My young bearded dragon looks constipated. What should I do now?

Hi and thanks for using PetCoach! Sorry to hear that Nero is having a potential problem. It may be time to re evaluate your husbandry program to ensure that you are doing everything right from housing, conditions, diet, etc. Here's two great links for their care and husbandry http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Lizard-Species/Bearded-Dragon/ A few common reasons for constipation include chronic dehydration and poor gut motility due to low calcium levels. These links should help you get back on track. 10 min water soaks once daily may also help including adding calcium to his diet. I hope these help you resolve the problem. I wish you good luck.

If there is any chance the beardies are any older, I would be thinking that one could be pregnant. This usually doesn't occur until at the youngest around 10-12 months however. It is best that they don't breed until even older than this as well, so hopefully this is not the case. Other causes of distended abdomen in these lizards are gastrointestinal impactions, constipation, overeating, obesity, and certain cancers. GI Impaction seems unlikely in this scenario due to the movement of the bowels. If this is an issue with constipation, enemas can be provided though I would not recommend performing this at home unless you are very familiar with reptilian anatomy. An x-ray would really help in this case provide all the information we need. It would show us if there are any eggs, if there is constipation, any sort of tumor (probably), and many other possible issues. Hope this helps!

Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Monitor Drogon for difficulty breathing, blowing bubbles, lethargy, or odd sounds while breathing. These are symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. Parasites or URI may cause the condition you are seeing. Bump cage temps up by about 5F for a few days. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte twice daily for 15-20 minutes. Make sure the UVB light source is not older than 6 months and use quality vitamin and mineral supplements. If Drogon gets worse or does not begin eating soon, have him examined by an experienced herp veterinarian.

Yes, you can mix a few drops of olive or vegetable oil into some unsweetened applesauce or prune baby food. Dab a bit on Clyde's nose to get him eating it. Afterwards, soak him 2-3 times * day in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Gentle massage his abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. Make sure his enclosure is adequately heated since low temps can affect digestion in reptiles. See your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet if Clyde becomes lethargic, stops eating entirely or if there is no defecation within 24-48 hours of the oil/food mix.

Thanks for reaching out about Lucas and including photos. He does not appear overweight in the pictures. If feels gassy, try a 5-10 minute warm water soak to stimulate defecation. If watery, loose or malodorous, consider a fecal examination for parasites, through a veterinary clinic. Good luck.

Hemipenal plugs are common findings in male lizards (and some snakes). Often it is associated with husbandry concerns. Check the thermometer to assure Russell is housed in his POTZ (Preferred Optimal Temperature Zone) of 95-105 in the warm area during the day. Don't let the environmental temperature drop too low during the night. Continue to provide warm water soaks 2-3 times daily, for 5-10 minutes. Don't let the bath water get too cold. The femoral pores and hemipenal glands product an oil-like product than when becomes cold, turns to more of a wax, thereby clogging up the pores and hemipenes. There is a little concern about the color being brown and white. That is usually not a reflection of pore excretions but of feces and urates, possibly indicating constipation or an intestinal blockage. At this age, the diet should consist mostly of vegetables and minimal insects. Eating too much insects at one sitting or ingesting foreign bodies (substrate, etc.) can lead to constipation also. If Russell continues to strain and the warm water soaks don't rectify the problem, seek a veterinarian to assist. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Spike. He probably needs to see a veterinarian, since the warm water soak and other treatments haven't seemed to work. Any change of ingested foreign bodies (sand, bark, paper, other)? Hold back on the olive oil, as if aspirated with cause death. Good luck.