Silkback Raw Skin, Too-early Shed

[Rachella]

Hello!

It's been a long time since I've posted here, and I'm here now to request some help for a bearded dragon that belongs to someone close to me. They have a young silkback who was shedding, and on a vet visit the vet decided to peel all the shed skin off. When they got her back it looked like there was oil applied to her skin but it felt tacky, and now they believe that unprepared skin was taken off before it was ready to. Now the beardie appears to be unable to get comfortable and keeps moving, picking herself off the ground like it hurts her stomach and has an instantly decreased appetite. Alarmingly, she also suddenly and without warning showed signs of severe dehydration.

What can be done to help ease her pain and keep the situation from getting worse? Any suggestions? I've asked for a picture and will post one when I get it.

 

[Rachella]

Here is the pic I was sent. There is water and aloe vera on her which makes her skin look more shiny, but they said not by much. It was also pointed out that her legs and tail are what her skin usually looks like.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh gosh, what is wrong with that vet??
You can try getting some silver cream to apply onto the skin, or get some unpasteurized honey to apply also. I am sure that she is in pain though, they are so sensitive on their skin.
Is she on paper towels or a regular soft towel for substrate so her skin doesn't get dirty/dusty from the substrate?

Tracie

 

[Rachella]

Hello Tracie!

What is silver cream and where is it found? I've been told that she looks like she is in a lot of pain. They said it could be related to having a terrible sunburn. Or you know.... a layer of skin raw.

She ison paper towels. Would it help if she was given time on moist paper towels or Aloe napkins? What do you make of the dehydration? They tell me they give her baths often. Could it be tied into her being less warm than usual? We've bounced ideas back and forth and think it could be caused from the heat bulb soaking out the moisture from her raw skin and taking heat with it. What do you think? Is there anything in particular they should watch out for?

And yes I am so mad the vet did that. The vet should have known better! Grrrr.. I told them to sue!

This is sent from my phone so I apologize for any typos.

 

[Rachella]

Also how often would the cream or honey be applied?

 

[Rachella]

They are getting both honey and the cream. Is it safer to use one over the other? There are also concerns about the honey drying up or crusting on her skin. Ate those valid? I told them to use the cream until the honey thing is figured out.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....sorry to hear about the poor beardie ! If the vet really DID pull skin off, there should be some compensation, or at least absolutely no charge for their blunder. As for the honey, be sure it's unpasteurized from a health food store or beekeeper. Being unpasteurized it contains antibiotic properties which are killed if pasteurized. Honey doesn't dry out or crack....I've used it on all types of wounds, including directly in an infected eye. To thin it a bit, you can warm a little bit of water and add to a small amount of honey. Let it set for a moment to be sure it's room temp. when applied, not warm. Apply with cotton balls or your fingers. Hopefully the poor thing will be O.K. Be sure she isn't close to a hot bulb.....95 degrees should be the top basking temp.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is she doing?
The honey is perfect, just as good as the silver cream. You can get the silver cream at most local drug stores in the area where you can find the antibiotic ointment. Or, if all else fails you can order it online.
That may help out placing her on some moist paper towels with aloe to help out.
I think she most likely is not able to hold heat very well & is in pain from skin loss.
The dehydration can be caused by improper shed loss, so daily baths are quite helpful for them. Since her skin is raw, a bath may not feel very good for her right now.
You can apply either one a couple of times per day right now.

Please let us know how she is doing.

Tracie

 

[Esther19]

My house water is softened by a salt pellet softener. The salt in the water stings when we have a cut in our skin. Would it hurt the poor silkie if she was bathed in salt softened water?

 

[Rachella]

Hello!

She is still making it. They've been applying the silvery cream and giving her a bath or two during the day. Dehydration is a concern because her eyes keep appearing sunken.

I was sent a few pics to share though this is the one I chose to upload. A new concern is that her skin is turning gray and they don't know why? Would there be any idea for this and is it something to be alarmed about?

 

[Esther19]

I'm sorry, dear, but I don't know what the grey means. That vet needs to lose his license.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Is it gray just in the areas where it was prematurely shed?
I think that it is most likely the silver cream residue. It has a tendency to turn gray like that.
How is her mood today? I am sorry she is in pain.

Tracie

 

[Rachella]

I am waiting for a response from her keepers!
I told them that it could be the residue though, so hopefully they are a little less worried. Her appetite isn't much at all these days and there is still a concern of dehydration. Her eyes are sunken in. They are giving her one or two baths a day to try and help with it.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great, I hope she is doing better today & is in less pain.
If she isn't eating much, they need to intervene with baby food such as chicken or turkey, along with squash or sweet potato baby food to help with nutrition.
How sunken in are her eyes? That doesn't sound good though. I really hope she starts to do better soon.

Tracie

 

[Rachella]

Pretty sunken.. let me upload the pic they sent me to show.

They said she hasn't been eating much, but she ate a little today. Other than that they say she is weak and doesn't move much.