Impaction? Beardie not pooping!

[YoungMasterPo]

Po used to have regular poops every 1-2 days. Suddenly as the weather started getting colder, she stopped eating crickets and veggies entirely. We grew concerned and switched Po to new feeders several days ago.

We got her superworms, mealworms, and a hornworm to try on Sunday. She GLADLY ate a hornworm that same day and in the couple of days since has had a total of 5-10 superworms and veggies.

However, Po has not had a single poop since she began her new diet. We've tried soy yogurt to get her system moving, baths, and belly massages. This has come to no avail. Po will not poop.

We are unsure of the cause - we are afraid that because it's getting colder outside naturally that it might be getting naturally colder inside her tank. It used to be 95-100 degrees but since the weather has changed we've noticed her tank getting a few degrees cooler. If so, what suggestions could there be to get the heat back up (the basking light, heating pad, and UVB are on full strength)?

We are also afraid it might be impaction. I called our vet several days ago and left a message. He has yet to call me back and I'm still very worried.

Suggestions?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How old is Po?
What are the temperatures in the tank? What type of thermometer do you use to measure the temperatures? A stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?
The temperatures can vary once the outside temperatures fluctuate. You can try using a slightly higher wattage basking bulb to see if that will help offset the temperature decrease.
If she is too cold, then that will definitely slow down the digestion process. Have you tried canned pumpkin or sugar free applesauce along with a drop or two of olive oil?

Tracie

 

[DforDorothy]

All you can hope for is it's not impaction!
I recently lost the most beautiful beardie in the world to it and it's the worst thing you could go through! Don't stress to much your beardie might not have it but if i could share some signs maybe you could catch it before it gets to bad!
The first thing is to contact the vet! Please make sure they are a reptile specialist because that could make all the difference...
The first sign is loss of appetite! The killer of impaction is the beardie doesn't, eat gets dehydrated and dies! A beardies digestive track has a few 90 degree bends where food too large or foriegn matter gets caught, When this happens a the beardie thinks it's full and won't eat hence the lost appetite!
The 2nd sign is the beardie gets lethargic, sits on it's basking spot eyes shut still no interest in food and doesnt' move. People mistake this for a problem with it's eyes and starts fiddling around with different types of lights!
The 3rd sign is the eyes start to sink into the head! it might be ever so slightly but this is a massive sign that he needs fluids! With the tempertures of the tanks running so hot this could happen in a matter of days!
So what can we do:
Get to the vet ASAP! they might inject fluid under the skin to help rehydrate and a dose of vitamins but it's still up to you.
What your doing with the baths and the massage are great but also get a hotwater bottle, fill it up (please be careful DO NOT BURN HIM) i wrapped a towel around it a few times and had a thermometer ( have it no hotter than 85 degrees) in there even when he laid in there.If it gets to warm after a while it will move and it does,lay another towel over it so it's cooler for it and put him/her back on. Do this of a night and even put it in it's tank with him/her when it's bed time. Having heat on their bellies contantly will help to gets things moving!
One of the most important things is to keep the fluids up, stop the dairy products! Get some apple juice and dilute it with with water (about 10% juice) and warm water (warm water will help to move things as well!) and start by putting it on the end of thier nose! Most of time they will lick it off but if not use the syringe and gentle force it in. Please remember by forcing them fluids this could be the life saver!
If you do get to the vets ask about a cat/dog food that is specially design for sick animals that's full of protien and vitamins... This would be your very last resort, but by force feeding your beardie with this will also help him survive untils the impaction passes!
I didn't mean to upset you but if your are aware it may help. I hope your beardie doesn' have impaction. Please keep us posted......

 

[YoungMasterPo]

Our vet works in a wildlife center and we are waiting for him to call us back. He's a little hard to reach but he's the only tried and true herp vet in our area. We noticed the temperature in the tank drop when the weather changed, and currently its around 85 degrees on the warm side. We are using an analog thermometer, not a digital one.

We don't know Po's exact age, but she is at least 8 months old and 18 inches long. She's been getting warm baths and belly massages everyday. I hadnt heard of olive oil before, but heard on another thread that soy yogurt would get their systems going. I will try a drop or two of olive oil this morning to see if that works.

Good sign though - she is still moving around and not settled to any one place. She's still alert and basking without any sign of lethargy. What I'm going to do until our vet calls us back is try the olive oil and raise the temp as best as possible til our higher watt bulb comes in the mail. I'll even crank the heat up in the apartment and roast myself if I must!

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hello! Sorry to hear your beardie is not doing well.
You don't neccessarily need a "so-called" basking bulb. You can use a regular household bulb as long as it is a bright white one. The halogen flood lamps work well for this.
Since you are using an anolog thermometer there is no way of knowing if the temps are accurate. It is best if you have a digital thermometer with a wire and probe or an infrared temp gun. You can get a great little digital thermometer at either Lowe's or Walmart for around $12. This thermometer is called AcuRite and is found in the indoor/outdoor home thermometer section. This thermometer will give you the basking and coolside temps, plus humidity reading all in one.
You need to make sure her basking temps are between 95-110 and coolside temps 78-82.
It is a good sign that your beardie is still alert and moving. If there is an impaction.. it is probably not too severe. When introducing a new feeder, especially supers or horns due to their size, it must be done slowly. It was probably just a bit more than her system could handle.
Try the babyfood applesauce or 100% pure canned pumpkin with a small drop or two of olive oil, like suggested. The oil will help to lubricate things and get it moving. Stay away from any solid foods/feeders until she has a bowel movement, so as not to cause anymore blockage.
The warm baths and massages are also great.
Try these remedies and let us know how it works out.

 

[armata]

What type of substrate is he using? How old is he, never use sand like substrates for young bearded dragons. They will often miss their target (cricket) and eat the sand causing impaction. Usually if an adult eats sand like substrates it is thrown up.

 

[YoungMasterPo]

We never used substrate - only carpet.

We gave Po a bath, a mixture of apple sauce and olive oil, and a few hours later she proudly presented us with a nice little poop. It was small, but healthy looking. Tomorrow we'll give her some more of the mixture with hopes she can produce another one!

Would it be safe for her system to start feeding her solid food again tomorrow?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great news to hear that Po finally went to the bathroom. The extra fiber helped her out then. I would continue with soft foods for another day or so, until she has at least a couple of more stools that look normal. This is just to make sure there is no impaction left inside.
Try to give some extra oral fluids as well, because that will keep her hydrated.
As suggested, introducing new feeders should be introduced slowly. The metabolisms are very unique & their GI tracts pass things through slowly.
That is good you don't use sand or other loose substrate for her.
How are the temperatures coming along?

Keep us posted on her!

Tracie

 

[YoungMasterPo]

It's been about 2 days since my last post on Po. We've continued to offer her salad and feed her applesauce and olive oil. We've also given her oral fluids and daily baths, and...

No poop.

She is starting to feel a little skinny, as she's been getting nothing but fluids and applesauce for the past few days. We're concerned that she hasnt had any other poops since Wednesday. She last ate solid food (about 5 supers) on Tuesday. She hasn't shown any interest in eating her salad since then.

Should we try to give her worms again?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ok, if you feel that she is no longer impacted, then the baby food, etc, is not quite enough for her. So, you can try the worms again, but using the smaller ones right now. Do you have any small or medium crickets for her too?
Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie