Clogged Femoral Pores in Bearded Dragons and How to Clean Them

Clogged femoral pores in bearded dragons are kind of like a broken mailbox. Femoral pores release a special waxy substance packed with chemical messages. It’s our bearded dragon’s way of sending messages to other lizards about important things like territory, health, age, and even who’s single and ready to mingle.

If these mailboxes get clogged, stuffed with so many letters and packages that nothing else can fit—it’s messy, frustrating, and downright uncomfortable. Clogged femoral pores in a bearded dragon can lead to infections, pain, and other health issues. That is why this is so important for us to know what our bearded dragons femoral pores should look like and what to do when they don’t.

A study by Sollom and Baron (2023) found that impacted femoral pores made up vet visits as follows:

• 3% of 159 bearded dragons seen in general check-ups had impacted femoral pores.
• 12% of 154 skin disease cases in bearded dragons involved femoral pores.

Healthy Femoral Pores in Bearded Dragons

A healthy femoral pore is like a mailbox that’s doing its job perfectly. Why are femoral pores like a mailbox? Check out the article on Why Bearded Dragons Have Femoral Pores.

Healthy femoral pores are clear, smooth, there isn’t any swelling, it’s not discolored or red, there is no inflammation, no waxy substance poking out so far that it is curling around because it is so long and doesn’t cause any trouble.

During breeding season, male bearded dragons have extra waxy buildup in their femoral pores. This is like getting a few extra letters because they have a lot of messages for the girls they want to attract and plenty for the boys they want to dissuade from coming to their territory.

Healthy femoral pores do not need any attention. Kudos to you, you must be doing things right.

What Are Clogged Femoral Pores?

Clogged femoral pores are like stuffed mailboxes that can’t deliver their messages! These special pores, which run along our bearded dragon’s thighs, are meant to release waxy chemical messages (called secretions), but sometimes they get blocked up.

When femoral pores become clogged, they’re filled with hardened, waxy plugs that prevent new secretions from being released. These secretions are produced by special glands called holocrine glands, which normally help male lizards send chemical signals to others.

During breeding season, male bearded dragons get a surge in testosterone, leading to hormonally driven increases in femoral pore activity (Funk, 2002). This natural seasonal change often brings enlarged or more active pores, which sometimes leads to clogging if conditions aren’t quite right.

In the wild, bearded dragons rely on rough surfaces like rocks and branches to rub against, clearing out waxy secretions from their pores because that is how they leave their messages.

In captivity, however, they depend on us to provide the right environment. Without proper care, those secretions can build up, leading to clogged pores and discomfort.

What do Clogged Femoral Pores in Bearded Dragons Look Like?

The waxy secretion in clogged femoral pores gets hardened and can keep growing to look like worm-like plugs protruding from the pores. In severe cases, the pores may become swollen, distorted, or even infected.

Visible signs of blocked femoral pores include:

• Large, curled lumps or waxy plugs sticking out from the femoral pores.
• Swelling, redness, or signs of infection, like pus or bleeding.

In armadillo lizards, Fogel (2003) observed that femoral pore infections could lead to swelling in the rear legs and pus buildup behind the pores which eventually impacts their ability to move freely.

How Do Bearded Dragons Get Clogged Femoral Pores?

Clogged femoral pores can happen for a few key reasons:

1. Vitamin A Deficiency: Without enough vitamin A, secretions can become thick and difficult to remove, increasing the risk of impaction and infection (Eatwell, 2010).
2. Low Humidity: Dry air can harden the secretions, making them harder to expel (Klaphake, UD).
3. Lack of Rough Surfaces: Without access to rocks, branches, or other textured objects to rub against, secretions can build up over time.

When Do Impacted Femoral Pores Become Dangerous?

If left untreated, clogged pores can lead to health complications, such as:

• Pain or irritation, especially when touched.
• Severe swelling that distorts the pore’s shape.
• Infections causing abscesses, pus, or bleeding.

Fogel (2003) also noted that in armadillo lizards, femoral pore infections can lead to swelling of the rear legs and a lot of pus.

How do we know if our Bearded Dragon has Clogged Femoral Pores?

Here’s how to tell if your bearded dragon’s pores need some attention:

• Hardened plugs sticking out of the thighs.
• Reduced activity or signs of irritation.
• Swelling, redness, or pus around the pores.

Do Bearded Dragons Clogged Femoral Pores Hurt?

Yes, clogged pores can be painful! Your bearded dragon might squirm when you touch the area. If the clog turns into an infection, there could even be bleeding or pus. That’s why it’s so important to act quickly.

And if things take a turn for the worse and those clogs get infected, it’s a whole new level of drama. We’re talking bleeding, pus, and a very unhappy lizard. Iguanas have been known to suffer significant pain when those stubborn plugs are removed from swollen glands (Klaphake, UD).

