Hi guys
I'm going to try to keep this short because as you might guess I am STRESSING rn I've already cried. Chip has been sick before but this is his first injury and I'm just trying to really wrap my head around it.
Chip has been having a really rough shed. I'm doing everything I normally do, but he's so impatient he scratches aggressively against his log all day. Today after I got home from work I was going through the motions, he got his dinner and then a play, and then it was bath time, because it's Thursday and Thursday and Monday are bath days, with extras when needed. I try not to do too much more because he does have continuous respiratory issues.
I didn't notice it when he was in the bath or during dinner, but I think it had to be there. When I was patting him down, I realized that his back calf is kind of shiny? I thought it was wet, and I touched it and it didn't feel wet. The only thing I can think of is that he scraped off some of his scales on the log? It's not bleeding, it doesn't seem to hurt, but he's been pretty dark most of the day. He did eat a lot, so I don't think he's in a ton of pain, but is there something I can do to help speed along the healing?
I'd add a picture but he's in bed now. I might be able to take one after class and before work tomorrow.
Thank you guys!
Heather
Is your dragon a leather back or normal morph?
This does happen somewhat frequently, as shedding can sometimes be very annoying for
them! You can use some raw, unpasteurized honey or manuka honey on the wound to keep
it from getting infected.
Are you keeping him on loose or solid substrate right now?
If you do use honey, be sure that there aren't any loose insects in his tank so that they aren't
attracted to the honey & bite him.
PIctures would definitely be helpful, when you can get them posted.
Is your dragon a leather back or normal morph?
This does happen somewhat frequently, as shedding can sometimes be very annoying for
them! You can use some raw, unpasteurized honey or manuka honey on the wound to keep
it from getting infected.
Are you keeping him on loose or solid substrate right now?
If you do use honey, be sure that there aren't any loose insects in his tank so that they aren't
attracted to the honey & bite him.
PIctures would definitely be helpful, when you can get them posted.
I definitely will try to take pics tomorrow. Right now he's snuggled in his bed. He's a normal beardie, you can see just normal pictures of him on his insta, Chipsahoyackerman I believe. He's on solid sub, and we only handfeed rn! His respiratory issues make him a pretty slow hunter so he mostly eats a variety of wormies and is on a pretty strict vitamin schedule. After calming down I think it's not as bad as I initially thought, but we'll see in the morning. I think I mostly got worried because his shed is so fast this time, his tail was intact when I left today and completely shed when I got back and he was working on his feet. I might end up taking the log from him, putting just his bed, and doing a little soak with his soft-bristled toothbrush for the rest of the shed, because certainly at this point that's more gentle than what he's doing!