Swollen beardie arm with some blood and puss???

I took my bearded dragon Mahavi to the vet yesterday but only had $80 so I couldn’t get X-rays done on him. He had mites on him so I cleaned him in betadine and the vet told me to do this twice a day for 10 minutes. Since the notes he’s had a swollen right arm that bleeds occasionally. It’s not from a fall. Only high thing he has in his cage is this hammock. His arm isn’t painful to touch. He’ll let me squeeze some puss out while he’s in the bath but I’m still gentle. Anyone experience this? One of his toes are dark brown (vet said it’s dead and would have to come off eventually) but the rest of the arm is fine. If I put crickets in his tank he’ll drag his arm when he runs to eat them. Anyone had this happen with their beardie??? Anything I can do until I have money for an X-ray? Help!

Hi there,

It does look like it got injured somehow. Could a cricket have bitten it?

You can use some raw unpasteurized honey on the wound. It's a great anti-bacterial. If you can get manuka honey even better. But if you do this, you have to make sure that no insects are left overnight in the tank as they will eat at the honey and your dragon, making it worse.

I'd apply it after your betadine soaks.
Did the vet not say anything about the open wound and pus?

-Brandon

Did the vet run a test for an infection in the arm? I would be concerned if the arm is infected it could spread and cause problems if not treated.

The vet said she couldn’t test for infection or do anything until I got that X-ray. She said the puss coming out was good and gave him a metabolism medicine that I have to squirt in his mouth for 3 days. It’s possible a cricket could have bit him. Sometimes I leave w few excess in there for him later. Other than betadine and honey, any other short term care? Plan on getting him back into the vet in two weeks. Just don’t want him to take a turn until then or be really uncomfortable! He acts normal like it doesn’t bother him.

It's good that it doesn't seem to be bothering him. Perhaps it's possible his hand/nails got caught in something like the mesh hammock. Try to keep the arm clean. I would also try to make him comfortable by putting something soft down like fleece to lessen impact on the arm. Make things like basking areas, food, and hides easily accessible so he doesn't have to move the arm much if possible. Hopefully the vet can get it sorted out for you on the next visit.