My bearded dragon's tail tip is falling off. What's the next step?

Thanks for reaching out about Spike and including photos. By the photo, it is probably due to the betadyne. Continue to monitor flexibility of tail, warms, and a gentle pinch/pain response. These might be indications of the tail dying. Bearded dragons can also dislodge blood clots to the tips of the tail or toes, causing de-vitalization and necrosis. If the condition recurs, a CBC and serum biochemistries are recommended through a veterinarian. Good luck.

It's probably best to have a vet take a look at the tail especially if it is appearing injured or peeling. Do NOT apply over the counter medications to the area unless instructed by your vet as it may be toxic or deadly to your beardie if he were to lick it.

By your description, it could be tail rot. Chemmy would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles for confirmation. In the meantime, confirm proper environmental parameters and make sure he doesn't have shed skin strangulation the affected portion of the tail. You can soak the tail in a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution once or twice daily. Prescription antibiotics may be dispensed by your veterinarian if necessary.

Thanks for your question, and I’m so sorry that this is happening to you and Peaches. Tail rot can be a bit tricky to manage, and ultimately Peaches may need a tail amputation. Unfortunately, the tissue needs to stop dying before an amputation can be pursued, or else the tissue at the surgical site is at risk of dying as well. Due to this, for right now, you’ll need to monitor for spread of the tissue death. I recommend drawing a line at the area where the tissue seems to be shrunken, closer to the end of the tail, and another line around the area where the tail goes from a more normal orange to the white color. You can do this with a permanent marker. It may be advisable to consider a course of antibiotics as well, especially if the tissue death doesn’t seem to stop spreading. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that Peaches feels better soon.

It isn't normal. If you can see bone, have Dash seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. If no bone is exposed, keep the site clean and dry. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean it daily. Use plain paper, tile or slate on the cage bottom to prevent substrate particles from contaminating the wound. If he continues to bite ornchew at his tail, have him seen by your veterinarian.

Thanks for reaching out about Smaug and including photos. The end of the tail appears to be necrotic. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The environment needs to be kept clean so substrate should be removed and replaced with paper towels or fabric to lessen the chance of contamination. Review diet and correct as proper nutrition is important to recovery and long life. Good luck.

While it is true that these signs could be due to trauma caused by the other beardie, it is also possible that it could be due to inappropriate nutrition or environment. Make sure that you are providing your bearded dragons with adequate calcium (supplemented in the food), and sufficient heat and UVB lighting in their cages. I also recommend that you take Luchi to see a reptile veterinarian in case he was injured and requires pain medications. You can find a reptile veterinarian in your area on www.arav.org.