Stuck shed covering nostril

[Dog Shrink]

Ok so after Eros' last shed he still had some stuck to the end of his beak and up the nose a bit just above the nostrils. I q-tipped him and got off what Ithought was all of the shed. Well he's coming into his next shed (he seems to be on an every 2.5 week shedding schedule) and I noticed a bit of skin protruding from around his upper lip area right below the nostrils. Well upon closer examination, because it looked like he was labouring a bit to breathe (his breathing pattern just didn't seem right. You could seehe was obviously working as his lungs heaved which I had never seen before. The dew lap area pulsating yes, but not the hard lung movement we saw tonight) I noticed his right nostril was barely open and his left wasn't so bad.

Anywho, after a good 20 minute soak and another good 15 minutes workin off the shed with the q-tip and some mineral oil I have gotten some headway but not alot as I am really afraid to get water in his nostrils. I know with rabbits they get water in their nose, next thing you have pnumonia and respratory issues with a vengence. Are leos the same way or will a little water up the nose not make a big deal?

Another problem that seemed to crop up last shed is that even tho his body got nice and ghost his head and tail looked almost like he wasn't in shed at all. He's doing that again this shed, and I have no idea why. Nothing has changed with his tank 'cept it's about 5 degrees hotter than usual, but below 100*F, and I mist with hot water every other day. All his other sheds since October 1 when I got him were flawless and now this? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help guys

 

[roger]

Ok so after Eros' last shed he still had some stuck to the end of his beak and up the nose a bit just above the nostrils. I q-tipped him and got off what Ithought was all of the shed. Well he's coming into his next shed (he seems to be on an every 2.5 week shedding schedule) and I noticed a bit of skin protruding from around his upper lip area right below the nostrils. Well upon closer examination, because it looked like he was labouring a bit to breathe (his breathing pattern just didn't seem right. You could seehe was obviously working as his lungs heaved which I had never seen before. The dew lap area pulsating yes, but not the hard lung movement we saw tonight) I noticed his right nostril was barely open and his left wasn't so bad.

Anywho, after a good 20 minute soak and another good 15 minutes workin off the shed with the q-tip and some mineral oil I have gotten some headway but not alot as I am really afraid to get water in his nostrils. I know with rabbits they get water in their nose, next thing you have pnumonia and respratory issues with a vengence. Are leos the same way or will a little water up the nose not make a big deal?

Another problem that seemed to crop up last shed is that even tho his body got nice and ghost his head and tail looked almost like he wasn't in shed at all. He's doing that again this shed, and I have no idea why. Nothing has changed with his tank 'cept it's about 5 degrees hotter than usual, but below 100*F, and I mist with hot water every other day. All his other sheds since October 1 when I got him were flawless and now this? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help guys

Some of my leos look like some body parts dont go in to a shed like yours with no ill affects.Did some shed get up his nose ? Keep up with some soaks after the next shed to make sure all the skin is off

 

[Dog Shrink]

IDK if there's actually any shed IN his nostril, but you can see scraggly edges of it around his nostril making his nostril smaller and I was afraid it was causing him breathing difficulties. Any clue if water in the nostrils will cause respratory issues? The first time this odd shed pattern happened (some ghost some not) his head had a big piece of shed stuck on it, as well as looked like the end of his tail did and a few toes and his nose. When I soaked him tonight his entire body came loose and was just hanging on him like a loose sock, it was SOOOO tempting to peel it off but I didn't. I'll let him deal with it. I'll keep oiling/soaking his nose and tail like I've been the last couple weeks just to make sure there's no issues but I'd really like to get this shed off.

 

[roger]

IDK if there's actually any shed IN his nostril, but you can see scraggly edges of it around his nostril making his nostril smaller and I was afraid it was causing him breathing difficulties. Any clue if water in the nostrils will cause respratory issues? The first time this odd shed pattern happened (some ghost some not) his head had a big piece of shed stuck on it, as well as looked like the end of his tail did and a few toes and his nose. When I soaked him tonight his entire body came loose and was just hanging on him like a loose sock, it was SOOOO tempting to peel it off but I didn't. I'll let him deal with it. I'll keep oiling/soaking his nose and tail like I've been the last couple weeks just to make sure there's no issues but I'd really like to get this shed off.

so is the shed around his nostrils ??

