Did you know bearded dragons have a unique way to hydrate themselves? As lizard owners, you should know this to better understand your bearded dragons. There are also theories that bearded dragons can drink through their skin or not.
The bearded dragon vent can take in water when needed, in addition to being used for defecate and urinate. Do bearded dragons absorb water through their skin? This theory stems from the common ability in bearded dragons, which helps them hydrate when submerged in water.
To find out more about bearded dragon vent, we need to know some similar questions and how bearded dragons stay hydrated.
Bearded Dragon Vent – do bearded dragons absorb water through their skin
What Is The Vent On A Bearded Dragon?
The bearded dragon vent is the area the bearded dragons use to defecate or urinate. If bearded dragons are submerged in water, it is not uncommon for the vent to open to keep hydrated if needed.
Do bearded dragons absorb water through their skin? Although technically, bearded dragons do not absorb water through their skin, the misting method will keep the bearded dragons hydrated because they also need water for their skin to keep their body temperature normal.
If the bearded dragon is on a substrate or in an enclosure, it may urinate through its vent.
Urine is clear and has no odor, but defecation can result in foul smells that should be checked by pet owners. Any change to this behavior from normal should be evaluated by an experienced reptile veterinarian immediately!
Do Bearded Dragons Need Vents?
Bearded dragons need a vent to urinate and defecate through. Bearded dragons that are under 6 inches in length typically have a small vent or will not usually defecate through their vent. Training a baby bearded dragon is important when domesticated.
Bearded dragons that are over 6 inches will normally have a larger vent and may also defecate through their vents while on the ground in an enclosure or while submerged in water. It is a good idea to check with your vet to see if this is normal.
Do Bearded Dragons Drink Through Their Vent?
Although you will more often see bearded dragons drink through their mouths, there are also bearded dragons who do not like to drink with the drink you prepare because they also do not like calm water. You have to entice them to drink. Otherwise, they will get dehydrated.
If your bearded dragons don’t like to drink, you can do something else by soaking them in water for 15 minutes or more, and this theory refers to the bearded dragon vent being used for drinking water.
Although it is not certain that the vents help bearded dragons while submerged or soaked in water, this method is also one of the right things to rehydrate your bearded dragons.
Where Are The Bearded Dragons Vents Located?
You can see the bearded dragon vent in the back legs area, the same place for bearded dragons to defecate or urinate. To check if you can straddle your bearded dragons, see the underside and near their tail.
The bearded dragon vent is located on the lower part of their belly. It can be found right above the base of their back legs, or just behind it if you were to look at them from above.
The bearded dragon vents may also open up when they are in water to aid in hydration and remain open for a couple of minutes after they come out of the water. This is just another reason why you don’t want to over-hydrate them!
When pet owners ask about “where is a bearded dragons vent,” they are curious because the vent is more often open when bearded dragons swim or are in the water. This is what gives rise to the theory that bearded dragons can drink through their vents.
Do bearded dragons absorb water through their skin? No, keeping their skin fresh by leaving them in the water or bathing is also needed to keep up their metabolism.
Bearded Dragon Vent: Defecation & Urination
If a bearded dragon appears to be straining excessively during urination, it may be in kidney or bladder failure. This will require an immediate trip to the reptile veterinarian and possibly emergency surgery depending on the cause of the problem.
If the bearded dragon has not defecated or urinated in a day, you should check for intestinal blockages. As with any reptile, if you notice blood or a black substance coming from their vent that is accompanied by straining, they may have an obstruction and will require immediate veterinary care!
Bearded Dragon Vent: Treatment
Treatment for bearded dragon vent problems is dependent on the cause. If there is no blockage, yet the bearded dragon still has a difficult time urinating or defecating through their vent due to injury, surgery may be performed to allow for normal passage of urine and feces. This should not be confused with constipation!
If there is inflammation near the bearded dragon vent that causes problems with urination and defecation, it can be cleared easily during a physical exam with a reptile veterinarian.
How To Keep Bearded Dragon Vent Healthy?
Bearded dragon vent problems can usually be controlled with consistent water quality and feeding. It is important to provide your bearded dragon with fresh, clean food and a large amount of water every day!
If you are uncertain if they have had enough water, there are several signs that you should look for. If the bearded dragon has excess urination or defecation, you should check to see if their water bowl is empty. Also, be sure that your bearded dragon has a basking spot where they can get out of the water (if it must be in an enclosure) to warm up!
If you consistently feed them healthy foods and keep the water bowl full, there shouldn’t be any problems with your bearded dragon’s vent!
If you have more questions or concerns about your bearded dragons health, please contact a reptile veterinarian today to schedule an appointment.
Bearded Dragon Vent – do bearded dragons absorb water through their skin
Why Do Bearded Dragons Have Holes In Their Head?
