Sudden abscess.

[Lucy1988]

Hey, I've recently posted in health as I've noticed discoloration on my beardeds skin. Well I've just come home and the biggest patch of discoloration is noticeably swollen. My camera won't get a good picture of it.
I'm going to phone the vet tomorrow but what if the reptile specialist isn't in or can't fit me in?
Will he even be OK for tonight?
He is still perky and with good appetite but I'm guessing it would be like that until it's too late.
He was dark when I got home but brightened up when I took him out.
I'm so worried it's an awful infection I burst into tears when I saw it. I hope my bugs OK.

 

[AHBD]

Please take a few pics, I'm sure at least one will come out good, your other pics did. I doubt its anything serious, sometimes the skin looks like it's lifted or a bit puffy right before shedding.

 

[AHBD]

If it truly IS swollen, check to see the distance between where she basks and where her heat bulb is. If it's too close, a hot bulb can produce burns, and they usually look white.

 

[DaisyDragon123]

I looked at your earlier pictures of Bug (very cute name). He looked healthy in those pictures. It seems that you are worrying over everything and becoming very stressed. If you can find a qualified reptile vet, to ease your mind, you may want to bring him in for a wellness exam. I think at this point you would feel much better if a vet tells you Bug looks fine.

Please post a picture if you can get a good shot.

 

[Lucy1988]

Hey, I've got some pictures but they're not the best.

I know I can be paranoid but this is definitely swollen, it is squidgy to touch like it's full of liquid. It only appeared today. I dont think my phone is showing it properly. It's about the size of a 10p and raised about 3mm with swelling.
Im not too sure on the distance from bulb but his hottest basking point temp is 110. Thanks for quick replies. Any particular questions I should ask vet tomorrow?
Thank you.

 

[AHBD]

I can barely see, but if you say you can feel it and you'de feel better having it looked at, the vet can assess if there's a problem. Take a pic of her enclosure to show the distance from the bulb to her basking perch. If she's 8" or closer she may be getting burned, esp. if it's a spot lamp. But I think Lovebug will be O.K.

 

[DaisyDragon123]

Vets normally want you to bring a fecal sample for parasite testing. The vet will probably want a detailed account of the diet and cage set up. I sort of see the spot but I wouldn't call it an abscess. I wonder if it is a stuck shed "bubble" separating prior to shedding off.

 

[Lucy1988]

I hope so.

I'm sure I measured the distance when I set it up just can't remember. I'll try and find my tape for the vet. I was thinking about a fecal but he went yesterday, also if your dragon only poos in the bath is this a viable sample?
Okies thanks so much for the help guys, hope I'm being crazy,
Lucy.

 

[DaisyDragon123]

Yes you can retrieve a poo from the water to test. I've done it a couple of times.

 

[Rankins]

Looks like the start of a fungal infection to me. Your vet should be able to do a scraping for examination.
If it is fungal its good it doesn't appear too bad, antifungals should take care of it. Your vet can advise on treatment protocols.
Do a search on "bearded dragon black fungus" look over some pictures of it. Let us know if it looks like those pictures.

 

[Lucy1988]

Hey, took bug to the vet today another small lump had appeared. The vet wasn't overly concerned with the discolouration and said if it gets worse we can do a biopsy. He thinks the lumps could be an infection so he's had an antibiotic shot and I have to inject him for 2 weeks. I've got him some soy yogurt.
Thanks again for the advice,
Lucy and Bug.

 

[Rankins]

Did you take a look at any pictures of bearded dragons with fungal infections on the internet?
Still looks fungal to me...a biopsy isn't needed for that. A skin scraping should show mycelium if its fungal.

 

[DaisyDragon123]

http://reptile-parrots.com/forums/showthread.php/5629-Fungal-and-Bacterial-Diseases-of-Reptiles

I think the above article is good. I couldn't find black fungus in my search. I think this may address the issue Rankins raises concerning a scrap and fungal issues. Personally I would go with the biopsy but your vet can discuss with you the merits of one over the other.

The concern I believe is the chance that the antibiotics will treat only one part of the problem and not the other. The article is too technical to not have been copied and pasted. But I didn't see the source referenced.

It is good that you took him to the vet and I was surprised it wasn't shed, but that is the problem with pictures vs. seeing in person. Some things don't show up well.

 

[Lucy1988]

Hey,
I'll read the article when I get home thanks! The pictures from my phone don't really show what it looks like. It didn't look like the ones I've seen of black fungus online. The vet was more concerned with the bumps, but im going back in a couple of weeks after his antibiotics for another check up. I was leaning towards a biopsy as well just for peace of mind but I dont want to put him under anaesthetic needlessly. I'll decide later.
Maybe I should use iodine baths and antifungal cream as well?
Thankfully he's still eating like a trooper and being a general cutesy.
Cheers, Lucy and Bug.

 

[Rankins]

When I searched for "bearded dragon fungus" in google it came up with pictures of yellow, black, and a combo. I suspect its all the same fugus at different stages of infection (not 100% on that) So figured adding "black" in it norrowed the volume of images.
The reason for suggesting the scraping was due to cost of a biopsy. Many vets charge it as a minor surgical procedure, skin scraping should be cheaper. If a diagnosis is fungal then it saves you some cash.
An antibiotic won't treat fungal infections, possible it might make it worse. However, if it is fungal with a secondary skin infection both an antibiotic and a antifungal would probably ordered.
Hard to tell what is actually going on without a hands-on physical examination....so my guess is all speculation at this point.