Complete Guide To Bearded Dragon Impaction [Symptoms & Treatment]

Have you ever noticed that your beloved bearded dragon isn’t pooping like they used to? Or maybe they’re showing signs of discomfort? It could be impaction!

Impaction is a serious condition in reptiles, especially bearded dragons, and it’s important to know the causes, symptoms, and treatments so that you can keep your pet healthy. In this guide we will cover everything there is to know about impaction in bearded dragons. So if you suspect impaction in your beardie — read on!

Impaction is the blockage of the digestive tract by a hard mass, impeding normal excretion of solid waste. It most often occurs when a reptile ingests a substrate such as sand or gravel, which can get stuck in their gut and form an impaction.

Impaction is not exclusive to bearded dragons, but it is especially common in this species due to their tendency to dig and explore their environment with their mouths. Bearded dragons who live in an unclean or improperly set up habitat or suffer from neglect are most likely to be impacted.

If you suspect your bearded dragon is impacted, it’s important to examine the root cause. There are three main causes of impaction in bearded dragons:

The material that covers the bottom of your bearded dragon’s tank is called the substrate. If this substrate is loose and too small — like sand, gravel, or pebbles — your bearded dragon can accidentally ingest it while digging around. This is a very common cause of impaction in bearded dragons.

For this reason, fixed substrates — like reptile carpet and ceramic tile — are recommended for bearded dragons.

Incorrect temperatures and UV levels in the habitat can cause impaction. Bearded dragons require specific temperatures for their basking spot (around 95-105°F), and also need a full spectrum UVB light. Without these correct settings, impaction is more likely to occur.

Temperature and UVB light are essential for maintaining normal digestive function. If these are not optimal, impaction can occur.

Improper diets can also contribute to impaction. Feeding too much food or pieces of food that are too large for your bearded dragon to digest can cause impaction.

As a general rule, never feed your bearded dragon foods that are wider than the space between their eyes. This is a good rule of thumb, since it accounts for the fact that the acceptable size of the food will vary depending on the size of the individual.

Just because your bearded dragon seems a little off, it doesn’t necessarily mean impaction is the culprit. There are a few signs and symptoms of impaction you can watch out for to tell if your bearded dragon is impacted.

The most common symptom of impaction is a lack of regular pooping. If your bearded dragon is impacted, they won’t be able to pass their waste as usual, and it will start to accumulate in the body.

If you haven’t seen any solid waste from your beardie in several days or if there are clear signs of discomfort, impaction is a possibility. Baby bearded dragons should poop one or more times a day. Juveniles (3-12 months old) should be pooping daily. Adult bearded dragons should poop 3⁠–7 times a week. Any deviation from these rates could indicate impaction.

Impaction can lead to stiffness in the back legs due to a lack of nutrition and pressure from the impaction on the spine. If your bearded dragon’s back legs seem stiff or weak, impaction is likely.

This back leg stiffness can cause your bearded dragon to walk with an awkward gait or appear to drag one or both back legs as they move around the enclosure. This is a serious symptom of impaction and should be treated as an emergency.

Another symptom of impaction is a lump or bulge in the bearded dragon’s back. This indicates that their digestive system is backed up, and waste that should be passing through cannot do so.

If impaction is left untreated for too long, it can start to affect your bearded dragon’s appetite. If impaction is present, your bearded dragon may not want to eat or may be slower than usual in showing interest in food.

This is not a telltale sign, there are many reasons why a bearded dragon may not want to eat. You should look out for other symptoms in addition to decreased appetite if you want to be 100% sure impaction is to blame.

If you observe lethargy, fatigue, and general lack of energy, your bearded dragon might be suffering from impaction. If you notice your bearded dragon is more tired and inactive than usual, impaction is a possibility.

Again, there are several causes of lethargy (including normal seasonal brumation) so make sure to check for other impaction symptoms as well.

Once you’re sure your poor beardie is impacted, it’s time to take action. The good news is impaction can be treated fairly easily.

There are several at-home fixes you can try to help your bearded dragon pass the impaction.

If at-home treatments don’t work or if the impaction is severe, you should take your bearded dragon to the vet.

The impaction can be caused by an unsuitable environment or incorrect temperatures. Temperature is known to effect digestion in lizards. Double check your bearded dragon’s enclosure and make sure the temperature is correct (around 95-105°F in the basking spot and 85°F on the cool side).

Another environmental issue that could be causing impaction is a lack of humidity. Make sure your bearded dragon’s enclosure is properly humidified to a relative humidity of 30⁠–40% to promote regular digestion.

And of course, if any impaction-causing objects have been left in the enclosure, it’s important to remove them right away. If you are using a loose substrate, make sure to switch it out with a fixed substrate that won’t cause impaction (like newspaper, reptile carpet, or ceramic tile).

Giving your bearded dragon a warm bath can help them pass the impaction. Fill up a shallow container with lukewarm water (around 90-95°F) and let your beardie soak for 20 minutes or so, keeping their head above the water at all times.

The warmth of the water will relax the muscles and promote impaction passing. After the bath, towel dry your bearded dragon and keep them warm until they are back to their normal energy level.

Gently massaging your bearded dragon’s abdomen can help shift impaction. Hold your beardie upright and support them in place with one hand. With the other hand, press lightly to massage from the shoulder area towards the tail area of their body. Be sure to be gentle, as impaction can cause pain and you don’t want to hurt them further.

A gentle massage can be enough to work the impaction loose. If this happens, your bearded dragon should expel the impaction immediately. Depending on how long your beardie has been impacted, there might be a voluminous amount of fecal material.

If impaction is caused by a diet that’s not suitable for bearded dragons, the best way to prevent impaction is to change their food.

Make sure your beardie eats plenty of fresh vegetables and insects as part of their balanced diet. Bearded dragons are omnivores, which means they need both meat-based proteins and plant-based fiber to stay healthy.

Avoid giving your bearded dragon any foods that are too large for them to consume safely. Stick to pieces that are the size of the space between your beardie’s eyes or less. Also, avoid any sugary or fatty foods that may be difficult for your bearded dragon to digest.

If impaction is severe, impaction can be life-threatening. If you think your bearded dragon’s impaction is too serious to treat at home, or home-based cared isn’t working, it’s best to take them to the vet as soon as possible.

A vet can help determine if impaction is causing any other health problems and provide medications or surgeries to help. The vet might also recommend an x-ray or ultrasound to get a better understanding of the impaction.

Remember that impaction is not something to be taken lightly and should always be addressed as soon as possible. If you suspect your bearded dragon has impaction, take action right away! With quick treatment, impaction can usually be reversed and your bearded dragon can make a full recovery.

Impaction is a common health issue in bearded dragons, but it can be prevented or reversed with quick action. Impaction can be caused by environmental issues like incorrect temperatures or a lack of humidity, impaction-causing objects left in the enclosure, and unsuitable food items.

Giving your bearded dragon warm baths and massaging their abdomen can help shift impaction. Changing their diet to one that is suitable for bearded dragons and monitoring the environment are also key steps to preventing impaction. If impaction is severe, it’s best to take your beardie to the vet as soon as possible for proper treatment.

It’s important to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for impaction symptoms early on, so your beardie can get the help they need! By being proactive, impaction can be reversed and your bearded dragon can make a full recovery.

Take care of your beardie and they’ll take care of you!