Well, here’s a question I never thought I would never be answering, but yet again these marvellous questions keep coming in. Im taking this questions as people wondering if if bearded dragons are actually capable of getting high. Not the fact that they want to try get their pet high.
Many people are unsure whether reptile can get high, and this article is going to relate directly with cannabis. As we know, cannabis has been tested and proven to have medicinal advantages. But can bearded dragons get high.
(Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to find ‘Other related articles you might like’, once you are done reading).
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
Humans have a system within their bodies called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). This is a biological system which is composed of endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptor proteins which are expressed throughout the vertebrate central venous system. And by stimulating this system is thought to help reduce pain and decreases inflammations.
And just like humans, reptile also have an Endocannabinoid System.
Many people seem to enjoy the feeling they get from smoking cannabis. However this is not the case for reptiles and many other animals for that matter. When this system is stimulated, bearded dragons become extremely disorientated and they begin to slow down until barely moveable with possible vomitting. This is not an enjoyable experience for bearded dragons.
There is believed to be no medicinal benefit for bearded dragons from cannabis, unlike what has been researched and found for the human body. Just like dogs, cannabis for bearded dragons is thought to cause serious poisoning, resulting in uncontrollable and irregular vomiting, seizures and in the most severe cases, death.
If you are trying this to amuse yourself, then you really need to rethink what you are doing, and if you’re actually worthy of owning a pet at all. However if you’re searching for medicinal advice and advantages then I can see where you are coming from, but still not advised.
With that said, I would always recommend to seek professional advise from your local veterinarian.
Other Causes of Illness For Bearded Dragons
Some illnesses are very common for pet bearded dragons, and they are all caused through neglect or lack of knowledge. Bearded dragons can become ill through stress, being improperly fed, or kept in poor conditions. If you want the best life for your bearded dragon, (which we hope you all do) then doing your research and giving them the attention they need is crucial.
Stress and Improperly Fed
Stress is very common for bearded dragons. Unfortunately they become stressed very quickly and easily. Specially when relocating. The main causes of stress for a pet bearded dragon are bought on through incorrect environment condition. What I mean by this are factors such as, enclosure temperature, cleanliness, daylight hours, suitable hiding spots and the correct diet.
Click here to see how long bearded dragon can go without eating.
If these factors are ignored, sooner or later your bearded dragon will become very unwell. So it’s very important you keep on top of these few factors. Stress can cause health problems such as respiratory infections, metabolic bone disease, infectious stomatitis and adenovirus.
Avoiding all of this…
You can however avoid any of this by catching the signs early and doing something about it. There are 3 main signs you need to look out for which are give away signs that your bearded dragon is stressed.
These are;
- Not eating properly – Bearded dragon death signs
- Not pooping
- Have darker skin colouration – Bearded dragon turning black and not eating
The first two are pretty obvious if you ask me. If your bearded dragons isn’t eating or pooping, then there is something seriously wrong with one of the concerting factors I detailed before. Bearded dragons not eating could relate to an improper diet. So try mixing it up bit. Ideally you should try to split Protein and Vegetables up into a 70% – 30% split.
70% Proteins – Crickets and Mealworms are a top choice.
30% Vegetables – Lettuce, cucumber, carrot, tomato.
Lastly, darker skin colouration is most likely due to improper temperature inside the enclosure. Darker skin is one of the main signs that your bearded is entering the brumation period. This occurs through the colder months of the year, and your bearded dragon will slow down its daily activity output.
You’ll need to correct this factor as soon as possible to stop your bearded dragon entering the brumation stage too soon. They will usually stop eating through this stage which is why it only healthy to do this every 12 months. Any sooner and it becomes a real threat to its health.
Poor living conditions
Bearded dragons have to have optimal living conditions to thrive and stay healthy. Enclosure temperatures should be kept between 88-100 Degrees Fahrenheit at the hot end (or basking end) of the enclosure. While the cooler end should vary between 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
These levels can be monitored via a trusted durable thermometer.
Also, you need to remember to remove any excrement as soon as possible. Leaving excrement inside the cage for too long will no doubt result in illnesses or infections which can be very serious for any small reptile.
It’s suggested to fully remove and replace the substrate at least once a week, which can be decreased to once every 2 weeks throughout the brumation period. This will keep your bearded dragon stress free and will massively reduce the chance of infection or disease.
Finally, providing a suitable hiding spot for your bearded dragon is crucial. Sometimes they do just want to hide away for a couple of days, and this is completely natural from time to time. However it should also be monitored closely, as maybe the temperature is too hot.
Bearded dragons can deal with quite high temperatures, but over a long period of time can drain their energy and cause them to take shelter through the day for long periods of time.
Conclusion
If you think your bearded dragon is stressed then please seek professional advise from your local veterinarian. Many people, all over the world use medicinal cannabis to lower their stress levels and relief themselves of any pain or anxiety.
This is will not work for a bearded dragon the same way it works on humans.
Although we have a very similar Endocannabinoid System (ECS), the way it effects our brains is completely different. For a bearded dragons you will be doing it more harm than good. You will be adding even more unnecessary stress to them, which can leave to further illness later on in its life, and sometimes can cause seizures and commonly death also.
So please do not, under any circumstances try to get your bearded dragon high. Even if you are trying for medicinal reason.
We hope this has helped answer the question “Can bearded dragons get high”. We also hope you take onboard our suggestions and stay away from every trying this with your pet.
If you do every feel that your bearded dragon is unwell, then please see a veterinarian. But to avoid needing to do this, look out for the tell tale signs of your bearded dragon, and catch the cause before any further harm is done.
After searching and testing many different products, we have come up with our list of “Must Have” items for recommendations for both price, and durability for the best enclosure accessories.
Bathing Water Bowl – Click Here
Heat Mat – Click Here
Heat Lamp – Click Here
Reliable Thermometer – Click Here
Vivarium/Enclosure – Click Here
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