Is this a burn?

[Lauram63110]

I think Lizzy has burned his tail, because he has these sore looking spots on it, but they are not open wounds, and I dont know of any trauma to the tail (like dropped viv furniture or anything).They are tender to the touch. I also noticed that in his basking spot it was getting really hot ( so I am getting a lower watt bulb for it now). So after wondering what this could be, I am betting on a burn. It is not open, so I am not sure that Neosporin would be good for it, plus it would be greasy, and I think that you should not put anything greasy on burns. If anyone has any idea of what it could be, please let me know. Also, if it looks like a burn, I'll take recommendatins on what to put on it. Thanks!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That does look like a burn. What wattage of basking bulb were you using & how close was he to it?
You can use aloe vera gel initially. You can look for a product called Thermazene, on amazon.com or try looking at CVS for a silver cream, which are very good for burns.


Tracie

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

any chance its retained shed?

 

[Lauram63110]

It is not retained shed. It is red and when I touch it, he flinches, so I know it hurts. Also, when you touch it (like a burn) it goes white and when you remove your finger, it goes back to being red.

It is my fault. I had a 75 watt bulb in his basking fixture, and we dont do much air conditioning in the house during summer, so it ithe house is in the mid to high 80's; couple that with that high watt bulb, and his basking spot is way too hot. I only had 1 thermometer and we'd recently had a cold snap (60-70's), so I was watching how cold his cool area was because I was afraid he'd get too cool. Couldnt figure out why he was avoiding the basking ledge and now I know why. I moved the thermmeter there this morning and it said 130!!! way, way too hot! I think he burned his tail. Hubby got me an infra red heat gun thingy from Home Depot and I also bought a 45 watt bulb. Right now his basking ledge is 101. I think I may have solved that problem as long as I can help the burns heal. I feel like a bad parent.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh wow, that is quite hot!
How is he doing today, any better? Were you able to get the aloe vera gel or the thermazen ordered?
I hope that he is doing well & is eating also.

Tracie

 

[Lauram63110]

Thanks for your quick response Tracie! Yes, to both meds! Got the aloe and ordered the other one. He is eating just fine, thankfully, but now that I have a smaller basking bulb in the viv, he is wanting to bask again, which is good, but now I am afraid he will irritate the burns by basking. I might be able to wrap or bandage the tail, but I am not thinking he's going to like that. How do I let him bask without re-burning the burns? He really seems eager to bask!

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

I see the shape now.
I was looking at the reddish scales.
Glad the pooper is doing better.

 

[Lauram63110]

I went to Walgreens tonite after work to see what they had on hand for burns and found something called Curad Silver Solution first aid anti microbial gel. The box calls it "your barrier to MRSA!". The active ingredient is Silver Chloride 55ppm as an antimicrobial. The other ingredients are Carbomer, glycerin,Silver Nitrate, sodium Chloride, Triethanolamine, water. It is advertised for burns and wounds, and I thought that it might be better than just the aloe vera until the other silver mdicine comes in the mail. Tracie, do you have an opion on this Silver solution? I am really worried abut him getting it infected, so I am hoping this will be good. He bathes everyday and poos in the water and you can bet I'll get him out of the water as soon as it happens! Thanks to all who responded!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

The Curad silver gel sounds just fine. I am sure you are concerned with it getting infected, yes. I would try to wrap some gauze around it, if you can. He may not mind it during the day while he is basking to help protect the skin. Yes, it would be better than the aloe vera right now. That is great you got the thermazene, it will help a lot.
Is he eating right now?
I hope he is doing better. At least he is wanting to bask.


Tracie

 

[Lauram63110]

Hi Tracie, I made Lizzy's bath shallow this morning - just enough to get him to poop, and as soon as he did, I got him out of it and poured a cup of betadine and water (tea colored) over the burns to try and keep the germs out. Re-applied the Curad silver gel and also, moved the basking light further back from the viv so that he can see it, but not get quite as much heat. It will stay about 90-92 degrees in there today. I know he needs some heat to digest his breakfast from this morning, but I am trying not to burn the tail any more.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is he doing today?
You could, just for a short period, use a heating pad underneath of him, on very low with a towel in between, in combination with a low wattage basking bulb to make sure he stays warm enough to digest his food. Temp gun him to check his temps. He can digest at around 95 or so.
I hope you get the cream in the mail soon. How is the skin looking?
Keep me posted on him. I hope he enjoyed his bath!

Tracie

 

[Lauram63110]

I've been wrapping the tail with some sticky gauze that we use on horses called Vetwrap.It lookes like gauze but it sticks to itself and it has been working great on covering and staying on the tail. The wrap that I put on this morning with the silver gel was still on tonite when I came home, so at least he can bask again. I also had another special surprise for the patient tonite...I got my shipment of horn worms and silkworms. He sure does like horns! He snarfed 2 good sized ones!

 

[Drache613]

Hello!

How is he doing?
That is good the gauge is staying put on his tail! How is it looking now?
Hopefully it will heal up pretty fast then & once you get the thermazene it will really expedite the healing.
So he loved the hornworms & silkworms then, that is awesome! It sounds like he is back to a little basking also. I hope he is feeling better.

Tracie

 

[Lauram63110]

after unwrapping the tail last nite, it looked like it had led a little during the day. I put some more silver gel on it and lft it unwrapped for the nite while his lites are off. This morning, he is bathing (just deep enough for a poo) and then I'll re aply the gel and re wrap so he can bask today. I think he'll be seeing the vet on Saturday if I can get an appointment, so I can get this looked at (if it is not remarkably better) and just for a checkup since we hae never done one.

 

[Terminator7777]

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