Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've heard some reports that BTS bites cause infection. The Singapore Reptile Park's expert told me this as he pointed to the BTS (Tiliqua gigas). The theory is strengthened by a fellow herper's (who happens to be my dad's friend)son who got bitten by his pet shingleback. His son got an infection from the bite and had to go to the doctor.
I am still not sure about this theory. Any additional information would be appreciated.

Thanks

Unlike komodo dragons for example, blue-tongue skinks are not known for carrying a large number of bacteria in their mouth. So, more than likely, the infection subsequent to a bite by one of these skinks was not due mostly to the bacteria from the animal but to the follow-up care of the bite. If not cleansed and disinfected and kept clean afterward, any bite, scrape, scratch, puncture, etc. can result in an opportunistic bacterial infection. Following a bite, bacteria already on the skin may readily enter the tissues and lead to an infection or the open wound may be more vulnerable to bacterial attack.
Bottom line: A skink's bite is not any more likely to lead to infection if properly cared for.
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Edward
Carpe diem

Well, BTS eat a lot of nasty stuff, like cat food, and raw egg, so I would watch it. BTW, most BTS are very tame friendly pets, and will most likely only bite you if they feel threatened. Go to Bluetongueskinks.net for the best info!
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0.0.1 Eastern Painted Turtle
0.0.1 Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos

One of the baby blue tongues that I had a few years ago bit me and bled a little bit, but it didn't get infected at all and healed up normally. Like Edward said, if you look after it properly it will heal up just like any normal scratch or cut. The blue tongues themselves don't cause the bite to get infected.

n/p
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Edward
Carpe diem

np

All Blue Tonges have the ability to bite deep with strong jaws which means any bacteria in mouth/saliva/skin can go directly into the blood stream causing infection. Cage mates can fight to serious injury and/or infection/ and evenf Death. First step I use is Bedodine to cleanse wound area. Then use of "Equate Triple Antibiotic" to treat wound everyday until healed. Serious wounds may require at Veterinarian for Stitches/Oral Antibiotics/and even amputation. For less serious wounds use the Bedadine & "Equate" which should not be harmful if injected.

Ingested "Equate" is what I meant. Bad Typing day.