Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just noticed today that our Jax has a swollen toe. It's not discolored in any way, just an inside single toe. The nail is still there and looks fine. Any other ideas on what could be going wrong? He's still able to grasp with it, so should I just watch it and see???

Thanks!
Kristen
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1.1 pygmy leaf
1.0 carpet
1.0 jackson
0.0.3 red eared sliders

Hi Kristen,

Toe swelling can occur with almost any species of reptile. It is an infection - most likely some irritation around the toenail and it has closed up - causing the swelling due to internal infection.

First, let me say that this can get serious if not treated. Our vet showed us pictures of an iguana that had this problem - and with neglect, it developed into gangrene - and he had to remove the leg just below the knee to save the animal's life.

The treatment is foot-soaks: very warm water deep enough to cover the foot. We add a tiny bit of antibacterial soap to the soak. If he doesn't mind wading in a tub, that method is good. If not, you can hold a cup of water and dangle that leg into the cup while you are holding him. The soaking should be for a min of 15 minutes, twice per day.

Then we further disinfect the area with Betadine. If you don't have that, use hydrogen peroxide (warmed).

Squeeze the toe with steady pressure toward the toenail. You may see a greenish, cloudy fluid come out around his nail - this is good! You want to get that out - as it is the stuff causing the swelling. Don't squeeze so hard that you hurt his foot, - but try to get some of the fluid out. Once you do, disinfect again. If you don't, more soaking is necessary.

If you cannot get the fluid to exit, a vet might have to lance the spot and squeeze it for you. Most likely the vet will prescribe Baytril to be administered orally. This helps the infection from spreading further.

With some chams, we have been successful in arresting he infection with the soaks and squeezing, disinfecting the area and applying a triple antibiotic ointment (or SSD cream). With a few, we started on the Baytril if it looked as though it was going to be stubborn.

Don't wait too long... and keep us posted.
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Oh dear, I was afraid of this...LOL! I remember seeing this being prescribed before as a treatment for something and thinking, "oh, thank goodness that isn't me"...hehehe!

The guy was just now actually liking me and not running when I'd walk up. Today he came up to me to get some silkworms...now he's gonna hate me...boo hoo.

He's not the most content when he's out of his cage...pretty active, so would you say find a small tub that he can go in but can't crawl out of and filling that with a small amount of water? He's going to totally freak out.

I'm gonna feel like I'm hurting his foot...but I guess I'll just start gently and go from there.

Thanks so much, Morgana!
Kristen
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1.1 pygmy leaf
1.0 carpet
1.0 jackson
0.0.3 red eared sliders

Kristen,

Find a plastic tub that is deep enough for him to stay in - not climb out - and I use a washcloth on the bottom - so they don't slide around and dunk their heads.

Be sure to keep the water WARM! This helps draw the infection out... and only deep enough to go up to his ankle...

After the ordeal, just let him wander a bit... he will soon forget about the squeezing......

And if you relieve the pressure - it feels better!
Keep us posted..
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Thanks Morgana...I chickened out and took him to the vet. She lanced the spot where it looked like it wanted to come out (not around the toenail), and flushed it with a saling/betadine solution...then, the toenail came out with her squeezing gently and such, so she had two holes going on. The flush came out of the other hole, so it was good to get the ick out. She sent us home with flush to do one time per day and Bayril one time per day. We did it tonight, and I think we did well...I'm worried that I didn't get enough Bayril into him...I was so worried about putting the drop in the wrong spot or doing too much that I don't think I got what little bit I had in the syringe in his mouth.

Isn't there something that can happen when administering oral anything? Like asphyxiation or somthing?? Can't think of the word...duh...anyway, where is the wrong spot to put the liquid...or is one drop not going to do anything?

Thanks!
Kristen
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1.1 pygmy leaf
1.0 carpet
1.0 jackson
0.0.3 red eared sliders

Funny, most often it will come out around the toenail - like I originally said. I have done the same thing - lanced where it looked the most swollen - and the toenail ended up being the culprit.

It's good that the vet did this - just so you didn't feel bad. But she didn't recommend the soaking? We have found this to be the best way of keeping the infection local - and easily squeezed out of whatever opening is made. Hmmm...

When we do oral Baytril, usually it IS a very small amount. There is a berry syrup that I buy at a health food store, and I pull equal amounts of Baytril and the syrup into the syringe, plus a bit of water. This makes it taste better, for one thing, and the fluid is a bit more - so you give him a bit of fluid with the med.

The chance of aspiration is slight with only a few drops of liquid. If you do not have a cham that willingly opens its mouth for you, you can apply a bit of pressure on either side of the jaw (back of the head) with thumb and forefinger - usually this will prompt the mouth to open. I then place the syringe (needle removed) in the corner of the mouth and squirt the fluid towards the back of the throat.

You just need to avoid the front of the mouth (the base of the tongue) where they breath (glottis). The one or two drops shouldn't flood the glottis - especially if the head is tilted up.

Hope your little jax gets well soon,
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LOL...*aspirate*...that is the word I was looking for...I was having some brain issues. It just wasn't working. hehe

I asked her about soaking, and she said I could if I wanted, but that the flush was basically doing the similar thing. I'm sure doing both would not hurt...as long as he doesn't get too stressed out from all of it.

It's so hard to get the right about of Baytril...it's .02cc...so it's like one drop, and I'm sure you know how little that is in a syringe...getting it to come out is the hard part...hehehe.

I couldn't mix it with water, could I? Is that a no no??

Thanks again, Morgana.

Kristen
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1.1 pygmy leaf
1.0 carpet
1.0 jackson
0.0.3 red eared sliders

The flush like soaking... but the warm water localizes the infection, making it easier to drain. Fact.

There is no reason you can't mix Baytril into anything (edible) of course. We mix it all the time - add to it - so we can easily dispense it.

Keep us posted,
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