Reptile & Amphibian Forums

while handling on of my young argus monitors, i noticed a small cut at the base of the tail, it didn't look deep at all, there was no blood, and no flesh exposed. my only concern is it was slightly swollen, i thought it might be infected. i rinsed it off, and applied some hydrogen peroxide to get it clean. is there something else i should do, it doesn't seem serious enough to take it to a vet. any help appreciated.

Put the peroxide on it daily and make sure that the wound does not get infected. Even the smallest cut can turn into a huge infection. If you keep it clean it should heal quickly.

Tony Alles
www.reptileguru.com

You may want to use diluted Betadine or Nolvasan instead of the peroxide. H2O2 can be damaging to healing tissue.

Does anyone have any concerns regarding the warning label on Nolvasan? I just recently bought a gallon from vetamerica.com and the label makes this product sound like a toxic pesticide that you cannot even touch. Im interested in hearing from those who have used it.

P.S. Here is a link to the label.

http://store.yahoo.com/vetamerica/nolsolgal.html

BigMike

"Indications: †For disinfection of inanimate objects "

"um.. hello" is a fine response to your boyfriend if he asks if you mind if he goes to dinner with someone else on friday night. But not something I would expect from an educated person such as yourself.

I have never heard about any of these warnings listed on the label until I read it when it arrived at my door. It seems to contradict everything I have heard about Nolvasan.

For example, proexotics.com has this listed on thier site.

"Virosan (Nolvasan) is a terrific disinfectant (bactericide and virucide) all purpose cleaner that we have used at PE for years. This magic blue fluid can be sprayed liberally over animals, cages, bowls, husbandry tools, and even your own hands. Vets use Virosan as a mouthwash during surgery, and we use it as a wound wash, or mouth rinse for those stray infected python teeth that we occasionally run into. We use Virosan to clean every cage, spraying moderately and wiping dry with a paper towel, and we clean the water bowls with Virosan before refilling with fresh water as well. Much safer and longer lasting than watered down Bleach solutions, and certainly safer than a commercial disinfectant, Virosan will tackle everything from the cage glass, to the cage floor, to the animal, to your grimy hands after. Also safe enough to treat mild frog and toad wounds, scratched heads, sore lips, etc. A single bottle will last through hundreds of cage cleanings."

For those of you who are interested in an intelligent exchange, please post your dealings with this product.

BigMike

Don't get your knickers in a knot, I was just pointing out something I had read on the linked website. It wasn't an attack on you, PE, joe bloggs or anyone else.

People get so testy on these forums. Chill, it's a hobby. It's meant to be relaxing!

But, eh hem, we must ALWAYS be SERIOUS! After all, if you are lacking in loftyness and appearant maturity, than that must indicate a complete lack of intellect!
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"My favorite thing about the internet is that you get to go into the private world of real creeps and you dont have to smell them."
Penn Jillette (1955-present), in a compuserve chat

Want to spray on your animals.
But when properly diluted with water vets use it to clean surfaces, clean animals, disinfect an animals mouth, open wounds, etc etc. Ive had it prescribed by a vet for open wounds as a soaking agent daily, his quote was if diluted its safe as mouth wash.

people always want simple definitive answers, and those are the hardest to give : )

i can only speak for the exact product and brand that we use and sell. there are different concentrations available, and they serve different purposes. using the strongest concentrated formula, right out of the bottle, might very well seriouly hurt an animal, i don't know, i don't use that product : )

the Virosan that we use, when diluted as indicated, is great for the uses SHvar indicated, and we have used it for years with great results. however, as a lone treatment, we only use it for very minor problems. it is more often a cleaning, disinfecting agent that works in conjuction with a prescribed medical treatment (i.e. rinsing mouthrot while on a course of Baytril).

and it cleans cages awesome : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

I guess the part that worries me is this:

"Precautionary Statements: Hazards to Humans (and Domestic Animals): Danger.
Corrosive: Causes irreversible eye damage. Wear protective eyewear (Goggles, face shield or safety glasses). Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin or inhaled. May be fatal if inhaled. Avoid breathing spray mist."

it will burn your eyeballs off. don't jaywalk, you will get hit by a bus : )

the Virosan is a disinfectant and virucide, they don't want people to drink it. from my experience with lots of customers and dry goods, i do believe that people do such dumb things... : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

the same product that your dentist would prescribe for you labeled as Peridex or Periogard to be used as a mouth rinse. The chemical name is Chlorhexidine...just a different concentrate. I've used in diluted form in many a lizard's mouth with good results and no complications.

well if it's not bad then it should heal fine. If your animal is healthy, and conditions are right for him/her it will heal fast.

If your worried about it getting infected I would use silvadine cream. I use this on my own animals and it works great. I do not like using any of the petroleum or oil based products.

If your real concerned the only way to go is a vet.

Good luck
Jody

One of the first concerns I have when replying to this post is that your husbandry might not be well enough for this reply.

If a monitor is in proper care a wound like this will heal quite well on its own.

So, if you would like a good reply, please post about your husbandry then if your husbandry is good we will tell you, don't worry about it. If it is not, we will help you correct it and might forward you to a vet.

This girl here came in like this, she also had a large scar on her head and was bleeding pretty good. I simply used triple anitibiotic on it for a few weeks and intermittently washed it and bandaged it. She fully healed and within a month and a half laid a nice clutch.

thanks,andrew

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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

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Greg
www.imageevent.com/gmherps