In addition to discussing the bearded dragon vent, some also asked about the bearded dragon’s head holes.
If you see the holes on the side of their head, it’s their ears. You can take a closer look to find the thin protective layer inside. But do not use your hands, cotton balls, or anything else to see what’s inside because it can cause injury to their ears.
There are also small holes in the front of the head, namely their nostrils. You can see it in the upper jaw and on the right and left a few centimeters in front of their eyes.
There is another small hole in the center of the head skull, and it is the bearded dragon’s parietal eye or 3rd eye.
This is a special sensor from bearded dragons to detect any changes in light or shadow passing above their heads so that they know there is something dangerous for themselves that is located above their heads.
First, you can prepare a freshwater dish next to the food that has been prepared for them. Not all bearded dragons can drink directly from the water dish. More often, they need the help of their owners to start drinking.
The second way is to let them play in the water for a few minutes or let them swim. You can see the bearded dragon vent open while in the water, and there is a theory that the vent helps them to keep hydrated.
Do bearded dragons absorb water through their skin? Technically not, but because bearded dragons are animals that live in dry places like the desert, they also occasionally need water to keep their skin fresh and hydrated.
Should I Soak Bearded Dragon?
If anyone asks how to hydrate a bearded dragon, one way is to soak your bearded dragons. Soaking is an important part of the bearded dragon’s life cycle. By soaking, you are protecting your beardie from extreme temperatures as well as helping to nourish him properly.
It is a good idea to switch him out of the water to a cold water tank in the fall and winter months. He will still require access to water but at a much lower level than he would be in the warmer areas of his habitat. Don’t switch him without taking him out of the cold zone first.
When soaking the bearded dragons for 15 to 20 minutes, you can help the skin metabolism, especially when they are shedding. You will also often see the bearded dragon vent open when in the water.
Can I Use Tap Water For My Bearded Dragon?
In addition to focusing on the bearded dragon vent for the rehydrating process, some owners ask if they can use tap water for drinking bearded dragons.
The answer is yes, and you can use tap water for drinking your dehydrated bearded dragon. Don’t forget to choose dechlorinating products so that the water given to the bearded dragons remains fresh and safe to give to them.
There are probably hundreds of different chemicals in tap water in the United States, and most of them are dangerous to your bearded dragon.
Many of the tap water that we drink contains pesticides, antibiotics, and even hormones. If you don’t want your bearded dragon drinking from a dirty tap, you will have to make sure that you only allow him to drink from that dish.
How Do Bearded Dragons Drink?
You will see bearded dragons use their tongue to lick the water from the water bowl, droplets from plants, or from the vegetables or insects they eat.
This is different from bearded dragons, which rehydrate in water, and bearded dragon vent open. We still don’t know for sure whether opening the bearded dragon vent works the same as drinking or not.
Learning about how to get bearded dragon to drink is very important because bearded dragons are one of the animals that are difficult to drink. You should direct them to drink, and always change the water fresh every time.
What Can Bearded Dragons Drink?
You can give bearded dragons fresh and clean water. If you want to give your bearded dragons fruit juice, you will need to add more water than the fruit and in small portions to see if they have an allergic reaction or not.
Fresh and clean water is needed by bearded dragons so that their metabolism runs smoothly. In addition, drinking can prevent bearded dragon hydration and constipation for them.
If you know the importance of bearded dragons to drink or keep hydrated, you also need to learn about how to get bearded dragon to drink water.
Don’t think that bearded dragons will drink water through the bearded dragon vent regularly, as they mainly use their tongues.
How To Get Your Bearded Dragon To Drink Water?
Water is an important part of a bearded dragon’s diet as it is what they get their nutrition from. It is also very important that they have access to clean water at all times as it is essential to their health.
You should never force your bearded dragon to drink. The best way to teach a bearded dragon drinking water from a water bottle is to let him go through the process independently. Once he has become used to drinking from the water bottle, you should simply take it from him and replace it with a new one.
If they still don’t want to drink, move the water around to make the bearded dragons curious about the ripples. Or put their favorite insect in the water bowl that you have prepared.
If nothing else works, you can let the bearded dragons swim until the bearded dragon vent is also submerged in water and let them play while drinking at once.
Ways Bearded Dragons Drink Water
There are several ways for bearded dragons to drink, and you should know this because bearded dragons must always be given water to keep them hydrated and have a healthy life. The table below shows some of the ways bearded dragons drink water.
Drinking method
Explanation
Through Insect, leaves, or vegetables
Bearded dragons drink from the water contained in the food they eat.
Through water dish
Bearded dragons lick the water in the water bowl or in the place you have provided.
Soaking in water
While playing in the water or swimming, bearded dragons can also drink at once.
Misting
Although misting is not very effective, droplets from plants or other places can be a place for bearded dragons to drink.
Do Bearded Dragons Absorb Water?
