Beardie ate toxic plant!

[TinyCreaturesRescue]

My bearded dragon Oscar just jumped into my garden and nibbled a Virginia Creeper.
I have checked several sources and all say Virginia creeper is toxic.
Should I induce vomiting with hydrogen pyroxide or get him to drink lots of water?

Anything is helpful!

 

[AHBD]

No, never use hydrogen peroxide. How much was it ? The last few posters that had dragons eat a bite of toxic plant had no ill effects whatsoever. Most of those plants need to be consumed in pretty large amounts to do any damage.

You could always have activated charcoal [ from a drug store ] on hand. It absorbs whatever poison is in the stomach + allows it to pass through safely. If he ate a LOT you could get him to an emergency vet that could quickly give him some charcoal, but you probably won't have a problem.

 

[CooperDragon]

I would offer plenty of water and a dose of activated charcoal to help any toxins pass through his system. If you don't have an activated charcoal kit on hand (I recommend one highly) then try offering some fresh cilantro if you can get that. No hydrogen peroxide should be offered. An emergency vet may be able to help as well but it depends on the amount that was ingested.

 

[AHBD]

See how your beardie is doing....I found this info, although it pertains to a dog ingesting it you should watch for any of these symptoms mentioned.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjbloL9o7nVAhXC3SYKHTWNDsYQFggoMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vetary.com%2Fdog%2Fcondition%2Fvirginia-creeper-poisoning&usg=AFQjCNGUQBa2fKTJvcogrdJaXftTFsBlOA

 

[EllenD]

Good info provided above, you need to watch him closely, as Virginia Creeper is quite toxic, not so much in the sense that it will kill him unless he ate quite a bit of it, but it does tend to make people/animals that ingest it quite nauseous and sick.

Having a bottle of activated charcoal on hand is a really good idea, I have a bottle in my pet first aid kit/tub, just in case. It's exactly what the animal hospital would do for him if you took him in.

FYI, giving hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting is an old trick that actually works very well, but apparently isn't recommended for a reptile? I have done this to my dog once per my vet's instructions, and it worked well. I think I gave him a tablespoon of it and waited 10 minutes, and if they don't vomit in 10 minutes you give a second tablespoon and wait another 10 minutes, and if they still don't vomit you give them a third tablespoon and just wait. It typically only takes the first tablespoon with people and dogs. Just out of curiosity because I've never thought about doing this with a beardie, what is the reasoning behind not inducing vomiting in a beardie with hydrogen peroxide?

 

[AHBD]

I think because of the way a beardie vomits....it can take a while for them to get things up, you know how they sling their heads back + forth. I just think it might be harmful both going down and then when they bring it back up for fear of aspiration .

 

[TinyCreaturesRescue]

Thanks for all the great info. I will try and get ahold of a cilantro plant and activated charcoal. He was only able to get not even 1/8 of a teaspoon worth of leaf before I caught him. I checked the other leaves around and none were missing so I'm hoping he will be fine. Been at least 30 mins and he hasn't shown any signs or symptoms of pain or anything.
Again, thanks for all the info. Will remember if anything happens again.

 

[AHBD]

Hopefully all is well.

 

[CooperDragon]

That's encouraging. I hope all is well too. I suggest ordering this kit http://www.bug-de-lite.com/store/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=Charcoal_Kit I have one and it goes everywhere my dragon goes. It is quite easy to dose and administer charcoal with it if needed.

 

[EllenD]

I think because of the way a beardie vomits....it can take a while for them to get things up, you know how they sling their heads back + forth. I just think it might be harmful both going down and then when they bring it back up for fear of aspiration .

Yep, makes sense, it would be very easy for a beardie to aspirate hydrogen peroxide with all of the foaming it does and them throwing their heads around as they do (I've only seen one vomit once, not a pretty sight). Thanks!