Impaction signs are:
- lethargy aka just sitting there, closing eyes a lot
- disinterest in food including greens and live feeders
- belly feels heavy when you pick him/her up
- not pooping regularly
Signs of a very bad impaction
- throwing up
- not using back legs and/or dragging them
You can help them go to the bathroom by putting them in warm water up to their shoulders and giving them a gentle tummy massage (massage downward from the chest to the vent) for about 15 minutes. These baths are also good because they help with
hydration and shedding. If they don't poop within several minutes, you can feed them olive oil, unsweetened applesauce, or organic baby food prunes to help them pass the impaction. The more they strain, the more they are hurting. Serious impaction can cause a prolapse (where the intestine comes out of the vent), can cause spinal injury and paralysis of their back legs, and can even lead to their death.