IMPORTANT bearded dragon arching back?!

[Bluesky1019]

I am feeling very panicked right now, becuase as my beardie was laying on the couch he randomly arched his back out and went on all fours twice. Almost like a cat arching it’s back. I’m nervous he is impacted becuase the last time he pooped ( 3 days ago) he lifted his vent and strained but nothing came out. He did it after he pooped. Now today, this new arching behavior happend and it freaked me out. Right now, he seems totally fine and is running around, recently his eating habits have not been great and he has eaten a lot of hornworms and a few superworms. He stopped eating crickets and dubia roaches completely and I have been trying to get him back on schedule until this happend.

 

[DragonM0M]

I would recommend taking him to an exotic vet. What you're describing could also be a seizure. What is your lighting set up like? Have you tried giving him a bath to promote having a bowel movement?

 

[Bluesky1019]

I would recommend taking him to an exotic vet. What you're describing could also be a seizure. What is your lighting set up like? Have you tried giving him a bath to promote having a bowel movement?

He has a T5 HO zoo med tube and it’s about 9-10 inches away from his back. I have just given him a bath and gave him a few drops of olive oil as a laxative. I hope it’s not a seizure but he wasn’t shaking he only arched his back and stopped a few second after.

 

[Sadie]

He has a T5 HO zoo med tube and it’s about 9-10 inches away from his back. I have just given him a bath and gave him a few drops of olive oil as a laxative. I hope it’s not a seizure but he wasn’t shaking he only arched his back and stopped a few second after.

T5 is too close if it's inside the tank-- if it's on top of screen it MUST be a wide holed 8-10 inches directly above the basking decor - inside tank 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor- 3 days is not a long time for dragons to poop however if he was straining feed him some canned pumpkin make sure he's hydrated -- DO NOT take him to the vet for a ENEMA they can and often end in disaster-- do it the natural way- let him poop on his own

 

[Bluesky1019]

T5 is too close if it's inside the tank-- if it's on top of screen it MUST be a wide holed 8-10 inches directly above the basking decor - inside tank 12-15 inches directly above the basking decor- 3 days is not a long time for dragons to poop however if he was straining feed him some canned pumpkin make sure he's hydrated -- DO NOT take him to the vet for a ENEMA they can and often end in disaster-- do it the natural way- let him poop on his own

Hi Sadie I think we were talking earlier about the UVB. I made a post so I that is getting replaced. I am hoping he will poop naturally becuae he always does but I had never seen him arch back like that

 

[Sadie]

Hi Sadie I think we were talking earlier about the UVB. I made a post so I that is getting replaced. I am hoping he will poop naturally becuae he always does but I had never seen him arch back like that

Yes and I am not sure what's going on there - any problems walking back legs? Usually impaction effects the back legs not the back

 

[Bluesky1019]

Yes and I am not sure what's going on there - any problems walking back legs? Usually impaction effects the back legs not the back

No he is running around normally and is still eating but has stopped eating crickets and Dubia roaches which were his staple feeder

 

[Sadie]

No he is running around normally and is still eating but has stopped eating crickets and Dubia roaches which were his staple feeder

No more worms he's hooked- it is possible too many supers could impact him but not sure how often that happens - feed him canned plain pumpkin - that will make him poop- keep an eye on back thing -

 

[DragonM0M]

He has a T5 HO zoo med tube and it’s about 9-10 inches away from his back. I have just given him a bath and gave him a few drops of olive oil as a laxative. I hope it’s not a seizure but he wasn’t shaking he only arched his back and stopped a few second after.

That's way too close. Are you able to move the light up so it is 12-15 inches away from his basking spot? If not, you can put it on top as long as you have a wide holed screen. Seizures present differently across species, and can even look different between two animals in the same species. If you are confident it's constipation, warm baths, pumpkin, and light stimulation will be your best friend. But if this continues I definitely recommend taking him to the vet. Although I could be biased as I am a vet tech, so I come from the understanding that medical care is very important when it comes to keeping pets.

 

[Bluesky1019]

That's way too close. Are you able to move the light up so it is 12-15 inches away from his basking spot? If not, you can put it on top as long as you have a wide holed screen. Seizures present differently across species, and can even look different between two animals in the same species. If you are confident it's constipation, warm baths, pumpkin, and light stimulation will be your best friend. But if this continues I definitely recommend taking him to the vet. Although I could be biased as I am a vet tech, so I come from the understanding that medical care is very important when it comes to keeping pets.

Thank you! I am keeping an eye on it now but I will defiantly taken him to the vet if needed! it hasn't happened since and he is eating a running around normally so hopefully it will get better.

 

[DragonM0M]

Thank you! I am keeping an eye on it now but I will defiantly taken him to the vet if needed! it hasn't happened since and he is eating a running around normally so hopefully it will get better.

I hope your baby gets better, keep us updated! <3

 

[Bluesky1019]

I hope your baby gets better, keep us updated! <3

Thank you so much!