Do Not Stifle Me, Woman!

I shall stifle myself, now leave me alone! I’ll take a few bites of food and a cuddle, but otherwise, “Leave me be!”

Lil’ Murph is not cooperating!

It has been 8 days since his last poo. That is too long. I’ve told him this, but he is not listening.

In the winter months, when his metabolism slows, I get worried.

Thankfully, thus far, he has not gone into full brumation. He gets a bit lethargic, does not eat much, and does not poo much, but more than a week without a potty is pushing it. We are creeping up on compaction worries at this point.

Though it is not consumption of sand or other materials causing it, in Murph’s case it is a slow metabolism. Basically, compaction is a form of constipation, and it is deadly.

Brumation is the reptilian form of hibernation & it is a scary time for reptile parents.

I’ve read horror stories of folks thinking their reptiles were dead & even burying them, only to discover they were alive, but sleeping very deeply.

Murph’s sister, Copper, went into full brumation a couple of times and it was horrible!! I missed her terribly & worried about her every day. Every single day was stessful, always hoping I had more life from her to love.

There are tests parents can perform to know they still have their scaly darlings. Here is a link to that:   

https://reptile.guide/bearded-dragon-brumation/

Murph is a special character, as some of you know. He refuses too poo in his cage. He will only poo in the kitchen sink, after observing whatever goes down the drain goes away (this is observance & intelligence at work)!!

It’s fine though, nothing a lizard bath & bleach in the sink won’t fix.

Murph will also potty outside, particularly after watching his brother dog walk around & poo.

As a last resort, when Lil’ Murph gets to walk around the house for exercise, he’ll head to the rug, the office for privacy, or the kitchen floor to poo (much easier to sanitize, thank you, Murph), BUT HE WILL NOT POO IN HIS CAGE!!

I leave newspapers in a corner of his enclosure, just in case. He use to potty there when he was desperate. But, that was years ago, and he is more stubborn now than before, perhaps.

Why?! Why doesn’t Murph poo in his cage?!? Because lizards are very clean animals, that’s why! They don’t want that crap around or on their person.

Honestly, they don’t want poo on newspaper near them either! Since Murph has spent much time in his cage & beneath his special lights this season, he is a tad bit stubborn.

I have given him time to walk around the house, I have given him “spa time” and soaks in the sink, I have given him under-belly, as well as all-over massages, I have manually moved his legs up & down, up & down to stimulate a possible poo event, to no avail … stubborn butt!

If he doesn’t go soon, I have to take him to the vet. He isn’t eating much already, which is good in regards to he is not, or will not poo enough to please me. We don’t want to over-feed a gut that is not releasing it’s intake.

He is, however eating a tiny bit daily, of sweet potato, watermelon, bok choy, & bell peppers, so with these & his “spa time” he is properly hydrated.

See, does he look inspired to eat?!

“Give me Lizardry or give me Death! – Dawn Renée