When we think about a creature that embodies both elegance & curiosity, the Bearded Dragon comes first to our mind. Nowadays, people are intrigued with the companionship of Beardies, and dragon-keeping as pets is becoming a trend.

However, as we delve into the enigmatic realm of these scaly companions, one peculiar aspect of their care is giving attention to their fecal waste.

Noticing bearded dragon blood in urate is not good; it requires owners & veterinary attention. Hence, if you’re concerned about your “red urate bearded Dragon”, this article is for you.

Here, we will discuss five major causes of bearded dragon red urate, along with their symptoms & possible remedies. So read this article thoroughly, and embark on a journey of learning what to do when you find a bearded Dragon red urate.

Bearded Dragon Blood in Urate: 3 Possible Causes

Impaction

The very first place from where you need to start is by looking at the symptoms of impaction. Impaction is quite common in reptiles like bearded dragons, a very fatal condition, especially if left untreated. Of course, there can be mainly health conditions that lead beardies to bleed from the anus or have blood in their urate, but the most typical one to blame is said to be impaction.

When your pet experiences impaction, its digestive tract is either blocked by a semi-solid mass or an inorganic substance trapped in its intestinal tract. If I were at your place, I would have first paid attention to what I fed my pet that caused trouble when making a bowel movement.

There can be many causes of impaction in bearded dragons, but let’s first understand ‘what usually causes this condition?’. Understanding your pet’s normal behavior will further help you notice and diagnose any sudden changes in your pet more quickly.

What To Do?

First, you need to note that this condition is more complex and challenging to cure for a newbie. Therefore, if you don’t have proper experience handling and treating small health conditions with your pet, I suggest you get it diagnosed by a professional herp veterinarian. Now, coming back to the point, there are a few steps that you & your veterinarian can take to resolve this condition and get your pet back to its health and normal urate texture without blood.

Many bearded dragons like to bathe, and you can also try giving one to your pet. A warm bath will stimulate your pet’s bowel movement, which further helps move things from their intestine. You need to fill a tub With warm water and place your pet inside it.

Ensure your dragon is not fully submerged and can swim properly, giving them extra exercise. I will advise you to wait for at least 30 minutes and, if required, add more warm water in the tub as it begins to cool. If the impaction is mild, this will get the issue resolved. You can also try giving your pet a massage with the help of our recent guide on ‘how to massage a bearded dragon to poop.’

Parasitic Infection 

Another reason you find bearded dragon blood in the urate could be due to parasitic infection. Bad parasites like hookworms, coccidia or pinworms can cause bearded dragon bloody urate. If your pet suffers from parasitic infection, you must get all your dragon stool examined by the nearest vet clinic. So never mind taking a sample of your bearded dragon Poop / bloody urate in a small plastic bag, and take it to the nearest vet clinic for appropriate parasite testing. 

What To Do?

When treating internal parasites of bearded dragons, stool or fecal testing becomes very important to detect the type. You should know that bearded dragons host various parasites, including hookworms, coccidia, protozoa, pinworms, mites, ticks, etc. However, the most common ones are pinworms, coccidia, and hookworms. Currently, Praziquantel is the only drug proven to be safe and effective for bearded dragons with hookworms.

On the other hand, this drug can also treat bearded dragons’ flukes. Talking about pinworms, fenbendazole can be given. Some other worms you can treat in reptiles using fenbendazole medication are roundworms, pinworms, hookworms, flatworms, hepatic worms, and threadworms. Lastly, Bird & Exotics Veterinarians suggest that coccidia should be treated under vet observation using medications like Toltrazuril. 

Internal Bleeding

If you find your pet bleeding right from their anus, it’s an emergency that needs veterinary attention asap. You should note that bleeding in their intestine & stomach occurs following an internal injury. If your dragon recently fell after failing to climb, it might have developed into a ruptured organ or internal failure, leading to bearded dragon blood in the urate.

However, internal bleeding can also happen due to other causes like pathogenic bacteria damaging their intestine or dry poop causing lots of straining. To understand whether bloody urate in the bearded dragon results from internal bleeding, pay attention to your pets’ behavior and watch out for the symptoms below.

What To Do?

Is it obvious to get your pet checked at the nearest vet clinic because internal bleeding is not something that should go unchecked for too long? To detect what is causing this condition, the vet will likely do x-rays and other physical examinations on your pet.

So, I advise you to visit a reputable vet specializing in bearded dragon care, diagnosis, and treatment. Thankfully, we have also launched a tool that helps you find a bearded dragon vet near me with just two clicks 😉.

FAQ

Conclusion

I hope you have all the ideas about what causes bearded dragon blood in the urate. If you cannot get your pet’s urate back to its normal state/form, call your vet and schedule an appointment. Also, you can take a sample of your pet bearded dragon for testing. I hope you have all the ideas for when you notice bearded dragon red urate.

If you find this article helpful, check my other helpful guides on this website, where we covered many topics around bearded dragon urate colors. Also, remember to join our growing community of stobe owners and be a proud member of the long-living beardies group. See you in the next post, till then, take care, and goodbye.