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Lizard_Lady
03-14-2007, 03:35 AM
Savanna has a whitish spot on top of her head that looks almost like a burn but not realy and no heat light she can touch. It's been there quite a while, maybe 2 1/2 or 3 months. I used triple ointment to no avail, took to a vet and got vitamin shots. Vet doesn't know what it is either. :( Anyone have any ideas?
I can't find where to go on the tegu.com to upload my photos. Can anyone help?

JenDVM
03-14-2007, 03:52 AM
picture would help

did you take it to an exotics specialist? or just a vet that will see exotics?

(there is a difference)

Fungal infections are common in reptiles, cleaning the area with a chlorhexidine solution would cover both bacterial and fungal infections.

RehabRalphy
03-14-2007, 08:38 PM
Savanna has a whitish spot on top of her head that looks almost like a burn but not realy and no heat light she can touch. It's been there quite a while, maybe 2 1/2 or 3 months. I used triple ointment to no avail, took to a vet and got vitamin shots. Vet doesn't know what it is either. :( Anyone have any ideas?
I can't find where to go on the tegu.com to upload my photos. Can anyone help?

White shouldnt indicate a burn, though it could vary well be a burn. I would keep up with the ointments. If the vet dosent know, maybe try another that does? Preferably a vet who specializes in reptiles by chance? Just throwing out a few options.

Pictures: best thing for now is to upload them to photo hosting site such as www.photobucket.com or www.putfile.com If you would like your own album on thetegu to upload pictures to, I can make one at your request.




Fungal infections are common in reptiles, cleaning the area with a chlorhexidine solution would cover both bacterial and fungal infections.

Patches of skin color or texture change may be associated with fungi or bacterial infections, necessitating proper diagnosis to determine the required treatment.

Though it will heal the surface, if its a fungal or a bacteria infection, its inside the body as well which makes the area. If you choose to use a topical, antimicrobial cleansing solution, you may also want to treat with a medicated injection such as baytril.

JenDVM
03-15-2007, 03:15 AM
Baytril (enrofloxacin) is an antibiotic, it won't touch fungal infections.

you're correct about topical treatments, however when it comes to fungal infections, unless there is systemic involvement, topical anitfungals are MUCH safer. Most systemic antifungals will kill the kidneys of the patient long before it gets to a dermatophyte.

Rick
03-15-2007, 03:58 AM
Savanna has a whitish spot on top of her head that looks almost like a burn but not realy and no heat light she can touch. It's been there quite a while, maybe 2 1/2 or 3 months. I used triple ointment to no avail, took to a vet and got vitamin shots. Vet doesn't know what it is either. :( Anyone have any ideas?
I can't find where to go on the tegu.com to upload my photos. Can anyone help?

It sounds like something I once encountered and it turned out to be nothing serious.

Feel free to shoot me a clear picture of the spot, get as close (zoomed in) as you can while keeping the image clear.

Email: s a l e s @ s i s c o r e p t i l e s . c o m

Rick

RehabRalphy
03-15-2007, 11:58 AM
Baytril (enrofloxacin) is an antibiotic, it won't touch fungal infections.

you're correct about topical treatments, however when it comes to fungal infections, unless there is systemic involvement, topical anitfungals are MUCH safer. Most systemic antifungals will kill the kidneys of the patient long before it gets to a dermatophyte.

Ya I agree about the fungal. I shouldnt of put that in the same sentence as the bacterial part.

JenDVM
03-15-2007, 05:43 PM
Baytril (enrofloxacin) is an antibiotic, it won't touch fungal infections.

you're correct about topical treatments, however when it comes to fungal infections, unless there is systemic involvement, topical anitfungals are MUCH safer. Most systemic antifungals will kill the kidneys of the patient long before it gets to a dermatophyte.

Ya I agree about the fungal. I shouldnt of put that in the same sentence as the bacterial part.

I also wouldn't prescribe systemic antibiotics until I exensivly tried topical medications for most mild (focal) skin conditions. Systemic antibiotics (especially broad spectrum such as enrofloxacin) can cause such a varity of side effects on Kidney, Liver and GI system PLUS encourage antibiotic resistance. With skin infections, especially ones localized to a small area, I exhaust topical until its obvious the condition is getting worse and progressing, spreading.

(just a thought)

Lizard_Lady
03-17-2007, 05:45 AM
I would love to use the tegu.com for my picks. I just don't know how to upload them and to what location on this site. I use Dr. Piper in Stratford, CT now as my vet. I don't know if he is licensed as exotic specialist but I feet confortable with his knowledge so far. He also said lets keep an eye on it because he doesn't like to use antibiotic injections. The vet I used before didn't do so good for my snake. Almost died with some antibiotic injections started with a "c". I took him to Dr. Piper who gave vitamin shots and he was good as new in about 4 or 5 days.
Savanna is realy getting on my last nerve though. She is jumping up again even with the bigger 4 foot cage. She is destroying her nose again. She is way too fussy of an eater. Doesn't like hairy mice, I have to use fuzzy mice with as little fuzz as possible, some sardines, some HB egg wich I put a smidgin of olive oil on because they seem to constipate her. She wants no fruit or veggies or crickets, etc. Someone said the superworms would eat a hole through her stomach if I didn't cut the heads off and when I do, she doesn't want them.
I just bought some ground Turkey. Some say cook it first because of salmonella and others say no give raw because better nutrition. Any opinions on this?

JenDVM
03-17-2007, 02:48 PM
I would love to use the tegu.com for my picks. I just don't know how to upload them and to what location on this site. I use Dr. Piper in Stratford, CT now as my vet. I don't know if he is licensed as exotic specialist but I feet confortable with his knowledge so far. He also said lets keep an eye on it because he doesn't like to use antibiotic injections. The vet I used before didn't do so good for my snake. Almost died with some antibiotic injections started with a "c". I took him to Dr. Piper who gave vitamin shots and he was good as new in about 4 or 5 days.

I agree with your vets opinion on injectable antibiotics, they definitely have their place (mainly for respiratory infections) but for skin infections, something would have to be rotting off before I'd resort to injections.


Some say cook it first because of salmonella and others say no give raw because better nutrition. Any opinions on this?

I feed raw, and yes, there is always a chance of bacterial contamination when you do this, but most monitors in general are less sensitive to most strains of bacteria (they eat raw food in the wild, and it's not always fresh)

can you get a really virulent strain? sure...but it's not very likely especially with meat purchased in the united states.

Think about the amount of E.coli that is in the gut of the mice he's eating? They are able to consume fecal matter loaded with E.coli without a problem. If we were to eat mice feces....we'd have a really rough day in the bathroom.

I guess the answer to your question would be...is it possible for your tegu to get sick from eating raw turkey? of course.
is it likely? nope.

if he'll eat it cooked and eats fruits/veggies also that would be ok too.

I think the key to a good diet is variety, its almost impossible to get a vitamin def. with a highly varied diet (and proper lighting)

Lizard_Lady
03-19-2007, 02:35 AM
Thanks a bunch for your help. I'll just start using the topical again and observe. Savanna thanks you too. She loved the turkey.