Bearded dragon ate sharp plastic!!!!

[sux2butoo]

I was given critical care as a food substrate since my beardie was sick and not eating right. I was also given some plastic syringes to feed him. He is about 17 inches long and 1 pound, this makes his mouth very powerful and he tore off a piece of plastic about 3mm by 1mm off the end of the syringe and I am pretty sure he ate it. Now this would not bother me except that both ends are pretty sharp and that cannot be good.

I am a people doctor and I have seen my share of 4 year olds eating legos and it didn't go well for them. I e-mailed my vet but wanted to know if anyone had any support or words of wisdom for me now for I may not be able to sleep until I know what to do.

thanks

[llovelace]

I am by far no expert, but I think he/she should be ok, what size syringe was it?

[Neal]

Being the syringe was small, or so it sounds i'm sure your dragon will be fine. That piece of plastic will probably get digested rather fast, but I would still check with your vet incase.

[Beardedragon]

Go to a vet and get him checked. He might be able to digest it, im really not sure if they can, but as he swallows it the sharp edges can very well be tearing up the inner walls as it gos down. Im no vet so maybe someone can come in with a little more advice.

[littleindiangirl]

Being the syringe was small, or so it sounds i'm sure your dragon will be fine. That piece of plastic will probably get digested rather fast, but I would still check with your vet incase.

Since when does plastic get digested????

If it does not pass through, get him to a reptile vet to make sure he does not get impacted. Good luck.

[llovelace]

[sux2butoo]

*UPDATE*

Called vet and she recommended at least 2 baths a day with increased water intake and to get him to eat fatty foods such as super and wax worms. He should pass it easily since he is at a size to eat mice and the piece of plastic is no larger than a paw. So we are on day 2 with 3 baths already today and another coming tonight. I haven't been looking forward to something pooping so much in quite some time.

Thanks all.

[ThyTempest]

*UPDATE*

Called vet and she recommended at least 2 baths a day with increased water intake and to get him to eat fatty foods such as super and wax worms. He should pass it easily since he is at a size to eat mice and the piece of plastic is no larger than a paw. So we are on day 2 with 3 baths already today and another coming tonight. I haven't been looking forward to something pooping so much in quite some time.

Thanks all.

I really hope you are not giving your beardie anything even close to adult mice...true pinkies at most, sparingly please.

[sux2butoo]

I really hope you are not giving your beardie anything even close to adult mice...true pinkies at most, sparingly please.

Actually all he gets is salad and worms.... no mice... but in the wild it is amazing what these guys will eat and live to hunt another day. As for mice, he won't even run after crickets. Even when I hold the cricket for him he refuses to eat it because it doesn't taste nearly as good as superworms. Alas, he is a spoiled young man and has been since I adopted him from his former family who treated him like a prince. He won't even drink water unless you give it in a nice syringe with drops next to his mouth.

[Volcanic]

Yeah, 3mm by 1mm is not that big..don't think there should be a problem.