My leopard gecko has a white clogged nostril. What should I do?

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.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Firkle and including a photo. Vitamin A deficiencies are commonly involved with ocular changes. The deficiency can lead to changes in skin cells (cornea, toes, etc) that affect shedding and can lead to secondary infections. Besides improving the diet, the eyes should be cleaned out during a veterinary visit, and antibiotics prescribed. Warm water soaks can help with the toes to soften the skin, and gently remove. Good luck.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics 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.

From the picture it looks more like inflamed and ulcerated tissue then extra shed, but pictures can be deceiving. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon, before he becomes too sick. He will likely need antibiotics. Also double check that your temperature and humidity are appropriate, and that he is getting good night and daylight cycles (too long light cycles can cause stress). A good resource is www.anapsid.org Good luck and I hope he improves soon!

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!