?constipated, but....not! So confused and worried

[livingdeadgirl]

Hello!
So, my biggest beardie, Boaby, has always been a great eater. Eats every bit of salad and live food given to him. he went through a prolonged shed recently in which his appetite was diminished slightly. Still ate though, just higher percentage of live food (dubias, hoppers, occasional morio and calciworms) than veggies.
He hasn't pooped in 3 weeks. Vet checked him over, couldn't feel ANY impaction or swelling at all......doesn't look any bigger in the belly either. It's odd. He's not on loose substrates, hasn't been for 3.5 years since I rehomed him. Still active, basking, vet said to keep an eye and see if he's maybe pooing then eating it but said it's very unlikely. No urates either. Bath hasn't helped. Eating plenty bell peppers, squash, spring greens, occasional kale, carrot, courgette (zucchini), skinned cucumber, strawberry..........but no poo!

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....it does seem that some large dragons get a bit stopped up at times. The diet soinds good, how are you hydrating him ? Does he drink in the bath ? Anyway, he will be ready to go any day now, and here are a few natural laxatives to help out. Use any of these or a combo of....unsweetened applesauce, baby food prunes and squash, canned pumpkin and to any of those offer about 1/4 teaspoon of veg. oil or raw honey. That, along with a warmer + deeper than usual bath will do the trick.

 

[livingdeadgirl]

Thanks! he's had some olive oil which was given covertly disguised on his spring greens. He gets his hydration from his food. Even though he has a small water bowl, he only ever sits in it or chuffs the water out during his daft half-hour. He's always pooped really well. The only change I can think of, is that he went into a new viv. So I guess it could be relocation stress but he doesnt appear remotely bothered, and like I said, he's still eating and doesnt even look swollen! I'll take him to a different vet if no poop by Tuesday, he's still bouncing around fine. Seems odd, it's like he'd doing phantom poo.

 

[AHBD]

This is a fairly common topic on here, just look at the similar threads down below. I know it seems very unusual but they always end up going....what goes in must come out. He will go any day now. Did you try the warmer + deeper than usual bath ? That can stimulate a poo, as well as the other things I mentioned. But he will go ! As for hydration, beardies usually won't drink out of a bowl but may drink if you drip water on their snouts. Try that in the bath, too. Sometimes works, sometimes not but extra hydration always helps constipation.

 

[livingdeadgirl]

hi yes sorry I forgot to mention that, he did have a bath, it didn't do anything immediately - i then drizzled some olive oil onto his spring greens and squash which he chomped down in one go.............and today I got home from work to find a medium sized plop right in the middle of his viv. whew! Thank you for your help, i'll stop panicking now!

 

[AHBD]

That's good, it usually happens soon after the natural laxatives are given. I know that you [ and he ] are relieved.