refuses to eat, try dabbing a little bit of the puree on its nose to entice it into licking off.
Why is my bearded dragon’s stomach hard?
Bearded dragons rely on the sun’s UV rays to provide them with the minerals and vitamins they need to remain healthy. It’s often noticed that dragons will bloat their bellies in order to increase the surface area covered when basking, ensuring to soak up as much of the sun’s rays as possible.
How to treat impaction or constipation in bearded dragons?
Enemas (consult your veterinarian) Surgery (consult your veterinarian) Of course, the best way to stop this condition from occurring in bearded dragons is simple prevention. Understanding what causes impaction or constipation in bearded dragons is the first step in preventing it from occurring or reoccurring.
What causes a bearded dragon to have an impact?
In short, impaction can be caused by a variety of factors. It’s essentially a hard blockage in the digestive tract of your bearded dragon. Impactions range in severity. Some can pass with at home treatment. Some urgently require veterinary care.
How often does a baby bearded dragon poop?
Babies and juveniles will often poop every day. It’s not uncommon for some bearded dragons to go as long as 3 between poops, but anything longer than 3 weeks could be a sign of impaction or other health issues and should prompt a call to your vet. As with most things, this will vary wildly from animal to animal.
What should you never feed a bearded dragon?
We put together a nice overview of the proper food size for your beardie that you can read here. In the end, never feed your bearded dragon food that is larger than the space between their eyes. Doing this can quickly lead to an impaction. Your bearded dragon cannot create its own body heat. Heat is critical to proper digestion.
What to do if your bearded dragon is constipated?
A reasonable supportive care plan for a constipated bearded dragon includes intracoelomic nonlactated fluids (1 part Normosol, 1 part of 0.45% NaCl, and 2.5% Dextrose) at a rate of 20 mL/kg every 24 to 72 hours, depending on state of dehydration.
What should I do about bearded dragon constipation?
Veterinarian Treatments for Bearded Dragon Impaction Rehydration. The vet may try to rehydrate your bearded dragon by soaking in it in warm, shallow water between 30 minutes to two hours. Laxatives. Enemas. Surgical Intervention.
What is impaction in bearded dragons?
Impaction is a serious condition in which a bearded dragon’s digestive track is unable to fully pass bowel movements due to a blockage of either a solid or semi-solid mass.
A reasonable supportive care plan for a constipated bearded dragon includes intracoelomic nonlactated fluids (1 part Normosol, 1 part of 0.45% NaCl, and 2.5% Dextrose) at a rate of 20 mL/kg every 24 to 72 hours, depending on state of dehydration.
