Is my bearded dragon overweight? How to determine its age and health?

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!

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.

You were right - Clyde is starting to shed. Nothing to worry about it. He looks very healthy! You are doing a great job caring for him! Hope this helps. If you have any other questions feel free to post again! Best wishes.

As with most pets, you will see a gradual decrease in activity as they get older. This may be accompanied by weight gain or loss. Unfortunately, there is nothing to be done to stop the passage of time. What you can do is provide the proper environment and diet for Lizzie to keep her in top health. A yearly exam with your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet would also be recommended. It is always easier to prevent disease or illness than it is to treat it. Below are links for information regarding care and keeping of beardies and a link to find a vet if necessary. http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

Thanks for reaching out about Spikey and including a photo. A veterinary visit is recommended, for diagnostics and treatment recommendations, as something might be done to improve quality of life. Check and correct heat support and other husbandry parameters. Offer food and water via a syringe. A vegetable based baby good would work well. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Zero. It is impossible to give you an exact weight without the weight of your bearded dragon, but usually they are fed to satiation, several times daily. Appetite and digestion will also depend on environmental conditions (temperature) and intestinal absorption. If your concerned about growth, a veterinary visit would be recommended. Intestinal parasite or infections could cause a map-digestion. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Smaug and including photos. Adult bearded dragons are omnivorous eating bugs and vegetation. With the vegetables, red, yellow and orange vegetables are also important. Insect have inverse calcium to phosphorus ratio and are a poor long term diet. Gut loading the insects is important to provide appropriate nutrients. If he doesn't get as much bugs, he might be hungry and eat the vegetables. By the photos, he is a little overweight indicated by the thickness of the tail and fat pads in the axillary (armpit) area. Good luck.