How do I tell if my beardie is dehydrated?

[AuroraB4Dawn]

I've only had Cobar a few days now, and I gave him his first bath last night, but he didn't drink, he jumped out as soon as I put him in the tub. I tried again today to get him to drink by playing/rippling the water bowl, but again no dice. I just tried again when I fed him his veggies, I doused them with water to try and get him hydrated. He ate a piece of squash but that was it. So my question is how do I tell if he needs more water? are there physical changes I can watch for?
I'm still trying to get him to eat veggies, he only eats 2 pieces of squash, but I have to hand feed him because he does not move from his basking spot for anything.

 

[ShannyBeard]

I've only had one bearded dragon actually drink water in the bath and that was my rescue who was severely dehydrated. A dehydrated beardie will be 'wrinkly' with loose-appearing skin on his back and sides. There may be other outward signs of dehydration and if so perhaps another member can chime in about this.

Can you post a picture of your bearded dragon? A picture would really help.

We give our beardies a warm soak every other day to every 3 days for 15-20 minutes at a time. Some people may do more or less but this is what works for me. I do not allow them to 'jump out' and I will hold my hand in the water for reassurance if they are afraid. Make sure the water level is below their armpits or just at chest-level. If the water is any higher than that, my beardies will puff up and become nervous. My dragons don't seem to enjoy bath time as much as I would like them to. :lol: Also make sure they don't get any water in their ears.

When you have him in the bathtub soaking, you can take your finger and dip it in the water to get a drop on your finger tip and put that drop right on the edge of the mouth at the nose tip and usually doing that a couple of times will make them lick at the water.

 

[AuroraB4Dawn]

My beardie always tries to swim during his baths no matter how shallow i put the water. Why is it bad for water to enter their ears? Ill have to watch out for that symptom then. There are pictures under introductions titled "My New Baby Cobar". He doesn't drink directly but i do douse his veggies in water in hopes to keep him hydrated.

 

[ShannyBeard]

Why is it bad for water to enter their ears?

I either was told, or I read somewhere online, that they can get an inner ear infection. If that is just an old wive's tale or not true, I'd like to know, because I am always so careful of this! :shock:

 

[AuroraB4Dawn]

Yea when you told me that i was like, "oh no!", because he tries to put himself under the water and really splash around.

 

[Kratoskeeper]

I find it weird that everyone has a problem with them drinking water, i am lucky lol, mine both drink from bowls. I usually hold them under the tap sometimes and let water drops land on their nose and they lick it up. The minute he sees the faucet he knows and instantly opens his mouth lol.

As for physical signs, from what i have read a good way to tell if they are dehydrated is their eyes will be really sunken in. Hope this helps.

 

[DJDragons]

Healthy, well hydrated dragons will have white urates. Discoloration in the urates can be a sign of dehydration or other health issues.