My gecko has a white spot under chin after shedding. Is a vet needed?

Thanks for your question about Trinity, and thanks for the photos- they are very helpful. For the spot on the nose - you can try soaking, and also use a wet q-tip and gently roll it over the spot to encourage the shed to come off. If it comes off, evaluate the skin underneath closely for any abnormalities. The spot on the back is concerning, as it doesn’t look raised like a shed. You can monitor the area for changes, or you can take her to a veterinarian to take a closer look. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for your question about Loki, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful! From what I can see in the photos, I think that you are asking about the large white area that extends from the eyes forward to around his nose and down along his mouth. This looks like areas of retained shed on top of new skin. Difficulty shedding, or dysecdysis, is often the result of imperfections in the husbandry. I would recommend starting with soaking Loki in 85-90 F water once daily for 15-20 minutes. While in the bath, you can wet a paper towel or cloth and get the areas of retained shed wet. Use caution around his eyes and nose, however, as we don't want him to feel uncomfortable or panicked. I would also suggest evaluating the husbandry and diet closely. You can consult an online care sheet, such as anapsid.org or Reptiles Magazine, and see if there are any areas that you may need to make adjustments. Common areas that require adjustment include lighting (UV lights need to be changed every 4-6 months), temperatures, and humidity/hydration/water. I would also recommend taking Loki into a veterinarian at some point for a wellness examination. Your veterinarian can make recommendations that are tailored to Loki after his physical exam has been performed. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

The area in question may be local irritation or infection. Monitor it for resolution or spread. It will likely disappear at the next shedding. If it gets worse or if Peaches develops lethargy or decreased appetite, then have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose injury or infection.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Salem and including pictures. This is not normal but appears to be a small abscess, possible from a piece of retained shed, trauma like a splinter or trauma from rubbing the nose on things. If he will let you, a warm compress might help organize the lesions. Likely this will open and drain, but if it persists, a veterinarian should be seen. Good luck.

It looks like a wound or a burn. Did the tip fall off recently? I suggest you apply some Betadine ointment on the tip twice a day to prevent infection. If it does not start to improve in a few days (ie: look less red) after starting treatment OR it looks worse at any time then you should get him to a vet for an exam. ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Major-Povidone-Iodine-10-Generic-For-Betadine-Ointment-1-Oz/157516609 )

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). Swab the infected area with a diluted povidone-iodine solution twice daily with a cotton pad. If this time of first line treatment does not help and you do not see any improvement in 48hours a check up at your local veterinarian would be required as antibiotic ointment and more aggressive treatment may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.