Impaction in Bearded Dragons

How will I know my bearded dragon is impacted?

There are a few signs that you may notice. One of the first indications is that your beardie will stop going to the bathroom regularly. Typically, your beardie will have a bowel movement (i.e. poop) once a day. Now this is not a hard and fast rule, since every bearded dragon is different, but if your bearded dragon has not moved his bowels in a couple days, and is not acting like his normal self, be sure to pay attention. This may be an indication that something is serious going on.

An indicator of a more serious issue could be partial paralysis. Typically, a beardie's hind legs will seem to have less mobility, and often drag as your beardie moves. If you see this happening, it could be that he has an impaction. Of course it may be something other than impaction as well, but it's definitely a problem that needs your immediate attention.

Another sign, often accompanied with the paralysis mentioned above, is a bump or lump along the back, near the spine. Like the paralysis, this is usually an indication of a more serious problem and should be cared for immediately.

What can I do about it?

Well, I am not a medical expert on this topic, so I am hesitant to offer any extreme guidance on how to properly deal with impaction. What I would suggest is that with the earlier stages of a mild impaction, you may be able to offer your bearded dragon some relief by giving him a warm bath and gently massaging his abdomen. Massaging gently down towards the vent may assist your bearded dragon in moving an impaction down through his digestive tract, so that he can pass it. Another thing that may help is to dose your bearded dragon with a few drops of vegetable oil, prior to bathing him, to help move things along more easily.

I would also strongly recommend that you get your pet an appointment, as soon as possible, with a knowledgeable vet who is experienced in the treatment of bearded dragons. If you cannot locate an experienced reptile vet in your area, you may be able to get some assistance by logging onto HerpVetConnection.com, which is a site that lists veterinarians experienced in treating reptiles, by state.

Another good source of information is an article entitled "Impaction in Bearded Dragons" which is available at ReptileRooms.com, written by Cheri Smith. She goes into much more detail about what you can do yourself to help treat the issue.