Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted the other day to find out if anybody had seen the same problems in any of their animals ever. I got no response, I don't know if that means that nobody cares or nobody has and suggestions.
My bosc has pus-seeping sores on his back and side. You can see bubbles of fluid under his skin. I've been cleaning them and applying triple antibiotic cream.
The vet I took him to didn't even know that monitors ate mice so I didn't expect too much from her. She gave me a week's worth of antiboitics. Has anybody ever seen anything like this, or have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Tony

The best advice anyone here can give you is to find a vet that has a better understanding of reptiles, so they can find out what the problem is, how to solve it and how to prevent it from occurring again.

As DK pointed out, the best course of action is to locate, or correspond with a more knowledgable vet.

As far as what you can do; make sure your animal has a hide-box. You must have a basking area in the correct temperature range - meaning in excess of 120 degrees. Your're ok up to 140. If you're not sure, measure it. Correct thermoregulation will assist in helping your animal fight off infection. Continue to keep the animal, and you - particularly after handling, very clean.

If your monitor does not respond to the meds (baytril I'm assuming?) you may want to ask your existing, or hopefully new vet, for a gram stain, so they can identify the bacteria and treat it accordingly.

Best of luck

Don M.

you did get a response to your earlier post and it's quite a good response so I'd heed Dragoon's advice:

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=628215,629034

.

First is the hot spot of the basking area big enough to heat the entire animals snout to vent length and width? If not they can get burns from not being able to heat their body evenly by spending too much time under the light. The other possibility is whatever you use for a hide is wearing those sores into its back upon entering and exiting the hide. Is it plastic wood etc. I like using dirt and let them make their own hide, a burrow, or offer a man made hide thats not too tight to slide in so they dont rub their backs, some species can do this with no problems, some cannot.

Thanks for responding, and I apologize that I did not see Dragoon's initial response below.
I know that the sores are not from scratching rubbing. You can easily tell they are not that type of wound. As for temps and humidity, I thought what I have is correct, but I'll list them here:
85-91 degree gradient. Basking spot is one 60 watt halogen floodlight approx 8 inches above basking spot(which is large enough for his entire body). Surface temp of basking spot is around 120 (measured with PE temp gun).
Dirt substrate 4 inches thick. Every couple days I add some water to the dirt to keep the humidty up and the dirt moist. I feed him 4-5 f/t mice twice a week.
He's been getting 10mg of baytril daily since Friday and I've seen no improvment.
Somebody above mentioned that they could be burns from his basking light. I've never seen burns so I really can't say, but he's had the same light for a year now, and like I said before, the basking spot is really usually right around 120-130.
Tomorrow I'm going to call another vet that I know to see if he has any suggestions.
Thanks again.

Tony

Have some questions. How long has the dirt been in the cage? What kind of dirt? Where did you get it?
Could there be any pesticides, chemicals, or fertilizers in it?
If it is the same dirt you have been using, it might need changing.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.