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Portal Forum Glossary |
Dealing with Impactions |
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What is Impaction? Impaction is the blockage of the digestive tract. Left untreated it can cause paralysis, rectal prolapse and death. Symptoms The first obvious sign of impaction is that the beardie stops excreting (or only urates). Sometimes if it is only a partial blockage then you will see them straining and not being regular. At this point the "stomach" area may seem abnormally hard. Left untreated you will see rear leg twitching as the impaction presses on the spine. This will progress to the to paralysis and you may also see a bump appear along the spine. They may vomit as there is no where for the food to go. The beardie will also loose interest in food and become lethargic. What causes impaction Particle substrates. These include all loose substrate such as millet, sand, crushed walnut shells and bark/ wood chip. Calci-sand which is marketed as safe for reptiles is one of the worse available. The sand clumps together, is compacted within the digestive system and forms a concrete type substance which can be impossible for the dragon to pass. Other particle substrates can expand within the dragon, clump together, be an awkward shape as not to be able to pass through correctly or just not reduce in size enough during the digestion process to be able for the dragon to pass it. Food Items There are many foods that can cause impaction and it is very important that you feed your dragon the right food and that it is the correct size. Here are some of the foods known to cause impaction's Crickets bigger than the space between it's eyes. Mealworms, these have thicker exoskeletons and can compact to cause blockages. Superworms fed to beardies that are too small. Although these have exoskeletons they are not as thick as mealworms, this is why superworms are fine for adults. Pinky mice, the large fatty mass and bones can become lodged in the digestive system. Parasites Parasites or parasite die off can also cause blockages. It is always a good idea to get a fecal float done after an impaction has occurred especially if you are unsure of the cause. Also be aware that this possibility when treating for parasites. Temperature If the beardie is kept too cool it will not be able to correctly digest the food items correctly preventing them from being broken down causing the impaction. Dehydration Dehydration can cause any food within the intestines to become dry and it’s contents to solidify. MBD MBD can reduce muscle strength in the digestive system preventing them from being able to pass items through it's digestive track correctly. What to do If it is paralysed do not attempt to force it to move it's legs. The first step I always recommend is to give it a bath. This will help keep the beardie hydrated and the water helps relax muscles and stimulate bowel movements. This can be done several times a day while impacted. Massaging the stomach can help break up blockages. Gentle lifting the tail allows water into the vent and can help too. Hydration is very important, as it can help flush out an impaction and to break it down. Extra fluids can be given with a syringe or eye dropper. You can use water, diluted Gatorade or pedialyte. A couple of drops of vegetable/ mineral/ olive oil can help lubricate the digestive system. A small amount of apple source can also help do this. While impacted the beardie should not be fed solid food. Chicken, squash and sweet potato baby food can be used. You can also mix in probiotic, calcium or vitamin supplements into the food during this period. If the beardie is in distress or the symptoms persist for more than a week your beardie should be seen by a vet. The vet can x-ray for sign and size of impaction. They can also perform enemas to help move along the impaction or medicate where required. |
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