Here’s a wild twist: basking can sometimes cause delayed bleeding. The extra warmth gets the blood flowing, and—pop!—out comes the blood clot (Klaphake, UD) which may create a little mess that we don’t want.

How to Treat Clogged Femoral Pores in Bearded Dragons

Minor clogged femoral pores can usually be handled at home with some care, but if your bearded dragon shows signs of pain or infection, it’s time to let your vet take over.

When Your Bearded Dragons Blocked Femoral Pores Need a Vet

Your bearded dragon’s femoral pores might need your vets attention if:

1. They show signs of pain, such as squirming, or avoiding movement.
2. The femoral pore is impacted, meaning the secretion plug is too large to pass through the hole (pore) it must come out of.
3. The pores are infected, showing signs like redness, swelling, pus, or an unpleasant smell.
4. The femoral pores are distended and bleeding.
5. Your bearded dragon has difficulty walking normally.

How to Safely Clean Our Bearded Dragons Femoral Pores

With many blood vessels vigorous cleaning of clogged femoral pores can result in bleeding.

To clean blocked femoral pores we just need a little patience, a gentle touch, and a lot of care to avoid causing discomfort or damage. Because these areas have many blood vessels, vigorous cleaning can lead to bleeding, so keep it gentle and methodical.

Clean femoral pores by providing a warm bath and a gentle rub with a toothbrush. It may take a number of baths over a period of days if the femoral pores are clogged.

1. Warm Bath:
   Fill a shallow container with lukewarm water (not hot). Make sure the water level reaches about halfway up your dragon’s legs. Let them soak for 15–20 minutes. This softens the plugs and makes them easier to dislodge.
2. Gentle Massage:
   After soaking, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a cotton swab to gently massage over the femoral pores. Be extremely gentle to avoid causing irritation. The goal is to loosen any debris clogging the pores, not to force it out.
3. Gently rub the femoral pores: Pat your bearded dragons pores with a soft, clean towel and see if they show signs of loosening. Avoid rubbing the skin, especially around the sensitive area of the femoral pores. If the plug doesn’t come out easily, don’t force it, that could hurt.

• Never use sharp tools like tweezers to dig out plugs.
• Don’t squeeze or apply excessive pressure—it can damage the glands.
• Be patient and gentle. Forcing the plugs out can cause pain or bleeding.

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5 Reasons to Avoid Squeezing Femoral Pores

If the femoral pores look irritated or worse, resist the temptation to squeeze out those stubborn plugs. Femoral pores are delicate and packed with blood vessels, making them highly sensitive. If we do it wrong it can lead to:

1. Bleeding: The gland area is sensitive, and squeezing can cause unwanted bleeding.
2. Risk of Injury: Squeezing femoral pores can easily injure the glands or tear the sensitive skin around them. Abrasions or worse injuries could result from too much pressure.
3. Infections: Damaged pores are an open invitation for bacteria, which can quickly turn a small problem into a big one.
4. Pain and stress: Bearded dragons feel discomfort and stress just like we do, and squeezing their pores can leave them feeling miserable.
5. We can make blockages worse: Improperly squeezing femoral pores can lead to further impaction. If we don’t do it right then, it can push the secretions deeper or cause swelling that blocks the pore, exacerbating the problem.

If bleeding does occur, it can sometimes be controlled with a sterile cotton bud (Eatwell, 2010). Still, this is a job best left to vets who know how to keep our bearded dragon safe and comfortable.

What Does a Vet Do for Impacted Femoral Pores?

When femoral pores are severely impacted, a vet may need to step in. Here’s how they might treat the issue:

• Manual Expression: Under anesthesia, the vet gently presses to remove the built-up material.
• Flushing: Warm saline may be used to flush the gland and clear out any debris.
• Surgical intervention: In extreme cases, hardened plugs might require a small incision for removal. Because the area is so vascular, bleeding is managed with sterile cotton swabs (Eatwell, 2010).
• Infection treatment: Antibiotics or topical treatments are used to heal infected pores and prevent further complications. Untreated infections can lead to abscesses, which are even harder to manage.
• Disinfection: Using 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (Klaphake, UD) along with good cleaning practices helps reduce the risk of infection.

Vet’s have the means to perform treatments with minimal pain and maximum care, that is not something we can offer our pets.

What Can Go Wrong When Cleaning a Bearded Dragon’s Femoral Pores?

