If you are a bearded dragon owner, or thinking of getting one, you probably know that these reptiles have a varied diet that includes insects, plants, fruits, and vegetables. But can bearded dragons eat avocado? This is a question that many beardie lovers have, and the answer may surprise you.
Avocado is a delicious and nutritious fruit that humans enjoy, but it is not suitable for bearded dragons. In fact, avocado is highly toxic for bearded dragons and can cause serious health problems or even death. In this guide, we will explain why avocado is bad for bearded dragons, what to do if your beardie accidentally eats some, and what are some safe alternatives to feed your scaly friend.
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Key Takeaways:
- Avocado contains oxalic acid, a substance that can bind with minerals and prevent their absorption, leading to calcium deficiency and metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons.
- Avocado also contains persin, a compound that can damage the heart, lungs, and liver of bearded dragons, causing vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and cardiac arrest.
- If your bearded dragon eats avocado, you should contact a veterinarian immediately and monitor its symptoms. There is no antidote for avocado poisoning, so supportive care and hydration are the only treatments available.
- Bearded dragons can eat a variety of fruits and vegetables that are safe and healthy for them, such as apples, bananas, berries, carrots, kale, squash, and more. You should always wash and chop the produce before feeding it to your beardie, and offer it in moderation as a treat or supplement to their main diet of insects.
Why Is Avocado Bad for Bearded Dragons?
Avocado is bad for bearded dragons for two main reasons: oxalic acid and persin. These are two substances that are naturally present in avocados and can harm bearded dragons in different ways.
Oxalic acid is an organic compound that is found in many plants, including avocado, spinach, rhubarb, and chocolate. Oxalic acid can bind with minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, and form oxalates. Oxalates are crystals that can accumulate in the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract of bearded dragons, causing kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and blockages.
Oxalates can also reduce the absorption of minerals in the digestive system, leading to mineral deficiency and metabolic bone disease. Metabolic bone disease is a common and serious condition in bearded dragons that affects their bones, muscles, and nerves. It can cause symptoms such as weakness, tremors, deformities, fractures, and paralysis.
Persin is a fatty acid derivative that is found in avocados, especially in the skin, pit, and leaves. Persin is toxic for many animals, including birds, rodents, horses, and dogs. Persin can damage the heart, lungs, and liver of bearded dragons, causing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and cardiac arrest. Persin can also affect the blood cells and the immune system of bearded dragons, making them more susceptible to infections and diseases.
What to Do If Your Bearded Dragon Eats Avocado?
If your bearded dragon eats avocado, you should act quickly and contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. Avocado poisoning can be fatal for bearded dragons, and there is no specific antidote for it. The only treatment available is supportive care and hydration, which can help your beardie recover and flush out the toxins from its body.
You should also monitor your bearded dragon's symptoms and behavior, and report them to the vet. Some of the signs of avocado poisoning in bearded dragons are:
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Drooling
- Swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
The severity and duration of the symptoms depend on the amount and type of avocado ingested, the size and age of the bearded dragon, and its overall health and immunity. Some bearded dragons may show mild or no symptoms at all, while others may experience severe or fatal reactions. Therefore, it is important to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible, even if your beardie seems fine.
What Are Some Safe Alternatives to Avocado for Bearded Dragons?
Bearded dragons can eat a variety of fruits and vegetables that are safe and healthy for them. Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that can benefit your beardie's health and well-being. However, you should always offer fruits and vegetables in moderation, as a treat or supplement to their main diet of insects. Fruits and vegetables should not make up more than 20% of your bearded dragon's diet, as they can cause digestive problems, obesity, and nutritional imbalances if fed too much or too often.
Some of the fruits and vegetables that you can feed your bearded dragon are:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc.)
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Grapes
- Kale
- Mango
- Melon
- Peaches
- Pears
- Squash
- Sweet potato
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
You should always wash and chop the fruits and vegetables before feeding them to your bearded dragon, and remove any seeds, pits, stems, or peels that could pose a choking hazard or contain toxins. You should also vary the fruits and vegetables that you offer, and avoid feeding the same ones every day. This way, you can ensure that your beardie gets a balanced and diverse diet that meets its nutritional needs.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are amazing pets that can bring joy and companionship to your life. However, they also have specific needs and preferences that you need to respect and fulfill. One of these needs is a proper diet that suits their natural and physiological requirements.
Avocado is not a suitable food for bearded dragons, as it contains substances that can harm their health and even cause death. Therefore, you should never feed avocado to your bearded dragon, and keep it away from their reach. If your bearded dragon eats avocado by accident, you should contact a vet immediately and follow their instructions.
Instead of avocado, you can feed your bearded dragon a variety of safe and healthy fruits and vegetables, along with insects, that can provide them with the nutrients and energy they need. By doing so, you can ensure that your bearded dragon lives a long and happy life.
We hope that this article has helped you understand why bearded dragons can't eat avocados, and what are some alternatives you can offer them. If you want to learn more about bearded dragon care, you can visit our blog Dragon Lovers Hub, where we share tips, guides, and resources for bearded dragons owners and other reptiles or amphibian lovers. Our goal is to help you with the task of keeping your pets happy and healthy.
Do you have any questions or comments about bearded dragon diet or care? Let us know in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.