Impaction
Impaction is the blockage of the gastrointestinal system by a foreign object.
This is a scary word used frequently in the reptile community. Luckily for us, impaction usually isn't as common as it is made out to be. Before trying to hurry a bowel movement along, we need to look at some of the causes of impaction. They include, but are not limited to:
If your animal is dehydrated, chances are they aren't properly digesting their food, as water is needed for that process. If their basking temperature is low, they won't be able to digest much at all. If they are already sick, their body is focusing fighting off the infection, not digesting food.
Once these issues are addressed, you can then move onto helping move along a bowel movement. Here are some ideas to try:
If none of these methods work and your animal is severely bloated and/or has paralyzed back legs, bring it to the vet immediately. It could be life threatening.
This is a scary word used frequently in the reptile community. Luckily for us, impaction usually isn't as common as it is made out to be. Before trying to hurry a bowel movement along, we need to look at some of the causes of impaction. They include, but are not limited to:
- Dehydration
- Preexisting illness, and
- Low basking temperature
If your animal is dehydrated, chances are they aren't properly digesting their food, as water is needed for that process. If their basking temperature is low, they won't be able to digest much at all. If they are already sick, their body is focusing fighting off the infection, not digesting food.
Once these issues are addressed, you can then move onto helping move along a bowel movement. Here are some ideas to try:
- Feeding canned pumpkin. It's a natural laxative.
- Giving baths in warm water.
- Massaging the belly while in the bath.
- Syringe feeding water to aid digestion.
If none of these methods work and your animal is severely bloated and/or has paralyzed back legs, bring it to the vet immediately. It could be life threatening.