Stone's dark area

[ccartee]

I have an approximate 3 month old beardie that has been named Stone. I got him on Jan 9th from PetCo for my second son. When I got him, I noticed he had a slightly darker area around his left hip. After his first shed, it got larger. Now, it's huge and has grown like wildfire in the last week.

He eats decent and poops daily. Not runny, or smelly. Black and white mainly... if that makes sense. He is active. Climbs all over his viv and us when he's out. Stalks the crickets. Takes regular soaks and drinks during it. He acts normal and on his second shed with us. It's not coming off in large pieces, but the first didn't either. It is flaky, right now mainly his head and limbs.

Does anyone know what this area is? What I can do about it until I can find a good reptile vet close to here? I live about 45 min NW of Savannah, GA and the only "reptile" vet here, I don't trust with my so-called standard housecat.

I hope that photobucket link works. This is my first time using a forum. Please help.

http://s1343.beta.photobucket.com/user/ccartee79/library/Stone

 

[Esther19]

I'm sorry that your dragon is worrying you. I have sent a link to your thread to Tracie (Drache613). She is one of our moderators, and she knows more about beardies than many vets. I would locate a good reptile vet soon, though. You never know when you will have to make a sooner than expected trip, and it's nice not to have to try to find one when you're ready to jump in the car and go for help. Tracie is very busy and often comes on quite late. She's worth waiting for. :wink:

 

[ccartee]

Thank you so much!!! I hope Tracie can help me.

I've been reading other threads and know I now need to put in more info. He's got a 24 inch tube UVB light that hangs in the back of his viv. He's got a 125watt halogen light for heat and basking. The temps are 80F on the cool side and 108 under the halogen. He's in a 2.5ft long by 1.5ft wide by 15 inches tall set-up. He's also 9inches long including the tail. I've had him since Jan 9th when I bought him from PetCo.

 

[Esther19]

Thanks for the info. Do you remember the brand of the tube UVB? The only ones we recommend are the ReptiSun 10 and the Arcadia 12%. The ReptiSun 10 tube is more readily available in the U.S., though both are available online. If you can find out the name of the bulb, Tracie will want to know.

 

[ccartee]

It's Zilla Tropical 25.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Hm, that is odd looking in nature/color.
How long has it looked darker?
I would begin treatment for a fungal issue for now, but it would be a good idea to get a skin culture from a vet, if possible?
Go ahead & get some betadine & dilute it down until it looks like weak tea. This will help with cleaning the skin. Then use some lamisil or monistat cream or spray on that area, to help with any fungal issues.
Do you have any probiotic on hand to use? That can help balance out the system.

The UVB light will need to be changed to either the Reptisun 10 tube or the Arcadia D3 12% tube. The Zilla T-25 & 50 series is very hazardous & emits the improper wavelength of UVB as well.

What is the humidity in the tank?
The temperatures sound fine. Are you using a digital probe or temp gun to measure the temperatures?

Tracie

 

[ccartee]

The humidity stays below 20% according to the meter. It gets higher, into the 70's%, at night since I have everything turned off. I will be buying a probe thermometer when I get paid this weekend. I am currently using one that sticks to the side of the tank and a mercury air temp one that is used to tell the temp outside. I'll get a ReptiSun when I get paid too. I don't have any probiotics, but it's now on the list. Recommendations for that also?? Oh, I also use newspaper for his substrate, just in case you're curious.

When we got him Jan 9th, his left hip area was darker. After his first shed, about 2 weeks later, I noticed that it had gotten larger... taking both hips and going down the tail. In the past week, it has gotten this big.

Is it fungal?? Is that contagious to humans? He belongs to my 13 year old son who absolutely adores him. He handles him more than I do and I handle him a few hours a day.

Thanks so much for you help. I definitely appreciate it.

 

[daner923]

You can use soy yogurt for a probiotic! Also, the humidity is pretty high at night. You might need to do something about that, maybe with a dehumidifier? Maybe Tracie will comment on that as well.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yes, you can get some non dairy soy yogurt from the grocery store or health food store for probiotics.
Let us know if you are able to find the antifungal creams, also & the betadine. It does look fungal in nature so it is better to be proactive on the treatment now to see if it begins clearing up.
The Reptisun 10 tube bulb will be much better for him, too.
A dehumidifier would be helpful to keep the humidity down overnight. You could also get a ceramic heat emitter to help keep the nighttime temperatures around 80 over night to boost his immune system, too.

Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie

 

[ccartee]

Here's an update for today:

I gave him 2 soaks in the medicated water and he got Lotrimin AF applied to the areas afterwards. While in his evening soak, I did what I saw written in quite a few other places. I got a baby toothbrush and gently rubbed tiny circles all over him. It was supposed to remove shed that didn't remove itself. A LOT came off, well a lot for me did. He leaned into it so I guess it felt like a back rub to him. I did this on his back, legs, and belly and in the clear water, not medicated. I am thinking about doing this once a day or every other day. Ideas about this??

He wasn't interested in crickets today. I gave him some Fluker's Repta+Boost that I have been giving him every other day or so. He ate a good bit of it. I just put a drop on his nose and he licks it off his nose and off the syringe. No force feeding or the like. He was active today: climbing all over me, swimming in the tub, and wanting to explore my desk. I don't let him since it's a mess and I know I'd lose him.

My vet for my mastiff mix highly recommended an exotic/ reptile vet that's about 2 hours away from my home. I was able to set up an appointment for Tuesday morning. I won't have money until the weekend, so it isn't their fault that it isn't sooner than that.

I got him some yogurt this evening and will offer that to him tomorrow. I'll add a ceramic heater to my list of things to get for him.

 

[SpikesAgirl]

Hi Cynthia... I got your message and I'm here!! It looks and sounds to me like it is definitely fungal in nature and probably started at the pet store. You are doing everything you can for him without a vet right now. If you get him to a vet, they will do a skin scrape test to confirm it is fungal and prescribe an antinfungal medication, which it looks like he is going to need. Fungal infections of reptiles are not usually contagious to people. I think I saw you ask that and wasn't sure if anyone had answered your question. The only time I ever used gloves to handle Dino was when she came down with a MRSA infection in her eyes... THAT is contagious to people! As Tracie had mentioned, I would use a CHE at night to help with the humidity problem. Don't leave any water source in his tank either. Only time he should be near water is when you soak him. You want him to be dry, not running in and out a water dish. Water/dampness promotes fungal growth. Sending healthy, healing hugs to you, your son and Stone. <3

 

[HappiDragon]

Sounds like your on the right track, I hope Stone starts feeling better soon!!!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Thanks for weighing in & helping, Sue!
How are things going today, how is the skin looking? You are doing great, just keep a close eye on the skin. Let us know how things go at the vets next week.
I hope Stone is feeling better soon.

Tracie

 

[ccartee]

He hasn't been much interested in food the last 2 days and I hadn't gotten very good at force feeding yet. He's so tiny, I'm scared I'm going to hurt him. I watched videos on how to do it that doesn't involve forcing his mouth open. He fights it A LOT! I'll take pictures today and upload them to the photobucket link.

I have a question. He "blows up" when I put him in his bath yesterday. The best way to describe it is he fills up with air. Why??

I ordered a bunch of stuff yesterday from beardeddragon.co. The ReptiSun tube UVB light, some ReptAid and BeneBac, smaller syringes, and a probe thermometer. Hopefully they will come in soon.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I'll repost the link when I get some more pictures uploaded.

 

[daner923]

Sounds like you're doing your best to take care of his health! As for puffing up in the bath, they all do that. It's how they float. Nothing wrong with it at all.