hard urate [black poo] (pics)

[smokindaisy]

My new Bearded Dragon CONSTANTINE pooped this giant poop today the second he got home.
The strangest bowel movement I've ever witnessed. It just seemed so hard for him to squeeze it out

It was rock hard, the urate was like chalk, and the poop was very black for only eating meal worms and green beans.

Help?

His previous owner said he hated water and he never bathed him really, could that be a factor?
I want to give him a bath but he just went through a big move to a new home. I dont want to freak him out.
What do you do with a beardie that doesnt like baths?

 

[nikkicostello89]

Hi,

Mealworms could well be a factor, as well as the bathing. Mealworms contain very little protein. The majority of them is just hard chitilin shell, which can cause impaction. Try switching to other worms, such as superworms (if he is over 16inches in length) or phoenix worms, although he looks a little big for those!! There is always crickets, roaches and locusts! And wax worms can be offered as a treat.

I'm not sure that green beans are that great for them either...check this out for information on what's best to feed: http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

As for bathing, that's terrible that he's never been bathed. He must be really dehydrated, which will certainly cause hard poos. Try quick and frequent baths, like 5 minutes twice a day, until he get's more used to it. Build it up to 20 mins every other day. The urates should be soft, not hard or chalky, that's a sign of dehydration.

I hope this helps,

Nikki

 

[smokindaisy]

Yeah see I just adopted him today from a guy off of Craigslist.
He was going to school and had no time.

I asked him about baths, and he said he hated water and absorbs ALL of his water in his body from his food. AHHHH!! I felt horrible for the little guy.

He said he mainly ate green beans and those mealworms. he gave me cups of them... I gave them to my chicken... haha
I am going to give him crickets and the veggies I give Rexy. I have a huge sheet of things they can and can not eat ( I went through this with Rexy briefly so I was a little prepared) but as far as everything he told me... he just was a young guy who wanted a lizard and didnt know too much about them.
He had him in sand, and that was in his poop....
He said he got a "sexing" book to tell the gender and as far as he could tell it was male.
That he doesnt eat very much at all...
the first thing I thought was "He gets his water from his food, but he eats once perhaps twice a week? my goodness poor guy."
I asked him if he'd been in a blanket and how he liked them and of course the guy seemed he was a little clueless about it...


so i just said Thank you, and took him home... prepared for a bit of a challenge and honestly glad he went to a home ready for one.

he is an amazing dragon with a very cute personality... he wiggles its very cute...
I love him already and its not even been one night.

 

[nikkicostello89]

Aww bless! wiggling is one of my favourites!! :love5:

I'm sure you'll have him all sorted out soon then!

Nikki

 

[smokindaisy]

The dragon he explained to me in the emails sounded like a Brumating Bearded Dragon... but he by no means seems to be Brumating because he is so active... so im hoping to get it all sorted soon. He seems to like what I've done with his tank this far (got rid of the sand and put carpet in. He also has a fleece blanket)... He has no stress marks so im happy about that.

The only question I have left is... There is a piece of retain shed on the tip of his tail, what do I do.. let it come off by itself? It looks pretty stuck on there...

 

[Elora]

:shock: wow that is one shiny poo.

 

[nikkicostello89]

The only question I have left is... There is a piece of retain shed on the tip of his tail, what do I do.. let it come off by itself? It looks pretty stuck on there...

Try to rub it off gently in the bath, if it stays on it could turn to tail rot! Be gentle though!

Nikki

 

[smokindaisy]

Thanks, I'll try that even though I'm a little wary giving him a bath

 

[Ethelia]

Hi there,

Good lord my eyes watered when I saw that bowel movement.
Certainly seems like mealworms could be the culprit.
No baths and moisture from food twice a week? Oh dear. Its so hard not to stomp and shout when you hear something like this.
So congrats if you didnt give the guy a tongue lashing!

Id definatly get him into a bathing scedual, once a day, for a while.
Quite frankly most dragons throw a strop at bath time (Dex never got used to it), but it is the absolute best way to keep them hydrated so once a day she got her 10 minute bath. Tough love!
Grump and all!

If you are worried about starting him on baths so soon you can drip water onto his nose with a pipette so he can lap it off.
But after a few days it should be bath time!

Rub-a-dub-dub!

Holly

 

[MelissaGray]

I went through this when I first got my Sydney home. If you slowly pour water into his/her water bowl, sometimes that will encourage them to drink. Sydney drank for a full 2 minutes the first time she saw running water. Now everytime I change the water she won't get in it unless I pour it in while she can watch it. Then she promptly climbs in and poos now...well, at least I don't have to clean the reptile carpet every day :lol: That may help get him/her to at least get a drink. Good luck! and Congrats

 

[lovemebeardie]

As said, I would at lest use a dropper to get some water into her. Poor little girl .... You did the right thing by taking it I assure you. Do try
your best to get some fluids into her. I am sure that you know to stop the mealworms, that poo-poo looked awfully painful. Poor thing ....

 

[RioReptiles]

For my beardies that dont like the bath, I put a clear bowl or dish on the counter with about 95 degree water, same as their body temp, and just dip their bottom ends in the water and hold them their with the top of their body in my hand. They hardly notice you have them in the water. Sometimes you gotta be sneaky.

 

[K9KidsLove]

Hi...Did the poop stink reallllly bad? You might want to take a sample to a reptile vet for a fecal to check for parasites, coccidia, bacteria, etc.

I wouldn't put off getting him hydrated. Sometimes you have to do things for your kids that they don't want to do, but it is in their best interest to do it. This is one of those times...you need to start today giving him a 20 minute bath daily. Use a container he can't jump out of, and put warm water to his armpits. Do not pick off the retained shed. It will soak off in the bath in a couple days. You may need to change out the water if he poops in it. He will get used to it. If you hold his front end up as suggested, he can't drink the water. Just sit by the container & talk to him & let him get used to it.
Good luck
Patsy

 

[Elaina]

Quite frankly most dragons throw a strop at bath time (Dex never got used to it), but it is the absolute best way to keep them hydrated so once a day she got her 10 minute bath. Tough love!
Grump and all!

LOL!!!! So true. Stewie hadn't been bathed when I got him. We went through all the protest, stress and all, now he loooves to have a swim. She'll get used to the baths, I would just go ahead with it. Poor little bum-ouch!

Maybe a bit of olive oil on that retained shed to soften it up. I did that to my iggy who had shed issues. He actually enjoyed the rub down

For my beardies that dont like the bath, I put a clear bowl or dish on the counter with about 95 degree water, same as their body temp, and just dip their bottom ends in the water and hold them their with the top of their body in my hand. They hardly notice you have them in the water. Sometimes you gotta be sneaky.

I still have to start Lola in her bath just this way!! I don't make the water quite as warm since I do put her all the way in it after a bit.