Rescuing Simon

[xp29]

This is what i was calling necrotic. I was under the impression that tail rot is a tissue issue not a scale issue. But I'm also not an expert.

 

[AHBD]

It's both. But the tissue can start dying under the scales at times and may feel squishy.

 

[xp29]

Ahh ok I didn't realize it could effect just the scales. Think you for the info, i think im going to research this and yf both so i can be more helpful in the future. I see tail rot and yf questions on here almost daily.

 

[clyde612]

It can be difficult at times to determine if a wavy dark tail is developing tail rot because a perfectly healthy b.d. like this one [ belongs to one of the mods. here ] with an extremely dark tail can look alarming but still be a non issue.

https://www.beardeddragon.org/media/29440/full

so the one in this photo is just shedding?

 

[clyde612]

Sometimes tail rot is developing under the scales before it all gets the brittle look. Try very gently squeezing the tail from the " good " area down to the dark area to see if it feels squishy down there. Remember, just do so gently.

What am I feeling for? It will be hard or squishy if infected?

 

[clyde612]

about to do first treatment

 

[clyde612]

The base of the tail does seem to be potentially necrotic.

 

[AHBD]

Does the thicker part feel squishy at all ? And that end is crimped but not necessarily necrotic. The tail end is usually hard.

 

[xp29]

My phone is all shattered it makes hard to see any fine detail. If your fairly certain there in an issue it might be a good idea to have a vet take a look.

 

[clyde612]

Yes we are going to the vet on monday. I’m going to keep treating it as tail rot over the weekend to be safe. Another issue he is having is a leaky butt. It happened once yesterday and twice today. Water and a very small amount of urinate comes out. I don’t even think he notices. Like, it just happens as he is in his back legs looking out the window. I’m not sure that’s what’s going on but just seeing how close to the window it is, and how he doesn’t run away from it, I don’t think he is laying down and doing the butt wiggle when this happens.

I want to let him run around but he has neosporin on his tail which would pick up a lot of dirt and stuff on his possibly infected tail.

Also, any good substrate recommendations for a 40 gallon? With all his glass surfing he just digs up all the paper towel. I like Clyde’s matt from Zan Habitats but it would be too big for a 40 gallon. I guess I could cut it but I rather buy something that already fits.

 

[AHBD]

You can get non adhesive shelf liner online or at Walmart or a home improvement store.

 

[clyde612]

With Simon passing liquid and no stool these past few days I’m worried about possible impaction developing. ALSO I found a piece of poop from 2 days ago! So weird it was somehow pushed under the paper towel so I didn’t see it earlier. It looked like a dead bug covered in sh*t so I’m guessing he is having a bit of trouble digesting. It was pretty hard and… crunchy . I’m worried he could have more of this stuck inside him. He’s been glass surfing like he needs to poop, but has not passed any large stools since Monday. Last decent sized stool was Thursday.

I have some green bean baby food (no citric acid) that I could give him. Also a butternut squash baby food. He hasn’t been eating as much the past few days and only eats 1 roach a day.

 

[clyde612]

Also, I already suspected this but I think Simon is female! I’ll attach a photo.

I did a flashlight test but I was using my phone as the flashlight so no pic of that.

 

[AHBD]

Simon does appear to be a female ! And don't worry too much about her poo, they all " go" differently and many adults no more than once a week. You can use baby food green bean, sweet potato, squash, raw honey, sugar free applesauce and even a few drops of olive oil added to any of those. Those are all excellent natural laxatives and will work well so don't mention that to the vet or they'll give you some product that doesn't work any better but costs more and is not natural. You also don't want them to give an enema if they take her out of the room.

 

[xp29]

Zen does the pee thing now and then, he is aware though, he raises his bottom but still it gets all under him. I have to give him a bath every time.