Swollen belly?

[Zeus71103]

Hey everyone -

I've got a 7 month old beardie, Zeus. I've been up here a few times and you guys have been really helpful. Here's my issue: I noticed this morning that his belly was a bit larger than I'm used to seeing. He ate a huge breakfast and has been eating VERY well up until it was time for dinner. I didn't think much of the large belly until he refused his crickets. He is in no way acting like he feels bad, he is totally alert and active. BUT, his last poop was Monday. He absolutely refuses to go poo in his terrarium, he will hold it until he gets out for playtime. Thinking maybe he just needed to go, I put him in the bathroom to run around and let it out, but after an hour he still hadn't gone. His color is really good, no stress marks, he is hydrated. Everything is FINE except the large belly, no poops for 3 days now, and deciding to skip dinner. (Skipping dinner really worries me, because my boy NEVER skips a meal and he is NEVER full!) I felt his belly, and it's still soft just a little firm (I'm thinking from all the food he's eaten and hasn't let out for three days?) I'm not sure what an impaction feels like, but I don't feel like he has had anything that can be impacted. He is on shelf liner, and is eating 3/4 inch crickets (they are not bigger than the space between his eyes). Does anyone know what might be going on with him? Or how I might can urge him to poop? If this is anything that could turn into a big issue, I'd like to correct it before he does start to feel bad.

 

[definitions]

try a warm bath with tepid water...the water will stimulate a poop. Massage his belly stroke downwards from the chest to the bottom of the belly.. don't press to hard just a gentle stroke.

 

[SoarHigh]

Olive oil mixed with baby food helps too, but it only takes a few drops so don't be too generous with the oil.

Can you tell us what the temperatures are and what brand and type of UVB light you're using?

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How large are the crickets you have been feeding him, smaller than the space between the eyes?
He is 7 months, so, a lot of times, they begin to change how frequently they go to the bathroom because their metabolism begins to slow down just a little bit.
Though he still has some time left for growing, he just might be going through a slow down phase right now.
As suggested, you can try some baby food & a little bit of olive or mineral oil.

Tracie

 

[Zeus71103]

Hey guys -

So I woke up this morning and ate breakfast, came back and found a large poop waiting for me. However, I noticed a little blood in it and I freaked. I immediately called the vet and made an appointment and have just gotten back. She informed me he was one of the healthiest looking beardies she's seen in a while and is very well socialized. She thinks he was consitipated (his poop had some hardness to it) and it irritated him causing a little bleeding and making him not want to eat. She said to keep an eye on him and keep him hydrated.

Could constipation cause that? Has anyone else ever had that problem?

She said if he kept it up she would give him an antibiotic - which I am not at all crazy about.

 

[fez09]

Wow, antibiotics for constipation doesn't make any sense! :shock: How often do you bathe him? Does he get a daily salad? One of my beardies came to me semi-impacted and it was just a matter of increasing his daily salads and baths...I gave him some squash babyfood every other day too for week or so just to help keep things moving...

 

[Zeus71103]

I may try the baby food. That seems to be everyones best choice for getting things moving. He gets a bath every other day, sometimes every two days. He also gets a daily salad, but he is much more partial to his proteins (crickets). Thanks for the advice!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Any updates for us, did you try the baby food, & if so, did he like it?

Tracie