My pet reptile has scale rot. How do I treat it at home safely?

I think this may be a repetition of a previous question. This could be due to a bacterial or fungal infection causing scale rot. Swab the infected area with a diluted povidone-iodine solution twice daily. Scrape away the infected area gently with a blunt tool or 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.

Silvadene , Tricide or povidone/iodine creams can all be used safely. Make sure she is in a dry enclosure with species specific parameters. If the lesions do not heal or spread or if she becomes lethargic or stops eating, have her examined immediately by your herp veterinarian.

This could be due to a scale rot, a superficial bacterial infection that can affect the skin. I would strongly recommend to immediately place Lenny with in a dry environment with dry substrate, good ventilation, and correct ambient temperature and humidity and then take him to your veterinarian for a check up to confirm this clinical suspicion 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.

Thanks for reaching out about E.T and including pictures. It is not possible to see the lesions you mention in the pictures but mouth rot can sometimes be managed at home. Correcting any environmental deficiencies is very important, re-check the temperature range offered. Gently cleaning the mouth with warm water and a cotton tipped applicator to remove any caseous debris in the mouth. Be careful when swabbing the mouth to not entangle the cotton on the teeth. After all the infected material is removed, the gums can be painted (with a cotton tipped applicator) with a dilute chlorhexidine or betadyne solution, once or twice daily. Severe mouth lesions recovery better with the administration of systemic antibiotics, which is only available through a veterinarian. Good luck.

Have Anubis examined by an experienced herp veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis. Mouth rot, or infectious stomatitis, typically requires antibiotics. Minor cases can be managed with topical cleaning, usually with diluted Betadine or chlorhexidine solutions, after the area is debrided (cleaned). Serious cases definitely require veterinary attention, antibiotics and supportive care. Increase enclosure temperatures to the upper limit of the normal range for beardies during treatment. A slurry of baby food, vitamins and minerals can be fed. This is easier for the beardie to eat and digest. Fluids can be administered via misting, soaking or subcutaneously​ administered by your vet. Clean and sanitize the enclosure, change bedding frequently and monitor humidity levels. If the infection does not resolve, a sample of tissue should be submitted for pathology, culture and sensitivity.

Thanks for reaching out about Dina. The treatment depends on the cause, although systemic antibiotics are more likely to have a positive outcome, rather than topically cleaning the wound. Tail necrosis can also be caused by non-infectious causes including metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), inappropriate husbandry, cardiac disease, trauma, and others. If the necrosis is progressing quickly, a tail amputation above the affected area could help slow/stop the progression. Good luck.

If the mouth rot is minor, you can use a dilute chlorhexadine or dilute Listerine and a cotton swab to gently wipe the affected area twice daily. Increasing temperature by about 5-10 F may also help. If you are seeing "cheesy" discharge, Peter should be seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.