First time post... Sick 9 month old beardie

[Sam84]

Little update here...
I gave him a bath Saturday. Abd since then he has not returned under his log but instead just spends his time on the cool side under his uv light.
Still no intrest in eating ( apart from the odd couple of crickets)
Although dosent appear to of lost much if any weight.
It's now over 2 weeks since his last poo. The bath I gave him sat was slightly deeper and warmer than usual.
Still sound like semi brumation? Just had to check in.
Thanks again

 

[AHBD]

Yes, as long as he isn't getting real thin, which most don't because they slow their metabolism down, he'll be fine. I've had many dragons brumate, partially brumate, slow down with or without eyes closed to go to sleep, some just hide + not eat for a while ....not one of them ever got ill or had a bad experience. Godzilla is healthy so he's fine.

 

[Sam84]

So yesterday he had around 15 locusts and chased them around like his old self which was great to see, is this brumation behaviour something he could slip in and out of??
He still hasn't pooed, 2 half weeks now. So that concerns me.
Heres a couple of piccys from yesterday. And thanks again!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Well, they will eat, then want to go lay down or nap & just be lazy. Since he did eat, you will want to be sure that he basks for a little bit to where he can digest his food some. If he isn't in a deep sleep or brumation chances are he will probably bask on his own since he did eat.
This is common behavior, plus, he is young so he doesn't really know quite what to do yet. He looks very good in the pictures.

Tracie

 

[diamc]

Was just reading this thread. I'm curious, what type of thermometer did you replace the round gauge (dial) with, a temperture gun or digital with long wire & probe end?

Hopefully you can give him some very warm baby food applesauce or pumpkin to help him clean out before he goes back to sleep again.

He is a very handsome guy.

 

[Sam84]

Hi there, I'll be honest I didn't replace the thermometer!
He seems ok but still no poo in now nearly 3 weeks! Today he slept under his log allday!
Please can you give me very simple and thorough instructions on how to.make him go!
Thank you so much

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Be sure the temperatures are correct. A digital probe or temp gun would be much better. If he isn't warm enough, that will definitely affect him wanting to bask & he wont be able to digest as well either.
You can give him softer foods such as canned sugar free pumpkin & sugar free apple sauce with a drop or two of coconut oil or olive oil to help out, in case he is impacted a little.
Double check the temperatures also, to be sure they are optimal for him to be able to digest.

Tracie

 

[diamc]

I actually suspect that a good part of the problem is that the basking area is too hot and that's why he is either hiding or under the UVB light as he is too uncomfortable to bask. What reading are you getting on the round gauge thermometer now? Those can actually be at least 20 degrees off. It really would be a good idea to get a probe thermometer or temp gun right away so you know what the actual temps are. If you'd like some links to some, I would gladly post them here for you.

Since he's not basking, he's not able to digest or get rid of the waste and that's not good. Also, if he goes to sleep again with a full belly, the food could rot in his stomach making him very sick or worse. Since we now know that the bulb on the right isn't a mercury vapor bulb that supplies heat & UVB, I wanted to mention that it is always a good idea to have the UVB right next to the basking bulb so that your beardie can get the benefit of both bulbs at the same time and they should want to be under the heat bulb if the temps are accurate and comfortable.
Hope you don't mind but I thought posting the pic here that I was referring to would be helpful.

So yesterday with him eating that many locusts and not pooping for 3 weeks, he is really bound up. I hope he basked under the heat light at least for a little while.

Have you picked up some 100% canned pumpkin with no added ingredients and tried that? Very warm baby food applesauce with a few drops of vegetable oil works well too and you can do that while he is sitting in his bath, perhaps that way he will stay in the bath water longer. Warm baby food prunes work well too. After the bath and him eating some of one of the above, you can lay him on a heated rice sock. Take a sock and fill it with raw rice, tie a knot in the end and heat it in the microwave for a few seconds. Test the temp by the side of your cheek, should feel quite warm but not hot enough to burn your cheek. You can heat it as many times as needed so you can use it over & over again. After blotting your beardie dry, lay him down on the rice sock and wrap him & the rice sock up in a fluffy towel or small blanket, that combination should help get things moving along right away or the next morning.

Would be a good idea to stick to soft foods until he is all cleaned out.

Hard to tell from the pictures, but what substrate is down on the bottom of his tank?

**Sorry Tracie, I was writing this as you were posting.

 

[AHBD]

I'm also wondering what the substrate is, it doesn't look familiar . But I just wanted to add that his not pooing is coinciding with his not eating much over the past 2 weeks or so. That's pretty normal, less meals = less poos. Some beardies do exactly what he is doing and they eventually poo. He just doesn't have that much in him . He will probably go any day now, this happens quite often at this time of year and there are numerous threads if you Google this topic [ bearded dragon not pooing ] All the natural laxatives that Diamc mentioned will help , but even without these he will eventually go and will not get sick. As long as he's not been eating the substrate there's nothing to worry about but he looks alert + healthy so I doubt that he has eaten it....but you might want to get rid of it anyway.

 

[diamc]

Hopefully once the temps are accurate, he will bask more which will also help with his appetite and cleaning out his system.

The log in the tank is cool, have never seen one like that before.

 

[Sam84]

Hi guys.
First of a thank you all so much for your help!!
So after he had his locusts he did infact bask on his own accord.
The temp on that gauge reads at jist under 100 degrees. It was at just Under 90 when I first reported this so I bumped up the wattage.
The substrate is the exact same stiff I've always used since I got him a year ago. I bought him from a genuine loving and knowledgeable reptile guy and he recommended the stuff ( can't actually remember what it's called)
I'll try the apple sauce... What's the best way of physically getting it into his mouth? Coz he won't even lick his snout when I spray him??
Thank you all so much again for your help!

 

[diamc]

Even though he may not lick water off, he may take the applesauce off his nose. None of my beardies ever liked being misted but will gladly lick off baby food. Heat the applesauce in the microwave to make sure it is quite warm but not hot, then put drops on his nose with a plastic medicine dropper or needleless syringe. Give him a few minutes to get the idea. If he still won't taste it, you can put a small amount in the side of his mouth so he can get a taste, then he should take it off his nose after that. A drop or 2 of vegetable or olive oil can be added to the applesauce.

 

[Sam84]

Ok I've bought some apple sauce but I couldn't find any sugar free! Will this be OK still??

 

[diamc]

A little bit of sugar that is in the applesauce shouldn't do him any harm. It is baby food, correct? Main thing is to get him cleaned out.

 

[AHBD]

Applesauce should do the trick and add a few drops of veg. oil for extra laxative effect.