PRICKLY PEAR PERIL

[FreakedOutMama]

Howdy.
I gave my bearded dragon some prickly pear fruit yesterday. I was going to mush it up with my fingers, but as soon as I put it in her cage she went CRAZY. she ate two bites of the fruit that wasn't cut up enough for her and now she has a lump in her tummy area that is the shape of the fruit. Do I need to be worried?? How can I help her pass it? Will she be able to pass it? Please help!

 

[Kiara1125]

I feed my beardie cactus pears. Your beardie will digest it and pass it. She will probably pass the seeds without them being digested, though. You should only worry if the lump doesn't go away or if she seems impacted.

 

[FreakedOutMama]

1. How can I tell if shes impacted?
2. How long will it take for her to pass it?
3. She should be okay even though there are distinguishable lumps (two) about the size of pencil erasers in her stomach?
4. Is there anything I can do to help her?

 

[Kiara1125]

1) She won't poop for a few days and start acting lethargic. Basking and baths help them digest and pass food.
2) My beardie passes them within a day, but sometimes it takes until the next day for her to pass them.
3) She should be unless she become impacted.
4) Warm baths once a day - usually anywhere from 20-40 minutes. They tend to poop in the bath.

 

[Taterbug]

Aside from the seeds prickly pears are pretty soft, aren't they? Remember, these critters can digest insect shells and things much tougher than most fruit. The stomach acid and digestive process in a healthy lizard is pretty robust. Make sure your basking spot is warm enough and let her do her thing.

How often does she poop? I wouldn't start to worry until, after the normal time passes.

 

[FreakedOutMama]

you're right. I am probably just worried. She has been sick for a while (just got it diagnosed as protozoa) so her poop cycle has been off. She pooped this morning, but I read that prickly pears turn their poop pink and that hasn't happened so I am assuming that the prickly pears haven't passed through yet? She had the first ones two days ago...

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Their digestive systems are a little slower than mammals so it may take several days but as suggested it should pass through without any trouble hopefully!
I am glad she liked it though, to get that excited.

Tracie

 

[FreakedOutMama]

ok so here's an update. She hasn't eaten in two days, she hasn't had a bowel movement in three. she looks like she is in a lot of pain, she sleeps in her cave all day. Her back legs have started to twitch. I took her to the vet yesterday and he said "eh, either she dies or she doesn't."... I have no faith in that vet. I've been giving her a 30 minute warm bath every day but the mass still hasn't passed. Is there anything I can to to...induce a bowel movement?

 

[FreakedOutMama]

ok so here's an update. She hasn't eaten in two days, she hasn't had a bowel movement in three. she looks like she is in a lot of pain, she sleeps in her cave all day. Her back legs have started to twitch. I took her to the vet yesterday and he said "eh, either she dies or she doesn't."... I have no faith in that vet. I've been giving her a 30 minute warm bath every day but the mass still hasn't passed. Is there anything I can to to...induce a bowel movement?

 

[FreakedOutMama]

ok so here's an update. She hasn't eaten in two days, she hasn't had a bowel movement in three. she looks like she is in a lot of pain, she sleeps in her cave all day. Her back legs have started to twitch. I took her to the vet yesterday and he said "eh, either she dies or she doesn't."... I have no faith in that vet. I've been giving her a 30 minute warm bath every day but the mass still hasn't passed. Is there anything I can to to...induce a bowel movement?

 

[Taterbug]

ok so here's an update. She hasn't eaten in two days, she hasn't had a bowel movement in three. she looks like she is in a lot of pain, she sleeps in her cave all day. Her back legs have started to twitch. I took her to the vet yesterday and he said "eh, either she dies or she doesn't."... I have no faith in that vet. I've been giving her a 30 minute warm bath every day but the mass still hasn't passed. Is there anything I can to to...induce a bowel movement?

Geeze Whata. Crappy vet. Did they offer to do xrays to look for a blockage? Based on your description I might look for another vet.
Natural laxatives (applesauce, olive oil, pumpkin) may help.

 

[FreakedOutMama]

I am so frustrated with this vet don't even get me started. They didn't offer to do anything. I live in one of the biggest cities in the state and none of the vets here deal with bear does. I'm going to try applesauce and olive oil while she's in her bath today