What's safe to put on my red tegu's dry skin for her breed?

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.

The concerns include infection (bumps) and mouth rot (brown crust). Either can be caused by poor husbandry, incorrect environmental parameters (namely heat and humidity) or trauma. Without images, it can be difficult to determine either way. Ideally, Goldie should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose infection or injury. In the meantime, clean and sanitize the enclosure and contents, confirm proper environmental parameters and gently cleanse the areas in question using diluted betadine or chlorhexidine solution. If the issues don't resolve, see the vet.

I would not put any human prescribed medications on Nala as there may be ingredients or chemicals in them that are harmful to her. If she has dry skin, a soothing aloe or oatmeal shampoo can help with dry skin, as well as supplementing with vitamin E or fish oils to help improve the coat. If you suspect mites or parasites, treating those and getting them under control can help as well. You can also place an Elizabethan (cone) collar or T-shirt on Nala to keep her from licking and scratching to reduce irritation as well.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Natas and including photos. This could be something as simple as dry skin, so application of an olive oil once every few days might help return the skin integrity to normal. Remove any substrate that could adhere the lesion. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. A fungal or bacterial dermatitis, nutritional deficiencies, and other problems are still possible. Good luck.

Hello. Good question. Mites unfortunately, are not easy to get rid of. You have to treat both the iguana and her environment. It is not recommended that you use any medications on your iguana without speaking to your vet first. Over the counter treatments do not usually work well and can often times be toxic if not used correctly. No matter what treatment you use it will likely take multiple treatments. It is best to obtain treatments directly from your veterinarian. If you do not already have a vet that you work with, this is a veterinary hospital near you where the vets are well versed in treating reptiles: http://chadwellanimalhospital.com/about-us/the-hospital/ You must also treat Li Mai's environment. Remove her from the cage. Throw away and branches or other organic material including the substrate. Soak the bowls and the enclosure itself in a 10:1 dilution of water to bleach. Let is soak for at least an hour but as long as you can. Be sure to get the bleach water in all the crevices. You will probably have to do this twice weekly over the next few months. Please consult with a veterinarian as these mites can be VERY difficult to get rid of. They can cause a myriad of other health problems including issues with shedding, damaged scales, stress, scratching, and more so you need to work together with a vet you trust to make sure all of her husbandry is correct. This includes her diet, the lighting, the temperatures and humidity in the cage. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you and Li Mai! Dr. Amber

I would be concerned about possible fungal infection. If you cannot make it to a vet I would recommend placing them in a dry environment three times a day for 20-30 minutes. You can buy iodine and dilute it a lot and apply small amount to the lesions. Also some pet stores have drops to place in water of tank to help with fungal growth.