Cut on wrist--vet visit necessary?

[KendraA]

I have been traveling for several weeks, which leaves my spouse to care for our 16-month old beardie Wallace. I work from home so usually Wallace is out and about all day, but since I've been traveling Wallace has been glass dancing and knocking his furniture around in his terrarium and has rubbed a small patch of scales, maybe the size of an eraser head, off of his wrist, right at the joint with the hand. My husband just noticed this afternoon. The area is raw and red though not bleeding; there is no noticeable swelling, and when my husband applies pressure near the area Wallace does not pull the hand away. However, he seems to be nursing that arm a bit, lying with that hand facing up, and has not been very active this past week (hard to say whether that's just normal mood fluctuation or due to pain or infection).

Should we take him to the vet? I have a tentative appointment set for tomorrow. I am afraid of the spot getting infected and getting out of control. I don't mind spending the money-would rather be safe than sorry-but if the vet is going to give him unnecessary antibiotics that could do their own harm (or just put chlorohexadine on the cut, which we are doing ourselves) than I'd rather skip it and watch it for worsening. Thoughts?

 

[CooperDragon]

I would put some unpasteurized honey on the area and let that protect it and help heal it. That should do a decent job of preventing infection. If the area appears to get worse or the irritation spreads, then I'd go to the vet for a check.

 

[KendraA]

Thank you CooperDragon. Is the unpasturized honey recommended over the diluted cholorohexodine?

Here is a photo, sorry for crummy quality, we have old flip phones: https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/#list

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....can you post a pic ? You can put them on Photobucket, then copy/paste the img/url here. From your description it doesn't sound bad but you could use raw honey [ from health food store ] and then a bandaid on it. I was writing my reply as Cooper was doing so and I recommend it as well. Raw honey is a natural antimicrobial, works better than most other ointments and promotes tissue granulation. If you do use honey just be sure there are no loose insects in the tank since they'd like the honey, too. But I think he'll be O.k

 

[CooperDragon]

I can't see the photo. Try using the XIMG button to add it from your uploads list. The Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant but I don't know much about it other than it being used for a mouth rinse. I can't say with any authority but I'd be wary of it being harsh on the skin. If not the honey, I'd try some antibiotic cream like plain Neosporin (without pain relievers).

 

[KendraA]

Thank you! I will have my spouse pick up some tiny bandaids and raw honey. No insects in the tank. Great to know about the honey cure.

Has anyone experienced this behavior, rubbing skin off hands in enthusiasm to get out and explore? I am usually around to open the terrarium door when he asks to get out like that, but am concerned if this is going to happen whenever I am not.

 

[KendraA]

Here's the photo, hopefully this works

 

[AHBD]

I think it should be O.K with the honey + bandaid. Make sure it wraps around his wrist all the way.

And some beardies will injure themselves slightly....usually scabs on the nose or tearing out or wearing their claws down.

 

[KendraA]

Thanks, I will set him up with a bandaid and honey. Is it ok for the sticky part of the bandaid to touch his scales? would I be better of with gauze/tape so nothing sticky touches his wrist?

 

[AHBD]

I've used a bandaid on my beardie before with no problem. If you feel more comfortable with gauze it's probably fine but you'll still need to tape it. Either way should work.

 

[KendraA]

Thank you both so much!!

 

[KendraA]

Now that I've returned home from traveling, I can better describe this small injury. It seems that he's abraded the scales of his wrist by glass dancing, and there is a cut right on the wrist joint. It's deep enough that it goes through the skin/scales and I can see his pink tissue. I've been wrapping it with gauze smeared with raw honey, but he splits the cut open every time he walks since it is right at the joint so it seems it will be hard to heal. I am not sure whether the cut is infected--there is a bit of swelling and a trace of yellow on the bandage I just removed along with a trace of blood. He is not favoring the foot and it does not seem to hurt him at all when I press lightly on the cut with gauze. I'm afraid that the vet will just give him antibiotics regardless which he may not need, but i also don't want him to lose a foot or something due to infection, or have an open cut for ages.

 

[AHBD]

Hi Kendra....it's always more difficult for a wound to heal when it gets so much friction + movement. Had the gauze been changed at all while you were gone ? If only there were a way to keep him from walking on it but that's impossible. Keep up with the honey, but be sure to use a Q-tip and put it directly on the wound rather than just on the gauze. Then wrap it as good as you can. Probably good to change it every other day if he'll let you and use plenty of honey.

 

[KendraA]

Had the gauze been changed at all while you were gone ?

The cut developed while I was traveling for several weeks (and not around to let him roam all day) because of all the glass dancing he must have done while my spouse was at work. Since returning from my trip, I've been changing his gauze twice daily--he sits still pretty well for that. So, the bit of blood and yellow appeared on the gauze overnight. I have not yet been able to keep the foot wrapped while he's walking around--it keeps sliding off, he is very active--but will keep trying. That's good to know about putting the honey directly on the wound. I wonder if this is a situation where stitches would be necessary to keep the skin from splitting again and again, I do have a reptile specialist vet in the area luckily but I'm hoping he heals on his own.

 

[KendraA]

Here is a much better photo: