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Bearded Dragon Health - The Causes of Impaction

25 18:04:01

As with any pet, there are many diseases, illnesses and injuries that can lead to poor dragon health. One of the biggest concerns is the risk of impaction. This is a blockage of the digestive tract that can lead to major problems including death. Improper temperatures, over-sized food items, dehydration and loose substrates are all well-known culprits of this illness. It is vital as owners, to know of these risks and how to avoid them.

Impaction is probably the most common of all beardie illnesses. Many inexperienced owners lack the knowledge that would keep them from putting their pet's health at risk. This leads to many keepers unintentionally harming their pet, simply because they didn't know any better. If they are guilty of anything, it is their failing to properly research the animal they want to purchase, before getting into these situations.

Improper feeding is a major cause of impaction. Any item that is fed to your lizard should be smaller than the space between their eyes. This includes vegetables and insects. Veggies should be finely chopped, and the proper sized insects should be purchased. You will also want to avoid insects that have hard chitin shells such as superworms and mealworms. These are not easily digested and can become an issue, especially for sub- adult dragons.

 

Another major cause of impaction is substrate. There are several options available to use on the bottom of your cage. Some prefer newspaper, butcher paper, reptile carpet, non-adhesive tiles, or bricks. Others use a plethora of different sands that can be found at most pet suppliers. The use of any "loose" substrates that are able to be ingested can lead to impaction. Some owners have used sand with no issues, while others end up with an ill lizard. This has made the use of sand a highly debated topic within the beardie community. I always figured, why take the risk?

Incorrect temperatures within your enclosure can also lead to impaction. Being cold-blooded, beardies need enough heat provided so that proper digestion may occur. If this heat is not supplied, the food will not digest and it will begin to rot within the stomach. This will cause large amounts of bacteria growth, leading to even more issues. Make sure you have the correct temps for your dragon's age, and don't feed them within two hours of the lights being turned on, or off.

Dehydration can also cause impaction. In the wild, beardies get their fluids from the plants they ingest. Because of this, many of them will not drink from a water dish in captivity, thus relying upon their veggies for hydration. You should always mist your veggies with water and give weekly bathes to your lizard to ensure they are keeping hydrated. A 30 minute, lukewarm bath while gently rubbing the stomach from snout-to-vent, can also relieve minor impaction cases.

Impaction is a serious health concern that can lead to hind leg paralysis, internal parasites, damaged digestive tracts, and even death if left untreated. Providing the correct temperatures, proper diet and feeding schedule, as well as a safe substrate should keep you in the clear. However, if you think your pet is ill, the first thing you should do is contact your vet. The will have the best advice as to what steps you will need to take to get your pet feeling better.