Is My Bearded Dragon Dying? | Signs & Health Concerns 2024

Bearded dragons are quite silent in many ways. These reptilians do not bark or purr and they do not make any other sound. The occasional hissing is not noisy so it is natural for pet owners to think that their bearded dragon is lazy and depressed.

Sometimes these reptilians stop moving and you might ask, ‘Is my bearded dragon dying?’ If you get to know your pet well enough, you will be able to tell when their silence is dangerous.

Bearded dragons have a slow metabolism and some other distinct properties that can make them sick silently and if you do not know how they function, these problems can become severe and lead to death. Nobody wants to see their dragon pet go through a problem, so get to know more about it!

What Makes Bearded Dragons Sick

The diet of your pet dragon has to be balanced for the bearded dragon to function properly. The main nutrients for these creatures are protein and calcium. From an early age, bearded dragons need these building blocks for their muscle and bones.

Calcium helps keep their bones strong and protein will build muscle mass. If any of these is low, the dragon can have weaker bones and low muscle mass. Both these things will make the dragon become weak and it will not be able to move actively.

The low absorption of calcium causes the bearded dragons to become weak as their bones become soft. Metabolic Bone Syndrome is a disease in which bones become soft, and cannot bear the weight of the dragon. This disease can make dragons anxious, immobile, and eventually paralyzed because their bones can simply not take any weight!

When your dragon pet undergoes this disease stage, it will become quiet, and may not be as responsive as it used to be. The result of MBD is death! You can prevent your bearded dragon from this tragic end by taking it to a vet and ensuring that it gets treated on time. If the bearded dragon cannot be treated, it will die.

Moreover, ensure that you feed bearded dragons foods rich in calcium and protein. If they cannot consume the required amounts, they will suffer. Additionally, the vegetables and fruits you choose must have low phosphorus.

This element obstructs the absorption of calcium and brings the onset of MBD. The ideal ratio of calcium to phosphorus is 2:1, and if any vegetable or fruit has more phosphorus than this, take it out of their diet.

Reasons For Bearded Dragon’s Bad Health And Death

Another reason that causes death in bearded dragons is impaction. Bearded Dragon Impaction is the blockage of the large intestine, which causes bearded dragons to eat less and remain constipated. When their constipation worsens and the stool solidifies in their intestines, it will make the dragon starve and eventually give up. These sad events can be avoided by keeping a check on your bearded dragon and ensuring that they pass stool every day.

The easiest way to keep the bowel movement of your pet dragon regular is to feed it fibrous foods and ensure that they take a good amount of vitamins and minerals to keep its organs healthy. If your bearded dragon does not take enough of these nutrients, it might become constipated which can worsen into impaction.

Another reason for impaction is feeding large chunks to your dragon pet. Suppose your pet dragon eats diced vegetables that are too large for it to chew and turn to semi-solid or almost crushed food before they swallow.

These large pieces of vegetables and fruits may get stuck in the intestine. Similarly, if bearded dragons eat big-sized insects with tough skin, they may not be able to digest them fully, and semi-solid foods get stuck in the intestine, causing impaction.

The cardinal rule of feeding bearded dragons is to cut every food item into tiny pieces, smaller than the eye size of your pet dragon. If you are unable to do that, constipation may occur. You can also ensure that the bearded dragon remains healthy by keeping its water intake healthy.

Bearded dragons are not designed to drink too much water and if pet owners become careless thinking that their pet needs very little water, they might be making it dehydrated, which makes them constipated.

Other Issues With Bearded Dragons

Apart from these major issues, there can be some other issues, which can lead to death and should be checked. When you feed bearded dragon insects, ensure that they are from pet stores where these pests are cultured and bred. If you catch insects and feed your dragon, there is a chance that there is fertilizer, pesticide, or any other poisonous chemical on its skin.

One more thing that can help ensure the safety of your pet is to keep them away from other pets and provide them with an independent, and safe tank.

If your bearded dragon has competition or sees that it is not attended well, it might get anxious and depressed, which can lead it to a state where they lose its appetite and become weak. As their depression deepens, they become silent, and aloof, and may die alone. You may also want to know about Do Bearded Dragons Fart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible that bearded dragons die of temperature changes?

If the bearded dragon is not living in favorable temperature ranges, it may become irresponsive. If the temperatures are critically low or high they may die.

Will bearded dragons live if they are a few big insects?

Big insects may be hard for bearded dragons to digest and that may cause impaction. It is best to cut up the insect into smaller pieces and then give it to your pet.

Conclusion

Bearded dragons are sturdy beings that can die if they are not properly fed or if they have some serious illness. You can ensure a happy and healthy life for your bearded dragon by giving them more attention and the right nutrition to make sure that they do not have any threatening symptoms. Also, read Bearded Dragon Throwing Up.