Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So my adult bearded dragon used to have a killer appetite.....I fed him super worms and vegetables...the other week I fed him 4 pinky mice over a few days...then suddenly he stopped going to the bathroom and hi appetite vanished...I am really worried about him. Is there some way for me to help end his constipation/renew his appetite? Please help me out I am new to all of this...

Sounds like he's impacted. Pinkie mice aren't a good food item, especially 4 of them at a time. I'd get him to a vet ASAP. Enema and mineral oil are probably called for.

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps

thanks...i fed him 2 at a time 4 days apart...I will call the vet 1st thing tomorrow...

>>Sounds like he's impacted. Pinkie mice aren't a good food item, especially 4 of them at a time. I'd get him to a vet ASAP. Enema and mineral oil are probably called for.
>>
>>Sean
>>Heart Mountain Herps

Agreed with Sean,
From your description he is showing all the signs of being impacted. Give him warm soaks and maybe a drop or two of mineral oil until you can get him into the vet.

Good luck with him!
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Lisa
Cricket free babies!
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no more pinkys they are not the perfered food item!

So here is an update. I can't get Sydney in to a vet until saturday morning and then it is gonna be like $100 dollars just for the visit. I know I sound like scum saying this but that is a lot of money for a college kid. He hasn't eaten in 5 days so I dn't even know if he'll make it to saturday. I went out and got some mineral oil and aneye dropper and gave him a few drops. I also let him play in the bath tub for a while (as per one of the comments). I am hoping that the mineral oil will do the trick before saturday rolls around. In the mean time should I try and force feed him some sort of high fiber/protein puree? I mean he needs nutrients and fast. Also is there anything else I can try at home to remedy the problem so that a vet visit isn't neccessary?
Thanks again to everyone giving advice,
Matt

Ok Matt, I wouldn't say it makes you sound like total scum, just a broke college student. Been there, done that, would love to do it again LOL. Anyway about your beardie. As Lisa said a little mineral oil oraly, looooong soaks in warm water (not playing necessarily), you can massage the belly (I've heard that helps). As for food, I would hesitate to advise force feeding, if it is impaction it would have no place to go and could make the problem worse. You do need to keep him hydrated though. If he's looking like he really needs a boost, get some pedialite, grind up some pellet and make a thin slop out of it, you can also add some babyfood (maybe prunes?????). Put a little on his nose and they will usually start lapping it up, if not pry (carefully) a drop between his lips so he gets a taste of it and that almost always does the trick. You can also put your sprinkle supplements into it and any meds that the vet gives you if he doesn't like them. Good luck and keep us posted (i'd make a new thread though because we don't always scan this far down.)

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps