Sick Water Dragon (Help)

[frogman]

OK First off if this is in the wrong spot please just move it.

I have a chinese water dragon that has mouth rot. He has a large absess on his face (about the size of a marble) just below his eye. I am wondering what I should do to get rid of the mouth rot.

It is BAD. He can't open the one eye and is fairly inactive. I have been getting him to eat by putting food in his mouth (not forcing it though).

OK so far he is what has been done. I have been doing Polysporin Eye stuff in the eye and on the absess. Drained the absess last night and it totally filled again in minutes.

I am giving him 1/2 a tab of Tetracycline twice a day. Doing this by grinding it into water and then syringeing it into his mouth. I am washing his mouth out twice a day using a Qtip and Saline Solution to keep it clean.

OK so is there anything else I should be doing ??? Is there anything I am doing that I should not be doing ??

Any Help is greatly appreciated
Charles

[andrea88]

First of all, take him to a vet NOW.
He will likely die if you don't. You cant self-treat reptile illnesses with medication that you've found in your bathroom cabinet.

Second, mouth rot is a symptom of a systemic infection. Treating the mouth alone will not get rid of the infection, which is spread throughout his body. Mouth rot usually causes plagues INSIDE the mouth, therefore the absess that is on his face is likely a whole other problem.

Third, the fact that your wd has mouth rot means that there is something seriously wrong with the conditions that he is living in. You have to correct your husbandry errors or no medication in the world will make him better.

Fourth, TAKE YOUR SICK ANIMALS TO THE GOD-D@MMED VET. WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU???????????

[frogman]

OK well

First I am not giveing him meds that I found in my bathroom cabinet. This are Tetracycline from a vet. Second I have contacted vets in town. (no good ones) and they have all told me that they could treat him for the infection (with Antibiotics) but do not normally treat herps.

So I would reason to think that they would not do much more then what I am doing now.

This Water Dragon is a rescue and I do not believe that there is a husbandry issue under my care. He is in a large custom made Viv reptibark substrate. Cool area of High 70's low 80's High area goes up to 93 - 94. Large water area changed daily.

Not sure what in mu husbandery could have caused this but if you can tell me I will change it.

OHH and BTW there is nothing wrong with me

Thanks
Charles

[LISA127]

Andrea,

Try being a little nicer.

[V.hb]

andrea, seriously now......

1. its hard to find a reptile vet
2. most people who keep vast amounts of herps learn to medicate their animals on their own and do it quite successfully.
3. mentoring someone and explaining where mouth rot comes from, and what treats it is a much better approach..


dont be so childish.. he's asking for help, and he's on the right track...

my advice to frogman, I admire your attitude in trying to help the animal, but if you do not know how, i recommend finding a qualified reptile vet in your area... They're hard to come by, but if you find one "GOOD" one you'l be set. Most will even give you tips on how to do things in the future.. all the best

[LISA127]

I agree V.hb. It's post like Andrea's last post that get me thinking I don't want to visit the site anymore. :mad:

Too many ppl act like they are experts, and everyone else is incompetent. It's beginning to get old. :mad:

oh, and frogman, sorry I haven't said anything to help you. guess i just felt the need to speak my mind. i do hope you're lizard improves. :)

[frogman]

I understand that what I am doing is very close to right if not exactly what anybody else would do.

I would go to a vet but I can not find a good one it is not like I am not going cuz I dont have the money it is that I will not put my herps in hands that are not qualified and excuse me but just cuz you are a vet does not make you qualified.

I would not go to a proctologist for surgery and I will not take my herps to a cat vet. I have takin him to a very Qualified reptile guy in my area and he looked and him and what I am doing is on his advise all I wanted was to get a second opinion.

Andrea's post does not bother me maybe I should have been more explacitive in my origional post.

Thanks
Charles

[V.hb]

water dragons are prone to nose rub due to aquariums usually...... I formerly worked for a company that didnt medicate their reptiles so it was basically all self done by myself and co-workers. antibiotic cream does wonders for rot.. but if your guy has an abcess on his face, and the polysporin doesnt do anything positive in a week i would have him looked at.. good luck!