Yet ANOTHER pooping issue

[AmberC]

Hey Everyone,

I've been stalking your site since October when I brought home my first bearded dragon (Sasha). He's just turned a year old now and ever since I got him I've had pooping problems. At first I had issues with him having diarrhea, but for the past few months I've been having issues with constipation. I've taken him to the vet after a month of not pooping (having already tried olive oil, pumpkin, and unsweetened apple sauce, also daily baths with tummy massages - to no avail). The vet recommended a syringe of critical care a day and a syringe of water a day. After about two weeks he started pooping every day and I thought FINALLY his bowels are working! (side note he doesn't pee or poo when he's backed up). Unfortunately he's turned around again and stopped pooping (It's been a month again) so I'm back to belly rubs and critical care with water and pumpkin and applesauce mixed together and I'm starting to wonder if this is just something that we'll have to always deal with? Have I just signed myself up for 10 years of belly rubs and forcing critical care down my poor boys throat? I'm here all the time making sure I have all my husbandry right, the vet even thanked me for having the proper set up. Anyways heres the run down since I'm sure you'll be wondering.

Tank: 40x19x19
Basking spot: 106
Cool side of the Tank: 85
(checked with a laser spot thermometer)
Substrate: Non-adhesive self liner
Protein Diet: Horn worms, silk worms, crickets (when he'll eat any of it. He will refuse protein a lot of days)
Vegetable Diet: Collard greens, Dandelion greens (Everyday)
Veggie Varieties: Kale, Watercress, Squash, Cilantro, Parsnip, Radicchio, Cabbage, Bok Choy, Lemongrass, Blueberries, Cherries, Peach, Pear, Watermelon, Cantelope, Honey Dew, Papaya
Lighting: Two Repti-sun 10 tubes One inside the tank on one half and one outside the tank on the other, I'm unsure of the heating lamp bulbs they are the regular pet store brand ones at 75 watts. He can get within 6 inches to his in the tank repti sun light.
His lights are on from 9am to 9pm everyday ( I have a timer)
I take him outside when its sunny and I have a day off (I'm a hospital worker so I only work 4 days on the I have 4 or 5 off). Even if he doesn't get outside he's out of his tank for a minimum of an hour everyday (to get him running around so his bowels move a bit better then just laying around in a tank all day)

I'm sure I missed something there but I can't think of anything else. He's a healthy dragon with a good weight around 550 grams. He's picky and I spend a lot of time and money trying to figure out what he's in the mood to eat but he does definitely eat. But nothing comes out. I just don't get it?

Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Amber

 

[AmberC]

I forgot he was tested after his first bowel issue's for parasites and he came up clean. He also eat's 4 week old crickets only (the bigger ones seriously creep me out) so nothing bigger then the size between his eyes.

 

[Esther19]

Hi Amber. I'm sorry your little guy is having pooping issues. So worrisome and time consuming, I know. To me, it sounds like you are doing everything right. Unfortunately, that leaves me clueless as to any advice I could give you. At least I can bump your post up and hopefully someone smarter than me can give you some answers. E

 

[jovamabob]

i was told to avoid fruit 'cause it can cause diarrhea with a tortoise and several other reptiles - not sure how useful it'll be with a beardie though. Hope he gets well soon!

 

[mikewithsfi]

I am loss for the issue as well. I am new to this forum but not to the reptile world. If your beardie tested free of parasites, and it sounds like your tank is spot on. The main thing I was concerned with was substrate, and you use a liner and not sand. So now what? Well I looked at the diet and have a suggestion. When your beardie is back to pooping again, if you need to follow vets advice, limit the variety of foods you feed him. My guess is something you are feeding him is not sitting well. Try a different source of protein, there are protein bearded dragons bites in the pet store I feed mine, and once a week I treat mine with superworms. The reason I bring this up is you only feed him 3 protein sources, try something different for a while. As far as the veggies goes stick to greens for a while. Cut out all the root, bulb, and hard veggies, stick to strictly leafs. Will this solve your problem well we are not sure. But if you only limit what you feed your beardie you may find your problem is in what you are feeding him.

 

[macy]

My beardie has the same problem, but he seems to be fine. I dont know what to do either!

 

[AmberC]

quick update. Sasha pooped about a week ago. The poop was soft but the urate was ROCK hard. This is actually the second poop he's had where his urates are super hard, this urate was yellowish but the first time it was pristine white. I've cut back his calcuim but is there anything else that could cause a hard urate?

 

[ZEDZILLAVIDZ]

Bump! Wish i knew for ya. Lets get answers people!