Mouth Sore/Growth on Lip

[JulieGeek]

My adult beardie has developed a sore or growth on her bottom lip. Can anyone offer suggestions?

She doesn't seem to be in pain, and she's still eating, but I don't like the look of it at all. It has developed in the last two weeks and appeared to have a bit of a scab on it yesterday. It does not appear to be bleeding.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Ouch, poor girl! This just developed a couple of weeks ago then? That is a pretty fast growing
area then. It may be an abscess, cyst, or a tumor.
I highly recommend getting her to a vet for them to aspirate some liquid from the area, if at all
possible to culture it for analysis.
I'm glad it isn't bleeding yet, but for now, you can get some raw, unpasteurized honey to put on
the area, to try & help keep it from getting infected.

Do you have a reptile vet you can get her to?

Tracie

 

[kingofnobbys]

Hello,

Ouch, poor girl! This just developed a couple of weeks ago then? That is a pretty fast growing
area then. It may be an abscess, cyst, or a tumor.
I highly recommend getting her to a vet for them to aspirate some liquid from the area, if at all
possible to culture it for analysis.
I'm glad it isn't bleeding yet, but for now, you can get some raw, unpasteurized honey to put on
the area, to try & help keep it from getting infected.

Do you have a reptile vet you can get her to?

Tracie

I concur …. sooner than later …. these things can turn nasty and lifethreatening and expensive to deal with if left in the hope just home remedies will help.

I also notice that her eyes seem quite puffy. This can be due a range of problems from a vitamin deficiency to something MUCH worse …. it's worth asking the REPTILE VET about the puffy eyes too, blood work is likely to look into the lip/gum issue , so might as well ask for other blood tests too.

 

[JulieGeek]

I’ve got manuka honey. I’ll start with that and get her into the vet ASAP.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll let you know what they find.

 

[kingofnobbys]

I’ve got manuka honey. I’ll start with that and get her into the vet ASAP.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll let you know what they find.

She'll love it …. I've found all lizards have a sweet tooth.... She'll think she's getting a treat....

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is great you already have some manuka honey then. I agree, she should love it, the taste
is sweet but, medicinal, too.
Definitely let us know how things go. I am glad you have a vet nearby then!

Tracie

 

[JulieGeek]

Update:

Back from the vet. I started her on Baytril yesterday, operating under the assumption that it couldn't hurt and might help. I also added a dose of vitamins and serrapeptase and fed her "goo" since she didn't seem to be interested in eating insects. I finished up with the manuka (which she promptly licked off... :roll: )

At the vet this afternoon, the mass was significantly reduced in size. Good thing is that she was extremely well-behaved at the vet. She's weighing in at a hefty 900 g and was pronounced extremely healthy overall. She let the vet get a good look at the mass and even measure it with calipers (5mmx5mm). Princess also very thoughtfully provided a fecal sample in the carrier...

Initial evaluation, based on the improvement after antibiotics, is that it's an infection which may (or may not) be associated with a tumor. We're going to treat the infection and reevaluate in two weeks.

Thanks all for the support and advice. I'll post follow-ups as they become available.

 

[AHBD]

Good to hear about the progress ! I must ask though, can you post a full body picture of her ? Her weight is extremely high, just wanted to see the big girl.

 

[JulieGeek]

She is a big girl.

Every bit of 900g and 60cm (or 2.1 lbs and 24 inches on this side of the pond...)

Julie
Loiosh
Princess Mononoke

 

[kingofnobbys]

she is a big girl …. my Peppa is 780g and 25" long....

 

[kingofnobbys]

Update:

Back from the vet. I started her on Baytril yesterday, operating under the assumption that it couldn't hurt and might help. I also added a dose of vitamins and serrapeptase and fed her "goo" since she didn't seem to be interested in eating insects. I finished up with the manuka (which she promptly licked off... :roll: )

my gang of skinks and beardies have always loved the manuka honey , when I was using it to treat Fluffy's infected eyes, tail stump and the lacerations on her back, she new the 50% manuka honey syringe was coming and was too keen to lick the drop off the end of it before I deposited it on an eye …. she LOVED the full strength manuka honey too …. I was using it to encourage her to take the CrittaCare Reptile from the syringe by dipping the end of the syringe in the honey first....



At the vet this afternoon, the mass was significantly reduced in size. Good thing is that she was extremely well-behaved at the vet. She's weighing in at a hefty 900 g and was pronounced extremely healthy overall. She let the vet get a good look at the mass and even measure it with calipers (5mmx5mm). Princess also very thoughtfully provided a fecal sample in the carrier...

Initial evaluation, based on the improvement after antibiotics, is that it's an infection which may (or may not) be associated with a tumor. We're going to treat the infection and reevaluate in two weeks.

Thanks all for the support and advice. I'll post follow-ups as they become available.

 

[Drache613]

Hello!

Wow, she is a big girl indeed.
I'm glad to hear that she is doing well today. Hopefully, the Baytril will help out with the
mouth infection. Maybe it will all go away & wont end up being a tumor, etc.
Did the vet want to see her again in a few weeks?

Tracie

 

[JulieGeek]

Yes. Follow-up in two weeks. We're hoping the infection will be resolved so we can get a look at whatever is the source.

Good news so far--the mass isn't visible from outside her mouth today.

In terms of her size, I read an article (I think posted here?) that described a study which demonstrated that maximum growth was achieved through good husbandry and feeding as much as the dragon will eat while it is a juvenile. I rescued her when she was a couple of months old and she ate EVERYTHING. She slowed down significantly when she reached her adult size and maintains her current majesty on protein a couple of times a week and salad daily.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That's great news! The tissue must have been badly inflamed which was
causing a lot of the swelling to occur. Maybe it isn't a tumor at all & just
inflamed tissue that will clear up with the antibiotics.
I think she's doing well but it looks like she is improving! I hope that the
next vet visit will go good. Let us know how she is doing.

Tracie