Shaking/impaction Please Help.

[skifflexie]

Sunday afternoon I fed Santana roughly 10-15 mealworms and 2-3 wax worms.

***I normally feed him just medium crickets, but I was out of crickets and so was the pet store I work at (and the other pet store in town was closed)... I only had the worms in the fridge for a back up plan, and hardly use worms since they are hard to digest.

Santana normally has a bowel movement everyday around the same time in the afternoon. He hasn't had a BM since Sunday. Nor has he had any appetite.

Yesterday when I got home from class, he was basking, but when I went to pick him up it felt as if his entire body was vibrating.... Every now and then his back legs would be lifted into the air into weird positions. (My guess is the pressure on his nerves) I gave him a warm bath, in the bath his legs and tail were wriggling as if he was trying to poop, but nothing was happening... I gave him 5 baths last night I was so scared. I increased the water temperature and his basking spot and have been rubbing his belly. Last night I gave him just 2 drops of vegetable oil in hopes that it would help.

Today he still hasn't had a bm, nor does he want to eat. I have given him a few more drops of veggie oil and rubbed his belly and soaked him.

He is still active; runs, jumps, basks, etc

There are no really good reptile vets in my area and I don't get paid until friday. Im unsure what to do next... Im so scared and feel so bad for the little guy. I wish I wouldn't of fed him mealworms, but I didn't want him to go without food....

Please if anyone has any advice or words of wisdom, please comment. I feel like the worst beardie mom in the world. I have been reading and looking up old topics, I still feel lost as to what to do next.

Here is his current set up info:

(He is still a baby that is why he is being housed in the 29g, I have a 55g that I am getting set up for him)

29 gallon tank
Basking spot 95-110'
Cool side 65-70'
Substrate: tile
UVB: reptisun 10.0 tube
Nighttime Heat Source: none, the tank stays 65-72'

 

[AHBD]

It's a good sign that he's still active. Try some canned pumpkin [ no spices ] , apple sauce and/or baby food prunes and a bit more oil. His system isn't used to what he ate, but he should pass it soon.

 

[sammmycakes]

The apple sauce has worked great for me in the past, I've even given straight apple juice to a beardie (not sugary stuff) and had them have a BM within hours.


GOOD LUCK.

 

[Teage29]

Same thing has been happening with my beardie, but he's 5 years old. I tried everything you did and even canned pumpkin but with no result. I am wondering what you tried/are going to try with your little beardie. Please keep me informed. Good luck!

-Teague

 

[skifflexie]

I'm going to go to the store tomorrow and get some apple sauce and pumpkin. All I have is cinnamon apple sauce at home.. So I'll have to wait... I gave him a few more drops of oil a few hours ago and another bath.... Still no poop.

 

[sammmycakes]

Roughly how old is your little guy? It is brumation season. My male is brumating for the first time this year (he's just over 1 yrs old) and i had the same problem, no poop. I took him to the vet and they said it was normal for him this time of year and he was still healthy. When he finally went I took the sample to the vet and found out he was loaded with pin worms turns out pin worms can mimic brumation patterns and often confuse people! that's why it's always good to get the poop tested just before winter. I only paid 20$ for it to be done and it was well worth my money!


From what I've read as they get older the pooping stops being quite as frequent. My guy used to go every day at 11am. If he's slowing down and sleeping alot it could be just the beginning of brumation.

 

[skifflexie]

My little guy is just a few months old. I don't think it's brumation.

 

[sammmycakes]

Oh no. Keep up with bathing, sit there with him in the tub for as long as you can stand it! I also find if you pinch (lightly) at the base of the tale and make them swim on the spot the movement will help them go. Make sure the bath is relatively warm and make sure you're massaging the lower belly while he's in there.

You can also make a bath with 1/2 water and 1/2 pedialyte (for human babies) and soak him in it for 20-30 minutes. This is often used to treat constipation and if he isn't constipated it won't hurt to do. Start massaging his belly after he's been in there for a bit.

How's his appetite now? normal?

You're doing everything I can think of correctly (i work for a pet store and reptiles are my main focus) but the next step may be to see a vet.

 

[skifflexie]

YAY!!! I CAME HOME THIS AFTERNOON AND FOUND A BM.... IT'S NOT THE PRETTIEST BM, BUT HEY I'M NOT COMPLAINING...

Sorry about the all caps, I'm just so excited to see poop!

Here is a picture of what it looked like:



His poop normally is 'picture perfect' example of beardie poop, so hopefully tomorrow he will have a more normal BM.

Here is a picture of before the impaction:





Here are some pictures from during the impaction:



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***He is also in the process of shedding.

Today was the first day that he ate anything since Sunday evening (when I fed him the worms)... he only ate two medium crickets, but hey its better than nothing...

I want to thank everyone who has helped, I really appreciate it.

Is there anything else I should be doing while he recovers? Anything to keep an eye on?

Thanks again!

 

[sammmycakes]

I'm so happy to hear that He is so gorgeous!

I'd suggest upping his veggie intake for the next little bit so it doesn't happen again, continue with regular bathing as well.

 

[skifflexie]

I can't get him to eat his veggies... :/ I've tried moving them and wriggling them.... He's a picky eater. And I'm getting worried, Petsmart is out of crickets again, they all died. The crickets I bought from the other store in town also died. I'm hoping I can get some crickets that last more than 24 hours. I would live to get some phenix worms, since I can't do roaches... But phenix worms are kinda pricy....

I just wish I could keep my crickets alive. I'm doing everything I know to do...

 

[sammmycakes]

Are you in canada or the states?

I bought a big tub from walmart, drilled holes in the lid and then put a thin mesh on the inside and keep my crickets in there. I sweep them out daily and use a dampp paper towel to wipe out the bottom. I feed them raw potato, carrots and the spines of kale leaves. Also when I'm out of veggies goldfish flakes work just as well. I also give them the flukeRs cricket quencher calcium enriched water cubes! I can keep about 500 crickets in there oiver 2-3 weeks and only lose about 50-100 you should try it out! Direct message me if you need anymore tips.

 

[skifflexie]

His poop this morning...