Why is my leopard gecko's tail bleeding and cracking after shedding?

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.

Monitor her for lethargy or difficulty walking for the next day or two. If she's moving slower or not at all, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. Gently clean the abrasions/wounds with diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution. Keep her on slate, paper towels or reptile carpet until she heals. You don't want any substrate contaminating the wounds and introducing infection. In the future, take Wanda out of her enclosure to feed her or simply work around the hide and other furniture to avoid accidents.

Soak Lelo in a warm bath for 20-30 minutes daily to aid in shedding. Clean the tip of her tail with a diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution a couple times a day. Keep her on paper towels and change them daily. Tile or slate can also be used, just spot clean daily to keep stool off her tail. Monitor for spread or resolution. If her tail doesn't heal, have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. She may need antibiotics or possibly have the affected portion amputated to prevent serious infection.

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.

If you think it is a wound severe enough to expose intestine, Koopa should be seen immediately by your vet or an experienced herp veterinarian. A physical exam may diagnose injury, infection or a bad shed. It may also be a prolapse from the vent. These conditions cannot be diagnosed without an exam. Confirm proper temps in the enclosure. Soak him in a warm solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte daily for 15-20 minutes as long as he is not eating. keep him on paper towels or reptile carpet to keep the affected area clean. Loose substrate may stick to it and contaminate it further. If it is a bad shed, the soaks may loosen the skin/scab.

It's possible Basil may be a little stressed, or may even have some irritation on the skin such as an infection or parasite. Checking to make sure her environment is the right temperature and humidity as well as enriching is a good first step. If everything looks OK but the behavior continues, having your local exotics vet take a look is best to rule out any skin infections.

Submit a stool sample o your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls and tank furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Check Gecky's other toes and tail for any stuck shed. This can compromise blood supply, resulting in lost digits. If he has a tough time shedding, soak him or mist him daily during a shed and provide a moist hide at each end of the enclosure. Monitor the foot for swelling, redness, bleeding or discharge. See your vet if necessary to treat infection. A daily soak in diluted betadine or chlorhexidine can keep the area clean. Use plain paper towels as a substrate and change them daily until he is healed.