Parsley is a popular herb that may be grown inside on window sills and other locations.
Several bearded dragon owners have begun to wonder whether it is safe to feed their pets parsley because of this.
We wanted to know the real deal about bearded dragons, so we set out to investigate.
So that you may make an informed choice on whether or not to feed your bearded dragon parsley, we decided to conduct research and provide the results of veterinarians and nutritional specialists.
So, is parsley safe for bearded dragons to eat? Parsley is a healthy addition to a bearded dragon’s diet. Yet, because of the high levels of oxalates it contains, parsley should be served in moderation. Oxalates prevent calcium absorption by binding the mineral.
Is parsley bad for my bearded dragon?
While most experts agree that parsley is OK for your bearded dragon to eat, the oxalates it contains should be avoided.
Oxalates
Plants employ oxalates as a defensive mechanism, and they’re present in many meals (particularly greens) as a result. These oxalates, however, may bind with calcium and block its absorption.
Oxalate.org shows that parsley has higher oxalates than several other items routinely fed to bearded dragons, including:
Too much parsley in your bearded dragon’s food may reduce the amount of calcium it takes in, which can lead to brittle bones and a disease called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). Bearded dragons often have MBD due to a lack of calcium in their diet.
They grow frail and their bones weaken as their bodies extract calcium to keep them alive. It would be counterintuitive to offer them anything that worsens the condition when most experts recommend sprinkle calcium powder over their meal to assist them obtain enough of this crucial vitamin.
Is parsley good for my bearded dragon?
Parsley has certain useful elements that may be advantageous if fed in moderation.
Vitamin A and C
Vitamins A and C are powerful antioxidants that may strengthen the immune system. But, Vitamin A may be hazardous in high doses, so you should limit their intake if they’re already receiving too much, and you should never give your cat a multivitamin that contains Vitamin A.
Calcium
A 100-gram serving of parsley provides 138 milligrams of calcium. The high calcium content will mitigate the food’s toxicity due to the high oxalate content. Including calcium-rich foods in your bearded dragon’s diet is the most effective strategy to delay the beginning of metabolic bone disease (MBD). Calcium is needed for healthy bones and other biological processes.
The phosphorus in parsley may block your body’s ability to absorb calcium because it binds to the mineral. It nevertheless adheres to the 2:1 ratio recommendation made by most experts, with just 58 milligrams per 100 grams.
Protein
Bearded dragons need a diet high in protein, and parsley provides some of that. Pets of all ages, but especially young dragons, benefit from a daily dose of this essential nutrient.
Fiber
Parsley’s high fiber content (3.3 g per 100 grams) may aid with gastrointestinal regularity in your cat. Constipation and diarrhea may be avoided, and colon cancer can be averted, thanks to the water-regulating effects of fiber in the digestive tract.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K, which is abundant in parsley, promotes healthy blood clotting and bone development. Vitamin K, via facilitating calcium’s transport to the bone, is another vitamin useful in warding off metabolic bone disease.
No Sugar
Parsley is great since it has very little sugar and won’t make you gain weight. Bearded dragons may get fatty liver disease by eating a diet high in sugar. The inability of someone with fatty liver disease to properly filter their blood may lead to a host of further health problems.
How can I feed my bearded dragon parsley?
- Bearded dragons thrive on fresh parsley, thus it’s better to use organically produced or bought parsley.
- Even if you raised your own parsley at home, you should give it a thorough washing to get rid of any dirt or pesticides.
- Shred finely
- Mixed with other salad greens and fruit.
- Do not serve more often than every two weeks.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley?
While it is OK for adult bearded dragons to consume parsley, the same cautions apply to feeding it to a baby bearded dragon.
You already know that the calcium content of parsley is deceptive because of the large levels of oxalates it also contains.
Because to the rapid rate of growth in their first few months of life, baby bearded dragons need a diet heavy in protein and calcium.
This page describes the rapid development of newborn bearded dragons and provides helpful charts to illustrate this phenomenon.
While feeding your baby bear, focus on providing as much high-quality nutrients as possible and leave out anything that isn’t contributing anything to their health.
Feed your young dragon parsley sparingly and always in addition to other dark leafy greens.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley?
Given that authorities like VCA-Hospitals prescribe parsley as a staple plant food for your bearded dragon, this is a tricky subject to address.
Yet, the information we found from oxalates.org previously would seem to contradict that, since it reveals the product includes a large number of oxalates.
All things considered, we’d advise you to be reasonable and feed your bearded dragon just the basic foods that you know for sure it can eat every day, with the exception of a little amount of parsley once a week to once a month.
The nutrients in parsley may be obtained in this method without risking your bearded dragon’s health from an excess of oxalates.
How Should Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley?
If you have a parsley plant on your windowsill and you want to harvest some, you should give it a good scrub before using it.
It is recommended that all salad greens and vegetables be washed before being added to the salad bowl.
Moreover, Pet-MD suggests chopping all greens into small enough bites.
We also advise doing this, and using parsley makes it a breeze.
If you take a pair of scissors to the leaves, your dragon won’t even notice what it’s eating.
The leaves may then be incorporated into a nutritious salad, perhaps with the addition of some fruit for variation.
Final Thoughts
Your bearded dragon will be quite fine if it gets into your fresh parsley and starts eating it. It’s okay to give your dragon some of the parsley you cultivated if you’re really proud of it. Due to its high oxalate content, however, we advise against using this plant unless absolutely necessary. You may feel better about feeding your pet other things, such as worms, maple leaves, carnation petals, a variety of veggies, and more.
If your pet ate some parsley when you weren’t looking, we hope this article has helped you understand them better and put your mind at rest. Please share this parsley diet for bearded dragons information on Facebook and Twitter if you believe it may assist someone else.