Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 3 year old female has had a sore on the side of her neck since April and it won't heal. I have tried antibiotics but they keep it sticky and gooey and it wont get a scab. When a scab does form it comes off in her bath. I have to bathe her to keep her and it clean. I have also tried Aloe plant but its not working any other suggestions?

That looks bad and raw. You got to get her checked out. An open sore since april is a hell of a long time for it to look fresh and open like that. Looks like it might have needed a stitch back then or did it look different back then? Has it gotton worse?
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Mystical Dragons

She has been to the vet many many times and they just keep giving me topical antibiotics...I do not want to give her internal antibiotic due to the risk of the dreaded "yellow fungus" and messing up her internal flora.

I see the jam your in. I've dealt with the fungus. I also didn't know the proper precautions to take before treating coccidia and a skin infection. During any treatments with internal meds use probiotics during, and after. Acidophiliz brand works well and comes in a liquid which is easy to administer. They also have capsules with powder at wal-mart that contain acidophillus. Even a vet has these on hand or should. You might have to go the internal route after 5 months if it didn't heal with topical treatments. Maybe someone will offer a second opinion here. If not get one from a vet. Is your vet a herp dr with experience? Has she been scratching that spot at all? Just really after all this time don't want to get a serious infection. Does it ooze at all? Might already be infected and the draining is opening it up. I'm not sure just looks nasty to me. I hope you can help her out in some way. I hope someone can offer a treatment or suggestion that would help. I'm not to experienced with medical treatment. Good idea too if she is kept on sand or any partical substate it can easily get into and irritate the area. Paper towel would work well or newspaper. Want to keep it extra clean the wound and her enclosure. Might be good to seperate her from the other if you house her with others. They might be stacking well mine do on each other could get scratched open again. Good Luck..
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Mystical Dragons

animals. ITs a cronic problem with many humans post surgery.

Have you tried a product called new skin? that might work to protect the area from further infection, but if she has a cellulitis in it, it will need anitbiotics.

I understand you feeling about antibiotic treatment, but sometimes that are needed. From the past six months and following dragons treated with antibiotics and given probiotics, we have seen no new cases of yellow fungus disease in them, it usually shows up within six months and most are having a much easier time during treatment for infection or coccidia.

Good luck, I know you have really tried with this and how much your dragons mean to you.

I agree with the "new skin". Depending upon how big the area actually is, it will keep the dirt/sand, etc. out of the wound and give it a chance to heal. I would ask your vet what he/she thinks. Is this an experienced reptile vet?

THose certainly look like nasty sores. How did she get them? Has your vet tried a biopsy? Obviously applying antibotic creams isn't helping much. Maybe you should eliminate the bath and let it scab over and heal...typicaly once a wound scabs over it won't get infected unless the dragon is scratching or rubbing it.