Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I have a 3 month old bearded dragon with an injury on his tail. The injury is on the base of his tail, right where it connects with the body. It is a small hole with some blood mixed with clear liquid. The beardie is active, eats, sheds, poos, and is deffinately growing. He is in a 60 flat mesh tank all alone. Is this injury something I should worry about? Should I just watch it, should I put something on it like bedidine, or should I take him to the vet? This is my first experience with beardies.

Here is a pick w/o injury right before I cleaned his tank.

Thanks, Brett

-----
The Zoo
1.0 Amel Cornsnake Pulcher
1.0 Russian Tort McCarthy
0.0.1 Crested Gecko Kruschev
0.0.1 Nile Monitor Scipio
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor Mandela
0.0.1 Forest Hingback Tort Mineta
3.0 Cats Ragnar, Pluto, and Nyord
To be added
0.0.2 Beardies
0.1 Cornsnake morph to be determined

Sounds a little weird might want to get it to a vet sounds like it could be infected with some pus or something along those lines. scott ps do you know how it got there? no pic shows also

Thanks,
Don't know how it got there. Possibly bad shed?? Though there is plenty of humidity, but not too much. Also, there was alittle of the substrate, crushed walnut, crusted over the wound, in the scab. It didn't start bleeding until I brushed it off. Also, not sure the clear stuff is puss. If it is puss, it is unlike any I have ever seen. It is clear not creamy like the puss I have seen.

Hope this helps and the picture showed in the preview, not sure why not there now.

Brett
-----
The Zoo
1.0 Amel Cornsnake Pulcher
1.0 Russian Tort McCarthy
0.0.1 Crested Gecko Kruschev
0.0.1 Nile Monitor Scipio
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor Mandela
0.0.1 Forest Hingback Tort Mineta
3.0 Cats Ragnar, Pluto, and Nyord
To be added
0.0.2 Beardies
0.1 Cornsnake morph to be determined

Can't see the picture, but from the description it could be a cricket bite. Make sure that you do not have crickets running around in his cage. Even if a cricket didn't cause the initial wound, they will go after an open wound on a dragon and make it worse.

Your asking for trouble with the walnut substrate.

Have you left crickets in the cage? They can chew holes in your dragon! If not, I would get it to a vet ASAP. It may be as bad as a flesh eating bacteria, or as simple as a scrape. The only way to know, would be to get it checked out.

I'd put my money on a cricket bit though. If you think that's it, I'd put some antibacterial cream on it, several times a day.
-----
Joel R

Coming some day.
www.SpikesAndScales.com

First, thank you guys so much for your quick responses. I had no idea that crickets could bite and harm the little guy, ok he is about 6 inches. I do have several runing around in there and they are comming out asap. As far as the antibiotic cream is neosporin safe? If not what should I use?

Again, thanks so much
Brett
Picture album

-----
The Zoo
1.0 Amel Cornsnake Pulcher
1.0 Russian Tort McCarthy
0.0.1 Crested Gecko Kruschev
0.0.1 Nile Monitor Scipio
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor Mandela
0.0.1 Forest Hingback Tort Mineta
3.0 Cats Ragnar, Pluto, and Nyord
To be added
0.0.2 Beardies
0.1 Cornsnake morph to be determined

First off with any open wound enjury I would remove that substrate and put it on paper towels to heep infection down so all that stuff does not stay stuck to the wound, when it comes off it will only reopen it once again. Also crushed walnut shells is not a substrate that you want to be using for your beardies especially at such a young age, they will cause alot of damage if swallowed. Just my opinion that I thought I would add. I hope it gets better really soon for you!

I have never had to deal with a chew hole but when ever I get nips, I use a 50 / 50 peroxide & water solution. I just mix it in a small travel type bottle. I got it in a travel kit from Wal-Mart. It has one of the tips like elemers glue where you just twist it a hair & you can squirt it out. Anyway, just hold it over a towel & run it over the bite / sore as often as you can. (at least 3 times a day or more if you can) I have not had a single infection & I've had my share of nips. It cleans the wound & allows it to dry which is crucial for good fast healing.

Just my experience.

Oh,, like someone else said,,, get them on papertowel while the sore is there.
-----
Joel R

Coming some day.
www.SpikesAndScales.com