I know that cleaning a bearded dragon’s femoral pores seems simple, but if it’s not done carefully, it can lead to some serious problems. Here’s what could go wrong and why being gentle and cautious is so important:

1. It can hurt: Bearded dragons have sensitive skin around their femoral pores, so aggressive cleaning or too much force can be painful. Imagine having a sore spot rubbed too hard—that’s what it might feel like for your bearded dragon, especially if the clog is severe (Mader, 2006).
2. Bleeding can happen: The area around the pores is packed with tiny blood vessels. If you’re too rough, you can easily cause bleeding. While it might not look like much at first, bleeding can lead to bigger problems, like infection or poor healing (Mader, 2006).
3. Infections are a risk: Anytime the skin is broken or irritated, bacteria can sneak in and cause an infection. This is especially dangerous near the femoral pores, which are close to important parts of your bearded dragon’s body, like their reproductive organs. Infections in this area can sometimes spread to the rest of their body, which is known as a systemic infection—and that’s a serious health threat (Mader, 2006).

How to Stop Femoral Pores Getting Blocked

Preventing our bearded dragon’s femoral pores from being blocked is not that hard. Here’s how to make sure those pores stay in top shape:

1. Get the humidity right: Humidity impacts so many aspects of our bearded dragons health including their femoral pores. Keep the enclosure’s humidity level between 30–40% to. Too dry, and those waxy secretions can harden and clog the pores. Always use a hygrometer in their enclosure so you can keep track of the humidity.

2. You are what you eat: You know what they say, you are what you eat.A good diet is like fuel for healthy skin and pores. Make sure your bearded dragon gets:

• Vitamin A: Crucial for skin health and proper gland function.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: These help reduce inflammation and promote healthy secretions.
• Correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio: Vital for overall health.

Keep in mind, too much or too little vitamin A can cause problems. Strive for balance to avoid issues like hyperkeratosis (thickened skin), which can lead to clogged pores (Stahl & Donoghue, 2010; Mader, 2006).

3. Add rough surfaces: In the wild, bearded dragons naturally rub their thighs on rough surfaces like rocks and branches, keeping their femoral pores in check while sending their secret messages. In captivity, it’s up to us to provide these textures. Add accessories in your bearded dragons enclosure like:

• Natural rocks
• Branches
• Abrasive basking platforms

These mimic their natural environment and give our bearded dragons a chance to scrape off excess waxy buildup naturally (Stahl & Donoghue, 2010).

4. Bearded dragons need more space than many people think: Bearded dragons need room to roam! A spacious enclosure allows them to move freely and engage in natural behaviors, which can help keep their femoral pores healthy. Bigger is always better when it comes to their home. Let them stretch those legs and explore (Baines, 2017).

5. Choose the right substrate and accessories: The type of substrate and accessories in your bearded dragon’s enclosure plays a role in their ability to naturally maintain healthy femoral pores. Lizards use abrasive surfaces to deposit chemical signals and naturally clear their pores of secretions.

Clogged Femoral Pores in Bearded Dragon in a Nutshell

I think we can agree that blocked bearded dragons femoral pores create discomfort or worse. To keep our beardies pores clean, our job is to create the right environment and let them do what they already know how to do. Femoral pores are delicate, and squeezing can cause pain, bleeding, or infections. If things get serious, trust your vet to handle the job which also minimizes the stress we put our pets through.

🦎More bearded dragon health and wellbeing discoveries await.

References

• Aragón, P., López, P., & Martín, J. (2001). Discrimination of Femoral Gland Secretions from Familiar and Unfamiliar Conspecifics by Male Iberian Rock-Lizards, Lacerta monticola. Journal of Herpetology, 35(2), 346.
• Baines, F. (2017). Your First Bearded Dragon Care Information.
• Eatwell, K. (2010). Vet Times Skin Issues in Lizards, Part Two: Approaching Disease Difficulties. In Vet Times. Vet Times.
• Fogel, G. (2017). The Art of Armadillo Lizards (Cordylus cataphractus): Fifteen Years of Captive Observations. Semantic Scholar.
• Funk, R. S. (2002). Lizard reproductive medicine and surgery. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 5(3), 579–613.
• Klaphake, E. (1975). Femoral Gland Biology and Possible Medical Concerns in the Green Iguana, Iguana iguana (pp. 31–34). Antoniazzi.
• Lock, B. A. (2006). Behavioral and Morphologic Adaptations in D. R. Mader (Ed.), Reptile Medicine and Surgery (2nd ed., pp. 147–158). Saunders Elsevier.
• Mayerl, C., Baeckens, S., & Van Damme, R. (2015). Evolution and role of the follicular epidermal gland system in non-ophidian squamates. Amphibia-Reptilia, 36(3), 185–206.
• Sollom, H., & Baron, H. (2023). Clinical presentation and disease prevalence of captive central bearded dragons ( Pogona vitticeps ) at veterinary clinics in Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal, 101(5).