Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My beardie's bottom lip looks a little brown and peely on the top.. I just noticed it and I'm really starting to worry! Can beardies get mouth rot?? How can it be treated? Please help!!!

simple question #1; are you sure it isn't just shed? can you post any pics? I am not as learned as some here so my answer may not de the best but it's a start.,

Well.. I just examined it. Its definately not a shed. It doesnt look that bad but the bronish/blackish on his lip is not normal. The area seems weak and sore. I think its mouthrot . Should I take him to the emergency room or just make a reg vet apointment. I read somewhere that I could use a treatment myself in addition to antibiotics given by a vet. Anyone know of a treatment I could do before the vet (emergency apointments are soo expensive).

Thanks! Any info is appreciated!

Any reptile can get mouth rot. It's a bacterial infection, but yes it is definetly treatable. You need to take your baby to the vet very soon so it doesn't get worse.
Good luck!

Yes, beardies can get mouth rot. You'll need to get a vet appt. As long as you caught it early enough I wouldn't necessarily go running into the ER but do get an appt. Also you'll want to identify the cause and correct it. I've heard that too much melon or sticky sweet fruit can lead to it, but I don't know for sure.

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps

Of course as I'm sure everyone already knows, don't assume it is mouth rot until the vet sees it.

Beardies can definitly get mouth rot (so can mammals). Besides sticky and/or juicy fruits being a possible cause, an injury can also lead to mouth rot. Most notably, nose rubs are known to be a cause of mouth rot when left untreated (and the cause of nose rubbing isn't corrected.)

Definitly go to the vet, an ER visit will yeild the same results as a normal appointment so I'd say just make a normal one, but stress you need it asap!

Oh, for the while, drop out any fruits. No sense in feeding the infection treats. And try to rinse the area with room temp, very clean, water (r/o filtered bottled water would be best). If there is anything loose between the teeth it will hopefully rinse out. Oh, as long as the tooth bed down in the jaw doesn't die, any teeth that might come out will grow back. I asked a vet about that after I removed a few teeth from my finger.

Good luck.
Siri

ps. anyone else wish this thing had spell-check?

Thank you for your replys!

I have made an appointment for the vet, but I still need to find the cause. Lenny doesnt like fruit so I never feed it to him. He recently woke up from his hibernation and is just this week been eating as much as he did before his brumation. He eats his pellets with calcium and usually collard greens and string beens (thats his favorite). Also, while I away my sister took care of Lenny and one of his heat lights went out, but he still had a spot light. If you have any idea of what the cause could be I'd really appreciate it!! thanks!