No poop for 3 MONTHS

[dawn8787]

So my dragon hasn't pooped in 3 months. Should I be concerned? Because I am. She is still eating crix and meal worms and her daily salad. But no poop. I tried giving her a bath, cuz she used to poop in the bath all the time. But no. And I tried rubbing her tummy, my brother thought that might help. But no.
Any Ideas?

 

[John123]

Something is definitely wrong. Mine hasn't pooped (except for a vet's enima, and a second vet's 'stimulation') in one and half months. He has been to two vets. The last vet did a poop test and found very elevated parasites - protozoa, pinworms and roundworms. I don't know where these came from since he has been very very healthy for his first year without any major change of lifestyle.

Get his poop tested asap - and get him to a vet to 'stimulate' a poop. Our vet used a long Q-tip with maybe some vaseline that was stuck in a little ways and while it was in, it made Beardo push out a little puddle, then when the long Q-tip was removed, he pushed out a humungous poop. However, my Beardo is still unwell. Just got some very expensive medicine today. He still doesn't poo - but then again he is only eating 5% of normal volume - again all other environmental factors are fine (i.e. the right type of light, right type of substrate, right type of heat, right type of food).

Get him to a vet. My search tonight is advice re opening his mouth and feeding him liquid medicine.

 

[Goonie]

Uh, could he possibly be hiding his poop somewhere in her viv?? Hard to believe that he could still eat without relieving himself for 3 months (not saying that I don't believe you).

Try this: 1) stop giving him mealworms (because the chitin [shell] is very difficult to break down), 2) raise his viv temps, 3) give him soft foods (pumpkin baby food and/or organic [sugarless] apple sauce) for a week, 4) and give him a few drops of olive oil daily (as a laxative).

If after a week and following the above he still can't go, then an immediate vet visit is in order.

As for rubbing his tummy, while in a warm bath, gently massage the right side of his belly from armpit to vent. That should allow his system to start moving things along.

By the way, how old is your beardie? And what are you giving him in the salad?

 

[dawn8787]

Yahhh! She did it. Today I put oil in her salad (which is an organic spring mix from the grocery store). She pooed out a tube of feces about 4" long and 1" wide. Then I put her in a bath and she pooed out more of these tubes.
I am her 4th owner, but I knew her when she was with her 2nd and 3rd owners. We figure she is around ten years old. I know it is hard to belive she could eat and not poo for 3 months... but she was VERY big. Her tummy looked about to explode. Bigger than she ever was when preg.
And I tried to look for a vet who would work on here, but the closest vet is in another country. And I can not take her across the border.
I wonder if she got so bummed up due to an overdose in calcuim? I do powder ever cricket she eats.
Thanks for all the advice.
If you have any other thoughts or ideas, please let me know. Thanks

 

[beardie parents]

From what I understand, an adult dragon only needs calcium 2 or 3 times a week, and that's only one feeding. The vitamins only 1 day per week. That could be part of your problem if you're feeding him calcium every day.

 

[dawn8787]

Yes, I think I may be overfeeding the calcium. I'll cut back on that. Also I think I will change her UV bulb (just to be on the safe side) and her ground cover. I thought I would use that shredded coconut shell. Is that good or bad?

 

[John123]

I am changing my Beardo's substrate to tile/carpet. I have read a ton on this topic recently and there is no real consensus on the "best", but I certainly have found that the tile/carpet combo has not been given a bad review by anyone - and that is as good a "positive" review as you will get on these types of forums where everyone has a different opinion. You should read about it under the enclosures forum.