How does impaction kill bearded dragons?

Bearded dragons can die of impaction pretty quickly. If ingested substrate or object is small, then it might pass through the digestive tract. But if your dragon is kept on loose substrate such as sand or rocks, it can lead to impaction and death. Same can happen if you fed it very large bugs.

How to treat impaction of a bearded dragon?

Impaction Treatment Options. 1 1. Check The Temperature Of The Basking Area. Because a cool basking area is detrimental to your bearded dragon’s digestive health (and basking bulbs 2 2. Give Your Beardie A Warm Bath. 3 3. Give Them A Massage. 4 4. Try Some New Food. 5 5. Take Your Bearded Dragon To The Vet.

What happens if you leave a bearded dragon untreated?

If left untreated, impaction can lead to a long list of serious health complications for your beardie. In some cases, it can even be fatal. But the chance of this happening to your beardie is very low if you know what to do. As always, being a knowledgable and prepared owner goes quite a long way.

Can a bearded dragon pass a bowel movement?

Much like us, bearded dragons can become backed up, unable to pass a much-needed bowel movement. However, unlike us… impaction for a bearded dragon is a much more serious issue than simple constipation or bloating that almost always subsides shortly.

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 causes a bearded dragon to have impaction?

Impaction is a condition where a bearded dragon’s digestive tract is blocked by a solid or semi-solid mass. Causes of Impaction. This condition may be caused by several things. One possible cause is if a bearded dragon is permitted to eat food items that are too large to properly move through their digestive tract.

What happens if a bearded dragon is left untreated?

As a result, your lizard can lose some or all of its ability to move its legs and become paralyzed until it has proper treatment. In general, if left ignored or untreated, impaction in bearded dragons can eventually lead to life-threatening consequences; in fact, impaction is one of the leading causes of death for captive bearded dragons.

When to get surgery for bearded dragon impaction?

Bearded Dragon Impaction Surgery If none of your efforts to produce a bowel movement seem to be working, then it is imperative you get your dragon to a herp vet right away. If the vet can’t seem to clear the blockage via enemas or laxatives OR they simply determine the blockage is significant, then surgery will likely be your only option.

Why does a bearded dragon eat too much food?

Food Items. This condition may be caused by several things. One possible cause is if a bearded dragon is permitted to eat food items that are too large to properly move through their digestive tract.