Tail Rot

[kalethebeardie]

Hi Everyone,

I have already posted this a few days ago, but thought I would give an update onto what is happening.

My beardie is currently having a case of tail rot, I presume thanks to the advice given before.

We have been giving him the betadine treatment plus ointment for 4 days. I have attached pictures of his tail below from a few days ago and some pictures of it taken tonight.

(Before)

(Before)

(Today)

(Today)

(Today)

The colour seems to be a little lighter, however I see that the swollen part is now getting more red, you can see the blood.

Does anyone have any idea how I can help reduce the swelling, or help the skin around it to shed (the white part)? And is it getting any better?

Thank you so much for all your help in this difficult time. Hope you are all well.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, it's too hard to really see if it's better or worse because the ointment on it or being wet masks the real color. What you are doing is just sort of a " see if this helps " but in reality there can be tail rot brewing under the scales. A good reptile vet would be needed but if it's tail rot and it would def. need to be amputated ASAP. Can you have it seen by a qualified vet ? BTW, tail amp. sounds scary but it is not that painful for them and beardies do very well in almost all cases.

 

[KarrieRee]

Here is a website to find a vet
www.arav.org
Karrie

 

[kalethebeardie]

Thank you for the advice.

Unfortunately, the most qualified reptile vet is quite a long ways from our home and the vets close enough, I don't trust enough to be qualified in treating lizards. I just hope this treatment can help a bit, but I'm just scared because we don't have a qualified vet around.

Thanks again!

 

[AHBD]

Can you post a few pics when the tail is totally dry ? And without squeezing too hard can you feel if it seems squishy ? If he does have tail rot he will 100 % need amp., any vet can do it but if there's no way to get to a vet it can be done by you.

 

[kalethebeardie]

Here are a few pictures when his tail is dry.

Front

Side

Back

When I squeeze it, it doesn't seem squishy as far as I can tell.

 

[AHBD]

Yeah that looks pretty bad, not sure it can be knocked out with antibiotics or soaking in betadine. It probably needs cut right above where there is any sign of black or red [ that's infection ]

 

[kalethebeardie]

If I cannot find a qualified vet that could perform an amputation, would it be possible to do the amputation ourselves at home to prevent the infection from climbing up?

 

[KarrieRee]

Heres a website to help find a vet --- www.arav.org
If you can call around your area to see who does see reptiles if they do make sure you ask if they are experienced w/ bearded dragons---
Karrie

 

[AHBD]

This is how a vet would do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz6qit-_IKM

If you can't get a vet to do it, this is a good tutorial to do it yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjZMuttq44A

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I PM'd you.
When are you planning on doing the work on the tail? I asked several questions in the PM
too.
Are you planning on giving any antibiotics afterwards to help in case there is any type of
residual infection left?
I am sure that it definitely doesn't feel the greatest for him, poor thing.
Let us know how he is doing.

Tracie