Bearded dragons are adapted to the desert environment where there are no avocados. It is, therefore, safe to say that these tiny reptiles do not eat avocados in the wild.
However, in captivity, you are likely to have avocados, and as you make your guac, you might just wonder if your beardie can have a piece of the fruit.
Can bearded dragons eat avocados?
No, avocados are not suitable for bearded dragons, and you should not give them to the reptile. They are rich in oxalates which are toxic to bearded dragons. In addition, they also have high-fat content that can make your pet obese.
Avocados are a favorite in most households thanks to the many ways of adding this fruit to different cuisines.
Even so, avocados are unsuitable for bearded dragons, among other animals. Here are reasons why avocados are not good for bearded dragons.
Reasons Why Bearded Dragons Should Not Eat Avocados
Too Many Oxalates
Also known as oxalic acid, these are naturally occurring compounds in plants, leafy green vegetables, cocoa, nuts, avocados, and cocoa.
They are not suitable for bearded dragons, and intake of a high amount can lead to severe stomach problems. In addition, it can also lead to death when consumed in large amounts.
Oxalates also bind calcium, thus hindering its effective absorption into the reptile’s bloodstream. It isn’t good because bearded dragons need calcium for adequate growth and development. Its deficiency contributes to the lizard suffering from MBD (metabolic bone disease).
Some critical signs of MBD include limb paralysis, twitching, and lethargy.
A Lot Fat
Avocado fat is healthy for humans, and these fruits have some of the highest fat levels among fruits and vegetables.
Bearded dragons are active in the wild but not as much in captivity. As such, these reptiles can quickly grow obese if they feed on too many fatty foods, such as avocados or fish.
Obesity in the bearded dragons can cause health problems such as heart issues, gum and tooth decay, or heart diseases. As such, it is not wise to give bearded dragons avocados.
Avocados Have Persins
Besides oxalates, avocados also have persins which are toxic to bearded dragons. These fungicidal toxins are found on the avocado’s skin and seeds but tend to find their way into its flesh. If your bearded dragon ingests persins, it might get diarrhea, vomit, develop respiratory problems, or die.
What to Do If Your Bearded Dragon Eats Avocado?
If your bearded dragon accidentally eats avocado, do not panic, but contact an exotic vet immediately. The vet will guide you on the most effective immediate steps to take.
Depending on the condition, you might need to take the beardie for examination immediately.
It would be best if you also remain on the lookout for signs of respiratory problems in the dragon.
Such include shallow or rapid breathing, sneezing, low appetite, lethargy, bubbles from the nose or mouth, abnormal discharge from the eyes or nose, or breathing with the mouth.
Another essential thing to do is give the lizard plenty of water to help flush out the toxins as soon as possible.
Since most beardies are not accustomed to drinking a lot of water, you can encourage the reptile to do so by bathing it or feeding it the water using a syringe.
Once the bearded dragon is stable, you should put in place measures to ensure that it never ingests avocados or other toxic foods in the future.
One of the ways of doing so is putting a list of the items to avoid near its enclosure, especially if you are not the only person who feeds the lizard.
It would also be helpful to ensure that you do not put any of these toxic foods within your bearded dragon’s reach. Remember that even the smallest pieces of avocados can cause severe harm to your lizard.
Other Foods to Not Give Your Bearded Dragon
Lettuces and Cucumbers
A significant percentage of lettuce is water with a minimal amount of vegetable fiber, known as cellulose. Besides lettuce having very minimal nutritional benefits to a bearded dragon, the high water content also harms the pet. It can cause diarrhea and other stomach problems. Excess diarrhea can cause dehydration which is not suitable for bearded dragons.
As with lettuce, cucumbers are also rich in moisture, which makes them have little to no nutritional benefits to your bearded dragon.
Wild Insects
Wild insects are likely to have herbicides, pesticides, diseases, or parasites. If your bearded dragon eats them, it might get sick or die due to the infections. As such, it is best to buy insects from pet stores, reputable breeders, or reliable online stores to ensure that our pet does not consume insect that will harm it.
You can also breed some insects in your home under hygienic conditions.
Poisonous Insects
Stinging and venomous insects such as centipedes, wasps, bees, poisonous spiders, scorpions, and hornets are not good for a bearded dragon because they are lethal. Besides being venomous, they can also bite or sting the lizard and cause injuries.
Oxalate Rich Foods
Foods with many oxalates, such as rhubarb, spinach, and beet tops, are not good for bearded dragons. As with avocados, they affect calcium absorption into the bearded dragon’s bloodstream. In addition, high amounts of oxalates can cause kidney stones.
High Phosphorus Foods
Phosphorus binds calcium and inhibits the effective absorption of the mineral. Such is bad for bearded dragons since they need plenty of calcium to thrive.
Lack of calcium has detrimental effects on bearded dragons and can affect bone health, often leading to the lizard developing the metabolic bone disease, which can be fatal for the lizard.
Acidic Fruits
Lemons, oranges, limes, tomatoes, tangerines, pineapples, and grapefruits are all acidic fruits. Acidic foods can cause problems in the bearded dragon’s digestive tract leading to issues such as runny stool. Thus, they should not be included in the lizard’s diet.
Conclusion
Avocados are not suitable for bearded dragons. The fruit is rich in oxalates and fat and contains persins; all of these are toxic to a bearded dragon. As such, you should never feed the fruit to the reptile. Besides avocados, you should avoid lettuce, rhubarb, mushrooms, acidic fruits, and wild or venomous insects.