Do Bearded Dragons Pee? Bearded dragons are great pets, their easy-going, and will make a good match for anyone looking to adopt a reptile.
These handsome lizards are easy to accommodate and afford and apart from some requirements, it is easy to take care of these reptiles.
There are, however, some questions about the bearded dragons, one of which is, do bearded dragons pee?
The short answer is yes, bearded dragons do pee. In fact, there are three types of bearded dragons pee that include Liquid pee, White Powdery pee, and yellow pee.
What Are The Types Of Bearded Dragons Pee?
Bearded dragons pee is different from each species, for example, bearded dragons that are native to Australia’s deserts means that their body is made for the hot weather.
Because of this their system of peeing and pooping is not the same as other animals or humans.
Most people who own bearded dragons for the first time often get confused or concerned when they do not see the bearded dragon’s pee as liquid form.
Instead, the dragon may excrete a solid form of uric acid to conserve the water in their body.
By saving water in their body also allows these lizards to maintain even temperature, which is especially useful in deserts and other hot places.
Liquid Pee
The bearded dragon’s pee is mostly in powder because they are made to adapt to the desert’s hot weather where water is scarce, and even a little amount of water excreted from the lizard’s body can cause an imbalance of hydration.
Therefore, it can be troublesome to see your bearded dragon urinate in liquid form. Rest assured, there is no need to worry too much as some bearded dragons do urinate in liquid form.
This also occurs when the bearded dragon eats a lot of vegetables; having a fecal test can help you determine the cause.
However, there can also be some underlying cause, and thus, consulting your vet to get a professional opinion would be a wise decision.
White Powdery Pee
As mentioned, some bearded dragons may have liquidy pee, but for the average pet dragon’s it’s usually a white powdery pee that excretes into a raw form of uric acid, also known as urate.
This powder is in white color and so, if your bearded dragon is excreting white powdery pee, you do not need to worry as it is completely normal.
Yellow Pee
Some people have seen their lizard excreting yellow powder instead of the white powder, making them worry for the lizard’s health. There can be numerous reasons why the bearded dragon’s pee has turned yellow.
It is reported that when the bearded dragon consumes squash, the urate becomes yellow. This is common and thus, there is no need to worry about it. Some people noticed that after a day or two, the yellow urine ceased.
Calcium intake can also turn the bearded dragon’s pee yellow. In this case, you will notice that urate will have yellow crystals mixed in with the white crystals. This is also like the squash problem and should cease after a day or two.
Another reason why your bearded dragon has yellow urate is it could be the caused by liver failure?
However, this could be very unlikely still to avoid any further problems it’s recommended that you take your pet to a vet soon as possible.
It is reported that when the bearded dragon consumes squash, the urate becomes yellow. This is common and thus, there is no need to worry about it.
Some people noticed that after a day or two, the yellow urine ceased. You can also change the diet or cease giving squash to the bearded dragon.
Sometimes, there is the matter of your bearded dragon consuming calcium, which can turn its pee yellow. In this case, you will notice that urate will have yellow crystals mixed in with the white crystals.
This is also like the squash problem and should cease after a day or two.
Sometimes the yellow urate is caused by liver failure. As that can be fatal for your pet, it is recommended that you take your pet to a vet as soon as you can to avoid any further problems.
How many times do bearded dragons pee?
Bearded Dragons are a type of lizard that can grow to be more than 3 feet long and live up to 10 years in captivity. One question many people have about this species is how often they go to the bathroom.
The Bearded Dragon has an extremely efficient digestive tract which means it can digest food quickly and excrete waste at a high volume, which causes them to urinate frequently!
One thing in particular is how often they urinate. Bearded dragons urinate frequently and it can be a little messy because unlike mammals, these reptiles don’t have an organ designed to store urine so the liquid comes out as soon as it’s produced.
Ideally, the bearded dragon baby can urinate two or three times in a day when they pass urate. And as for the older bearded dragon, it can be observed to urinate two to four times a week.
Sign Of Dehydration In A Bearded Dragon
One thing that bearded dragons need is water, which they drink from droplets on plants or from the shallow water bowl in their cage.
Dehydration is common in bearded dragons because they cannot always get enough fluids by drinking droplets off leaves or through food alone.
If your pet dragon’s skin has become dry and scaly, it might be time to introduce some new ways for them to stay hydrated so they don’t develop any serious medical conditions such as renal failure due to dehydration!
It can be difficult to know if your beardy is suffering from dehydration unless you know what to look for! Dehydration can occur when the lizard is shedding, brumating, pregnant, or sick; thus, you need to watch out for these signs…
- Lack Of Appetite
- Wrinkled Skin
- Sunken Eyes
- Lethargy
How to keep a bearded dragon hydrated?
Bearded dragons need to be kept hydrated, so it’s important to make sure you give them enough water or it can lead to health problems like Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).
Dehydration can cause problems to your dragon-like kidney problems, dysecdysis, constipation, and gout.
These issues can worsen by staying dehydrated for an extended period; thus, many newbies are flustered when they keep water near their beady.
He does not take a sip, but you should know that hydrating the bearded dragon is not the same as hydrating other pets.
Bearded dragons prefer to replenish their water requirements by getting moisture from their food or taking small water sips. Another method that these lizards use is by absorbing water through their skin.
These methods do not tell whether your beloved bearded dragon is hydrated or not, and thus, one asks how to keep a bearded dragon hydrated? Here are some of the ways to give water to your beardy.
Feed Vegetables That Contain Water
This is the best method to give your pet water, as this is the same method that most bearded dragons use when they are in the wild.
The green vegetables and insects are most beneficial for the bearded dragons as they give good amounts of proteins and vitamins, but they also help hydrate the bearded dragons through moisture.
Speaking of insects, the hornworms are the best food for insects as they are juicy and filled with calcium and other beneficial elements.
As the young bearded dragons are growing and need vitamins, the vegetables are also suitable for them and adults because of their dietary properties.
Apart from vegetables and insects, the bearded dragons can also enjoy munching on fruits. Fruits are also recommended by vets when your bearded dragon is in serious need of hydrating.
Hornworms are also recommended when bearded dragons are not feeling well or are dehydrated.
Giving Water In A Dish
As before, the bearded dragon does not like to drink a lot of water from the bowl, which is why most newbies get confused.
However, there are some ways to give water to your bearded dragon, like holding the dish and giving him the water by yourself, or you can get a shallow dish for your bearded dragon and train him to drink from the dish.
Once the bearded dragons are trained, they can drink water by themselves.
When you are buying a dish, make sure that the dish is shallow so that the bearded dragon can also sit in it to absorb some water through the skin.
However, make sure that the water is below the shoulders height as the skin of these lizards is not made so that they can get water in their eyes. Moreover, these lizards are also not good swimmers as they are mostly found in deserts.
Give a shower
The bearded dragon is unique in the sense that it can take water in from the skin and that is how it has survived in the deserts.
Giving regular baths to the bearded dragon will ensure that your dragon is hydrated. You can also play with your beardy for half an hour when taking a shower to make the process swift.
Misting
Misting is also a convenient and easy way to make sure that your bearded dragon is hydrated. Some people like to argue that listing is not suitable as it does not exist in the desert and thus can cause upper respiratory infections.
One thing to bear in mind is that you will need warm water when you are misting the bearded dragon and it is also essential that you do it by the tank or water so that there is no humidity.
Conclusion
Although we don’t have a definitive answer on this question, but we do know that they excrete waste from their cloaca.
Bearded Dragons urinate through the cloaca as well so it is possible that some urine may come out during defecation if there isn’t enough water in the tank to dilute it.
However, you should be able to tell by observing your dragon’s behavior and external appearance if he or she has been peeing too much; excessive urination could indicate illness.
If you are still concerned about whether or not your bearded dragon is wetting more than normal (and/or other issues), take them to an exotics vet for a check-up!
Bearded dragons make great pets so taking care of them and making sure they are well hydrated and healthy is key for a happy reptile.
If you have any concerns regarding your reptile pee or health you see your vet as soon as possible and they can advise you further.
