ok so I got home, and went to check on my animals, and my beardy appeared to "pooped" out a large red "ball"(maybe a his colon, not sure) that is still attached to him and I think he's not doing well, he's only about a year old plus or minus a month. Has anyone heard of this before?
Bearded Dragon Problem
- Thread starter Fred
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It sounds like a prolaps, it could be his bowel or *boy* parts. He needs to see a vet soon. Keep the mass clean and moist, vasaline works well.
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he needs to get ot a vet asap...prolapses are very painful and they don't understand they are hurting themselves when they are trying to remove this unexplained painful thing on them. You can try to put it back in yourself but this can lead to a whole other set of problems...i really recommend you get it to a vet!
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I'm thinking of getting a bearded dragon, does this happen often? Is there a way to prevent it?
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its either caused by impaction which is usually do to improper food or sunbstrate...there are a few other reasons but check this link...it explains further... http://www.reptilerooms.com/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-87-page-1.html where are you located? there should be an avian vet within an hour or so to you...or a breeder...whats his set up?
6string: No this is not common...like i said it is usually caused by something in their environment...
6string: No this is not common...like i said it is usually caused by something in their environment...
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how old is he...really you are gonna have to find a vet because they usually die if this is not taken care of......i feel bad for you because it sounds like you did everything good on the enclosure...try a luke warm bath perhaps...also you might be able to call a vet who could recommend a place or give suggestions
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Until you can get him to a vet... GET HIM OUT OF THE PLAY SAND!
Take him out, rinse him of *gently* and put him in a clean rubbermaid type tub, line the bottom with clean, damp paper towels. A little vaseline or baby oil on the prolapse will help keep it from drying out. Give him access to plenty of water, often they will soak and the prolapse will go back in.
Still, he needs to see a vet. Prolapses often lead to mortality if not rectified within a day or two.
Let us know how he does!
Take him out, rinse him of *gently* and put him in a clean rubbermaid type tub, line the bottom with clean, damp paper towels. A little vaseline or baby oil on the prolapse will help keep it from drying out. Give him access to plenty of water, often they will soak and the prolapse will go back in.
Still, he needs to see a vet. Prolapses often lead to mortality if not rectified within a day or two.
Let us know how he does!
that sucks, because I also own a 3 foot savannah monitor, and in the past I've also owned a few snakes. Perhaps I should find a vet, eh?
I've never had any problems in the past 2 years or so with any of my reptiles.
And about the taking him out of the play sand, I did that as soon as I noticed the prolapse.
Thanks
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is there a zoo or a bearded dragon breeder near you at all...rellly that is about the only way to fix that...did you call around to local vets to see ifthey could recommend anyone?
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try soaking his vent in warm sugar water, that sometimes help retract the prolapse.
there isn't a zoo, but there is a breeder, but he's more incompetant than I am, and I've called the vet here asking them if there is any vets that they know of that deals with reptiles, but no luck
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I know a few dragon keeps in BC, I'll ask if any of them know a vet close to you. How far are you willing to drive?
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I would not use Vaseline, it would probably lube things up so the tissue could have a repeat blow-out. I would soak paper towel in milk and use that to keep it moist until I could either seek veterinary help or until you did the powdered sugar. Whatever you do end up using, keep the tissue moist. If it stays out too long or dries up, the tissue will die.
For the prolapse, regardless if its an intestine or hemipene, rinse it in tepid water to get all of the sand off of it. Then sprinkle the prolapse generously with powdered sugar. The sugar will help to draw the fluid out of the tissue and cause it to shrink. Once its shrunk enough, you should be able to gently manipulate it back in and hope that it stays.
Regardless of the experience of your vet, a prolapse is a prolapse, regardless of species. The treatment should be the same. I've had chickens treated for oviduct prolapses before from a local vet who's only experience is with intestinal and uterine prolapses in cattle.
If you do manage to get the prolapse back in and get it to stay, don't feed your BD for a few days so it doesn't have anything to strain to poop out. Give it plenty of luke warm water soaks, and give it plenty of access to fluids to keep it hydrated. The tissues need time to heal and stay in place.
If you think its an intestinal impaction that caused the prolapse, having sand in the enclosure could be a big clue, you might give it a small dose of mineral oil to maybe loosen things up and get them moving. I wouldn't say more than a 1/8 tsp every few days.
I strongly ditto the removing him from the play sand. I would also never use sand with any captive bred animal as a substrate, regardless of where the species originally comes from. Sand in a small captive environment has killed more captive reptiles than I care to count. I've lost two Sand Boas to impaction and my BD was impacted when I got him from play sand.
A substrate I found that really worked with my BD when I had it was wheat bran, it was soft, diggable, and digestable if ingested...and my BD tasted everything!
Good luck with it.
For the prolapse, regardless if its an intestine or hemipene, rinse it in tepid water to get all of the sand off of it. Then sprinkle the prolapse generously with powdered sugar. The sugar will help to draw the fluid out of the tissue and cause it to shrink. Once its shrunk enough, you should be able to gently manipulate it back in and hope that it stays.
Regardless of the experience of your vet, a prolapse is a prolapse, regardless of species. The treatment should be the same. I've had chickens treated for oviduct prolapses before from a local vet who's only experience is with intestinal and uterine prolapses in cattle.
If you do manage to get the prolapse back in and get it to stay, don't feed your BD for a few days so it doesn't have anything to strain to poop out. Give it plenty of luke warm water soaks, and give it plenty of access to fluids to keep it hydrated. The tissues need time to heal and stay in place.
If you think its an intestinal impaction that caused the prolapse, having sand in the enclosure could be a big clue, you might give it a small dose of mineral oil to maybe loosen things up and get them moving. I wouldn't say more than a 1/8 tsp every few days.
I strongly ditto the removing him from the play sand. I would also never use sand with any captive bred animal as a substrate, regardless of where the species originally comes from. Sand in a small captive environment has killed more captive reptiles than I care to count. I've lost two Sand Boas to impaction and my BD was impacted when I got him from play sand.
A substrate I found that really worked with my BD when I had it was wheat bran, it was soft, diggable, and digestable if ingested...and my BD tasted everything!
Good luck with it.
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There is no such thing as sand that can be digested. That is just a marketing tool and since reptile products aren't regulated they can claim whatever they want.
Calcuim sand actually clumps when wet, leading to deadly impactions. I use non adhesive shelf liner. Cheap and can be washed in the clothes washer.
Calcuim sand actually clumps when wet, leading to deadly impactions. I use non adhesive shelf liner. Cheap and can be washed in the clothes washer.
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The so-called "Calci Sand" dissolves partially in pure water sure, but when does a reptile have plenty of pure water floating around in their gut? :?
I would have to say that because calcium sand can absorb water within the grains to a certain degree, whilst play sand cannot, I would hazard a guess that they would be more problematic in the digestive system due to that hydrophilic nature. Easily adhering to the lining of the gut and forming blockages.
I just feel its best to avoid all kinds of substrate that are non-digestible and easily ingested. There are plenty of deaths attributed to those "digestible sands", one just needs to hang out on reptile forums for a while.
I would have to say that because calcium sand can absorb water within the grains to a certain degree, whilst play sand cannot, I would hazard a guess that they would be more problematic in the digestive system due to that hydrophilic nature. Easily adhering to the lining of the gut and forming blockages.
I just feel its best to avoid all kinds of substrate that are non-digestible and easily ingested. There are plenty of deaths attributed to those "digestible sands", one just needs to hang out on reptile forums for a while.
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the most recommended substrate is play sand or tile...cal sand is horrid for many reasons that include impaction and high calcium levels...yes they can have too much calcium