Is It Normal? Please Help!

[VitaminsatoriD]

My 11 Month Old Beardy Link, was impacted (Or so I believe), when I first bought him. I had bought him off of an owner who also owned 4 other dragons, and Link was the smallest. He was extremely skinny, his tail was bitten off, and three of his toes are morphed together from being bitten/abused when he was younger. It broke my heart dearly.

But when I brought him home, he wouldn't go to the bathroom for over a week. Finally I started dipping crickets in mineral oil, and feeding them to him. He loved it, and eventually he used the bathroom. The smell of his stool is excruciatingly terrible, runny, and large. Is this normal for him not being able to use the bathroom prior? Do you think it's just him having to get it out? He now goes once a day, and yesterday he went twice! I'm very proud, but I just want to make sure it's nothing unusual. I'm also very proud of myself that he went from being extremely thin, to a plump, healthy looking Beardy! His colors are a lot brighter too. Please just let me know if his stools are normal, and if I should continue using the oil seeing as he's now using the bathroom.

Much love and vibes, namaste
~ Satori

 

[Chirple]

I'm not sure how imapaction could complicate things, but stinky and runny stool is generally a sign of parasites.

I'd call around and see if a vet will do a fecal float test to check. It's recommended to have this done when you get them, anyway - even if there are no signs of problems. If he wasn't kept in the best conditions, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't ever have him checked. At least once yearly is recommended, anyway - so at 11 months, close enough ! This should be pretty inexpensive and will make sure there isn't anything nasty hiding in there since bearded dragons are the type to not display symptoms until very late in a problem.

I'm not sure about the crickets, but I've no doubt someone else will know.

 

[VitaminsatoriD]

Thank you so much, do you know how much it costs to have stool checked? Sadly the only vet closest to where I live that checks reptiles is over 50 miles away, but it's for the health of my Beardy, I'm fine with that, just want to make sure it's not from him just having to go, or the smell could be from the mineral oil. I hope someone else can help! Yours was much appreciated, and thank you for replying. PS ~ Your beardy avatar is a gem!!

Vibes,
~ Satori
:love5:

 

[Claudiusx]

Fecals usually cost around 40$ just to have the stool examined.

I would first worry about actually clearing the impaction so that he is going regularly before taking in a fecal.

What is his daily diet like?
What are your temps and how are you measuring them?
What substrate do you house on?
What uvb do you use?

-Brandon

 

[AllanonsWrath]

I would first worry about actually clearing the impaction so that he is going regularly before taking in a fecal.

What is his daily diet like?
What are your temps and how are you measuring them?
What substrate do you house on?
What uvb do you use?

-Brandon

Ditto! And, if he is going again you can stop using the mineral oil for a bit and see if he continues to poo without it.