Lump and not eating

[Dragon2016]

Just a quickie as I have an appointment at the reptile centre tomorrow, any ideas she’s had this lump for around a month since her last face shed. It’s doubled in size in the last two weeks and is rock hard. She hates me touching it and won’t let me open her month. Can’t temp her with any of her fav foods either.

Lump in on her lower jaw

 

[AHBD]

Hmmmm, I just see a silhouette there, the pic is dark. Sounds like a possible cyst or abscess of some kind. Can you get a better pic or 2 ? And be sure that the vet is experienced with reptiles, or actually with beardies.

 

[Dragon2016]

Yes vets a specialist our local breeder uses him. Turns out it’s an abscess in the jaw bone, got there through a small punchers inside the mouth between teeth. Probably a locust, nothing I could have prevented which is reassuring. Still now got pain killers anti inflammatory and the dreaded bayil. Only started yesterday so wonder how long till I see an improvement?

 

[fcooper]

looks like an abscess. if so the antibiotics should make the lump decrease in size. Take it to a vet.

 

[EllenD]

They did already take him to a vet, it is an abscess...

Here's a question for the OP...Did your Reptile Vet do a needle aspiration or a culture to determine what antibiotic will actually be effective against the specific bacteria causing the infection? Baytril is a broad-spectrum antibiotic and is ALWAYS what they just prescribe without taking a culture, but then when the Baytril doesn't stop the infection then they end-up doing a culture of the fluid inside the abscess and sending it off to be tested, and then they find out that the entire round of Baytril was totally worthless and unnecessary, and then the poor Dragon has to take a round or even more of the correct antibiotic...

 

[Dragon2016]

No I was clear to him it’s been a crap month for money so we settled on an X-ray. You could see the bone in the jaw looks fluffy. He did say he would see us again in two weeks and if there is no change will just charge me for the different antibiotic. Uk vets not known for culture growing. £125 quid was bad enough. Good job I love her.

 

[Dragon2016]

Quick update on iz, she has been signed off by the vet as the infection has gone and she back to normal. Unfortunately as the infection was in the bone she will always look like she’s got a pea stuffed down her lower lip!