Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I could really use some advice on getting my beardie to poop. She appears to be constipated and has not defecated for 3 days, when she usually poops everyday all day long. I have tried the convetional methods to get her to go, such as letting her soak in warm water, keeping her heat bulb on longer for her to bask more, and massaging the belly. Usually three days would not freak me out, but I just lost one of my precious dragons to a constipation problem about a month ago.

That female was constipated and taken to the vet who then gave her an enima. The next morning we found her dead with a little pool of blood coming from her rear. I am so worried that this is going to turn out to be a repeat incident and would like to avoid it at all costs. I also want to hold off on the vet if possible because I feel somewhat disillusioned with his advice and treatment methods.

I giving her a watered down dosage of a children's laxative dangerous? Should I give it a few more days? Help...

ours has been for a week. He doesn't act different, actually active, belly soft and he doesn't react as if he is uncomfortable. Eating fine. I thought I remembered something about giving mineral oil orally?

Ya, a couple drops of mineral oil orally can get things moving again. I'm not sure about laxatives though, i'd worry about dehydration. Vet would probably know more, sounds like the vet ruptured something internally with the enema on the one though so you may want to find a different one that has more experience with it.

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps

to the bathroom before having to resort to enemas and the risk involved in them.

Give her 2-4 drops of mineral oil, veggie oil or olive oil daily, get her on a heat pad or undertank heater at night that does not exceed 105F surface temp. Offer her diluted gatorade(they like strawberry-kiwi a lot) or pedialyte with a dropper, try to get as much fluids in her several times a day as possible, that is vital right now. Take away all crickets, worms and only feed her very runny babyfood.

give her 3-4 days like that along with basking heat during the day overheat and good UVB. If that does not work, she can go as long as two weeks without going to the bathroom, but at that point she will need to see a vet and have an enema if she has not gone.

enemas on bearded dragons can be safe, if the vet knows what they are doing, if not they can perforate the lower intestines and cause internal bleeding, but sometimes it is a necessity.

Also, you need to find out what is constipating them. Substrate, too much chitin shelling on worms, crickets to large for them to digest, some supplements also seem to tend to deplete them of fluids and contribute to constipation, heat not the proper temps for digesting or eating too late before lights/heat off, not enough fluid intake.
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www.reptilerooms.com

We kinda masaged his stomach (it didn't feel hard, just full) and let him run around a bit. Then when we put him in his tub (before the water was in) he pooed, alot.

Had the oil ready but didn't have a chance to give it (good thing)

We had gone away for two weeks and he went once since we came back. Our friends had his temperature up too high and we brought it back down so I'm wondering if that did anything.

Thank you fort he great advice. Our little "Bit" has decided to go poop. The olive oil worked like a charm. She wasn't to pleased with us about it, but it got her to go. Thank you!