Terrified Bearded Dragon, Terrified Owner

[Hfuehgeunbels]

So today I put my beardie inside a sunbox for him to soak up some uv without havent to worry about danger. I left him alone for 20 minutes as I ran inside to clean up mu house a bit and when I came out my 2 cats had somehow managed to remove the lid and grab my beardie and take him inside, he was terrified hissing and biting and inflating his tiny beard to scare them away, I managed to grab him before they could cause any real damage to him (they didnt break skin or cut him in anyway) but I'm really worried about the shock it couldve caused him, I am definitely not letting the cats near him ever again. I feel terrible about it. Should there be anything I look out for over the next few weeks I imagine he is quite shaken up by the incident and it doesnt look like he's suffering from shock but please any help would be appreciated.

 

[MathewB]

You probably shouldn't have left him by himself but let's not focus on the past, but I think I did anyway.

I think your Beardie will be fine as long as there no internal/external injuries.

 

[Hfuehgeunbels]

I know, I feel horrible. It was only for a few minutes and the container had clicky locks on it, my cats are rather intelligent they can open doors but I still assumed he was safe, never doing it again though.

 

[Wally]

Something else to be mindful of Jarod is providing some shade as well. It doesn't take long to cook any reptile in a container in direct sunlight.

 

[MathewB]

My cats can open doors to, it's bloody annoying. How did they get past a clicky lock? What I a clicky lock by the way?

 

[Hfuehgeunbels]

I do have shade, ive got a sheet stuck to one half of the roof of the container so that if he needs it he can hide away in the shade, but thats not the point of this thread can we please get off the topic of the container and talk about what actually happened to my beardie I'm really worried. And a clicky lock is like one of those things on the edge of the container that you push down until they lock underneath a little tab. Please give me actual advice someone

 

[Wally]

No need to be rude Jarod, I was only giving you a friendly tip.

If your beardie has no puncture wounds I'm sure it will be fine. A little shaken up but it will get over it.

 

[Hfuehgeunbels]

Sorry im just worried about him

 

[Sel]

I think he is fine, they are tough. Mine suns herself outside all the time, birds try and swoop her but she can take em haha...

You can put him outside but god, dont let ur cats out there with him

 

[69blottfilms69]

Also would maybe not letting the cats see it for the next 2 weeks
and would no handling help?

 

[Bluetongue1]

DragonOnlyJarod,

You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Once your bearded is back to feeling secure it will behave as if nothing had happened. Reptiles are very resilient in this respect. They do not suffer any lasting emotional trauma like we might. If you think about, in nature they are on the menu for any number of animals, which no doubt means close calls. They can’t afford to behave any differently afterwards or it will adversely affect their chances of survival.

Consistently repeated exposure to a threat or traumatic experience is different and will tend to cause stress. This, in turn, will adversely affect the health of the animal and if sustained, can result in death.

Blue

 

[Ramsayi]

Keep the cats inside.They did that to a pet imagine what they are doing to the local wildlife on a daily basis.

 

[Hfuehgeunbels]

I'm in a rather big surburban area with a tiny backyard that they can't get out of. Their isn't much wildlife around, let alone in our backyard, but thanks for the suggestion

 

[Snake_Whisperer]

Beardie will be fine, not the kind of animal that requires therapy. One species in the yard at a time. Sturdy wire mesh cage (easy to make one for under a hundred bucks) with some sun exposure but mostly shaded. Hmm.... should be all the solutions you need.

 

[snakeynewbie]

If your bearded dragon is fully grown a large bird cage mighht be harder for the cats to open as an idea. I use a rectangular 'flight cage' which just stays out on the lawn and the grass grows up throughthe bottom for the lizards to snack. On when they are out there. They have wire on the bottom as well so i dont have to worry even if somethiong tipped the whole cage over and i can easily wire the doors shut. Also means you dont have to worry so much about cooking them as the cage doesnt heat up any more than the days temperTure

 

[mysnakesau]

So today I put my beardie inside a sunbox for him to soak up some uv without havent to worry about danger. I left him alone for 20 minutes as I ran inside to clean up mu house a bit and when I came out my 2 cats had somehow managed to remove the lid and grab my beardie and take him inside, he was terrified hissing and biting and inflating his tiny beard to scare them away, I managed to grab him before they could cause any real damage to him (they didnt break skin or cut him in anyway) but I'm really worried about the shock it couldve caused him, I am definitely not letting the cats near him ever again. I feel terrible about it. Should there be anything I look out for over the next few weeks I imagine he is quite shaken up by the incident and it doesnt look like he's suffering from shock but please any help would be appreciated.

Just pop him back in his tank and make sure his temperatures stay up nice and warm. To me, sounds like he should be ok. They are tougher than ppl give them credit for, but he might just be a bit more flighty until he gets over it. So try not to hassle him with too many hugs and kisses. So long as he has his heat, and continues feeding, I think you'll find he'll be ok.

For sunning outside, I bought a portable dog transporter or kennel, whatever it is called. You can see it towards the end this thread..it zips closed, so nothing can get into it unless their rip the mesh open.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/australian-lizards-5383/ricky-lacy-169502/

 

[hypochondroac]

Keep the cats inside.They did that to a pet imagine what they are doing to the local wildlife on a daily basis.

Domestic cats are magical and void of all natural instincts, haven't you heard? Oh and they can't climb fences or trees either.

 

[borntobnude]

we use an old rabbit cage for ours completely sealed shade at one end and a mesh bottom, i think we could leave her outside for summer but swmbo says otherwise