Posts Tagged ‘Bearded Dragon Impaction’

A Bearded Dragon impaction happens when a solid mass of still gets stuck in the lizard’s digestive tract and become dense and immovable. An impaction can range from a mild case to one that’s life threatening if intervention isn’t done. There are many causes of your pet becoming sick with this condition. Among them is if he eats anything he cannot digest such as the hard shell of a nut, a fruit, or the shell of an insect. You can also give him food that’s too large for him to handle. Any one of those can become lodged and back things up.

There are early warning symptoms of a Bearded Dragon impaction. If you notice that it’s been a day or so and your Beardie hasn’t had a bowel movement, keep an eye on him and see if he goes. Usually, a Beardie will pass some stool on a daily basis and if his habits change, that can be your first clue that something isn’t right. If the living conditions inside his enclosure are off, such as the temperature being too hot or too cold, that can cause your little fellow to slow his normal habits. If you notice your pet begins to drag his back legs, that’s a clear sign that he’s got an impaction.

If your Bearded Dragon impaction seems to be a mild case, you can try to put him down into a tub of warm water and using the soft pads of your fingertips, carefully knead around the area. Sometimes, if the case is a mild one, the warm bath will act as a stimulant to help jump start his bowel movements again. However, if you notice your Beardie is avoiding food, dragging his hind legs and seems lethargic, it’s time to head to the professional and get him checked out.