Bearded dragons only absorb water from drinking through the mouth and also through the bearded dragon vent.
How to hydrate bearded dragon is simple. You just need to give them fresh water and let them drink. If they don’t want to, try droplets from the surrounding plants or the fruit they eat.
Bearded dragons cannot absorb water through their skin but must rehydrate by drinking or soaking in water. There are still many who think that bearded dragons absorb water, but it is not.
Bearded Dragon Vent Problems
The bearded dragon vents problem is called prolapse. Most causes of Bearded Dragon Prolapse: A soft pink lump, sometimes accompanied by a hard yellow line, coming from your bearded dragon’s backside indicates a local opisthosoma.
Which is a tissue tear caused by stresses to the abdomen, resulting in part or all of the cloaca coming free through the cloaca opening.
A prolapsed cloacal prolapse generally occurs when your bearded dragon tries to poop or lay eggs in the wrong area. It’s a serious health problem requiring immediate medical attention.
Your bearded dragon may show signs of weakness, drooling, or altered behavior such as trying to hide. Prolapses can also occur after surgery, stress, or illnesses.
What To Do If There Is A Bulge At Bearded Dragon Vent?
Sometimes, a bearded dragon will develop a lump at the base of their vent that can cause them to defecate through it rather than urinate through it. This is most likely due to an obstruction in their intestines and may require emergency surgery if it becomes severe.
If your bearded dragon is acting normal and has good muscle tone but you notice a lump at their vent, you should call your veterinarian immediately for further testing.
If your bearded dragon has been acting abnormally, is not eating or drinking and exhibits almost no muscle tone (floppy), immediate veterinary attention is recommended to avoid intestinal blockage and dehydration! If the obstruction becomes severe enough to cause serious health issues such as heart failure, it can lead to death.
How To Care For Bearded Dragon Swollen Vent?
If you have a bearded dragon with a swollen vent, the first thing you should do is make sure that it isn’t an infection! If there are signs of swelling, discharge or pus in or around the bearded dragon’s vent, they may be suffering from an infection. These infections can often lead to abscesses and internal swelling which can cause further complications.
If you notice swelling or discharge coming from the bearded dragon’s vent, call a reptile veterinarian immediately for an assessment of your bearded dragon and treatment plan.
In most cases, swollen vents are due to intestinal blockages that may require surgery to correct- if not monitored and treated early enough!
What Causes A Swollen Vent?
It is common for bearded dragons to develop swellings at their vent if they are not eating or if they have been stressed. If your bearded dragon is not eating, it could take as much as two weeks for you to notice a swelling or blockage at the vent! This is because the intestinal tract takes time to break down food and excess nutrients can cause inflammation, swelling and infection.
Although it is common for a bearded dragon to develop these swellings if they are not eating or have been stressed, there are other causes of swollen vent that may require veterinary attention! If you notice your bearded dragon has swollen mass at their vent consistently, even when they eat regularly, call a reptile veterinarian immediately.
If you have a juvenile bearded dragon that has developed swelling at their vent, it is very important to rule out normal growths!
Babies are often born with softball-sized masses on the base of their vent and this may appear as a swelling after they begin to shed their skin. It is important to take your baby in for appropriate veterinary testing if they begin to develop these masses at a young age.
How To Care For Bearded Dragon Vent Temporarily Opening At Random Times?
If your bearded dragon’s vent is normally closed but will open at random times, it may be the result of a constipation. Your bearded dragon may need an enema to help relieve them of blockages in their intestines if this becomes severe or regular.
Bearded dragons become constipated when they have eaten too much fiber and not enough vegetables. They will need to be treated with oral laxatives and hydration to avoid blockages!
If you notice that your bearded dragon will not defecate for long periods of time, it is possible they are constipated. It can take several days before it becomes an issue- so monitor your bearded dragon closely over the next few days.
If your bearded dragon begins to have trouble walking, breathing or you notice a noticeable change in behavior, you should call a vet immediately for professional treatment and diagnosis. Bearded dragons often develop constipation if they are not eating regularly so it is important to make sure that this isn’t the cause of their symptoms!
Final Verdict On Bearded Dragon Vent
Keeping bearded dragons hydrated is the duty of pet owners to carry out their normal activities. You need to provide clean and fresh water every day for them to drink. Vent is used to both urinate and can also used to take in water. Lots of research point out that healthy dragons drink more water through mouth than taking them through vent.
Bearded Dragon Vent – do bearded dragons absorb water through their skin
If the bearded dragons find it difficult to drink with the water you prepared, you can also bathe them so that the bearded dragon vents also absorb water.
Many people mistakenly think that bearded dragons absorb water with their skin, but bearded dragons drink through their mouths more often than not.
Bearded dragons can also drink from the water content in their food but still provide a water dish for their healthy diet.
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