My gecko has a strange mark. Is it a wound, burn, or something else?

Monitor for any aggression. You may need to separate them, especially if the enclosure is too small. You can use a diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution daily to gently cleanse the affected area. Monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite, redness, swelling or discharge. See your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles if the wound doesn't heal or if any of the above mentioned symptoms develop.

You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to clean the spot once or twice a day. Keep the area free from debris (substrate, food, droppings, etc.). It should heal on its own within a week or so. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, redness or discharge. If it doesn't show signs of healing within a few days, consider an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

Hello, I'm so sorry to see this about your gecko. I am concerned by what appears to be exposed pink internal tissue. Geckos can commonly prolapse one of their major organ systems that leads to their cloaca (large intestine, urinary, reproductive tracts), and I am concerned this may be a different type of problem. In any case, this kind of tissue exposure is serious and will eventually lead to sepsis and death. I would recommend keeping the tissue moist with saline solution and a gentle lubricant gel until he can see a doctor. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Pants and including a photo. Are you sure this is from a poor shed or could it be a thermal burn? Check proximity to the heating element. At first, it is recommended to remove all substrate that could stick to the wound, and replace with clean cloth or ReptiCarpet. Applying topical antibiotics are good but adding a systemic antibiotics and analgesia might improve healing. A veterinary visit is needed to prescribe these. Good luck.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). I would recommend to monitor it for the moment to see if it spreads or resolve at all. Should it deteriorate (bigger, more spots or swollen), a check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) may be needed to solve the problem. In the meantime you can swab the infected area with a diluted povidone-iodine solution twice daily.

It could be some dead skin. Leave it be for now. Do not pull on it. Keep the stump clean and dry. You can use a diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution to gently clean it once or twice a day. Dry thoroughly afterwards and keep him on paper towels until he heals. Do not use any sand or wood chips or gravel which can stuck to the stump and introduce infection. You can dab some triple antibiotic ointment on it after cleaning. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible.

Clean the area daily with a solution of diluted Betadine or Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens). An ointment may trap bacteria under the skin and would not be recommended without the advice of your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. An exam would be recommended if the spot does not begin to heal with proper at home care. The vet may dispense a triple antibiotic ointment or a silver sulfadiazine cream after an exam.