 

[Dog Shrink]

Yes Imagine some one put a piece of tape over your nostril and then poked a hole in it with a pin. That is kinda how his nostril is. I have gotten some of it off with the wet q-tip bit I don't want to get water up is nose until I know it won't hurt him.

 

[gothra]

If the retained shed is not too old, you can just wipe the area with damp tissue; the skin should soften immediately. You can then gently peel it off with tweezers. That's how I deal with stuck sheds, but you need very steady hands.

 

[Dog Shrink]

It's not a fresh shed. It's a couple of weeks old and after everything I did earlier today it only took a small part of it off and softened some of it but not the spot directly on the end of his nose. That looks like a scab but I know it's shed.

 

[tlbowling]

I dont know if the "suana approach" would help? I know you said you've been doing the warm soaks, but how about moistening some papertowels, sticking them in a ziplock container, put him in the ziplock container with the damp papertowels with no way out, and sticking it over the heat mat for like a half an hour. It worked like a charm for me (better than the warm soaks). After I took him out, I took a q-tip, and rolled it over his nose, it came right off?

 

[roger]

I dont know if the "suana approach" would help? I know you said you've been doing the warm soaks, but how about moistening some papertowels, sticking them in a ziplock container, put him in the ziplock container with the damp papertowels with no way out, and sticking it over the heat mat for like a half an hour. It worked like a charm for me (better than the warm soaks). After I took him out, I took a q-tip, and rolled it over his nose, it came right off?

Ive done the same

 

[Dog Shrink]

Ok checked on Eros this morning and he was A MESS fromthe soaks yesterday. All the almost ready shed that was on his body was all split and peeling off (I'm thinking before it was ready from the soaks) now he has fragmented shed ALL over is body. Talk about backfire. He's soaking in a sauna now. Geez can't get a break with this. Thankfully he's on like an every 2.5 week shedding schedule so hopefully this will work out fine in a couple weeks. Also I was wondering if his shedding issue could be from stress if his tank is too hot or if it could be from undersupplimenting him? Altho he never leaves that hot hide even tho he does have alternative cooler places to lay.

 

[tlbowling]

I think it's normal this time of year, difficult sheds, hanging out in the warm hide. I see mine all summer, and never have any shedding probs., and during the winter, its almost like a hibernation they are inactive, and hang out in the warm hides, some have a harder time shedding. I guess b/c of the cooler temps and lack of humidity in the air. I hate it too...my hair is constantly full of static electricity, and my hands are dry! Lol.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Well I put the lil booger into the humid sauna bath with the paper towels and added his heat lamp over it to make the humidity rise. I got the majority of the shed off hisbody except the end of his tail and the end of his nose (suprise there). I took out part of his rock formations in his tank and put the sauna next to his litterbox xo hopefully he'll use it if he needs.

He must have gotten tired ofme messing with him for one day as when I took him upstairs to my son's room to get the mineral oil the lil booger BIT MY THUMB! I was surprised but it didnt hurt and my son says "Were you holding him too tight", I said NO I was barely holding him tight enough to keep him in my hand. I just think he had enough. I won't mess with him until monday when it's feeding time just to give him a break. I just went to check on him and he was out near his water bowl hopefully getting a drink (something I have never witnessed yet).

He was really good thru all the poking and prodding and peeling to get the shed off. Didn't squirm or thrash hardly at all 'cept a couple times he just wanted to move around (like walk but not really escape the torture). I know he wasn't happy today with the attention as he was pretty much clicking and chirping any time I would adjust him in my hands.

Soooo hopefully this matter is on it's way to resolved with out much more stress on poor lil Eros. I feel so bad when I have to torture him like that. And yeah I agree Tara it is extremely dry in the house now that the heat is on. We have forced air so it is like extra dry. I've noticed even with myself my skin is as dry as his if not moreso.

Thanks for all the help guys. I appreciate it.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Ah ha! You finally got bit! And see, it didn't hurt

 

[gothra]

Ah ha! You finally got bit! And see, it didn't hurt

Well...you haven't seen a serious big male bite. :main_evilgrin:

Its a completely different story if a male leo mistakes you as another male. They'll bite down with full force and will not let go no matter what. Sometimes they'll also shake their head trying to rip out your flesh. And yes, you'll bleed a lot. Why do I know? Because I've been through it 3 times...just experienced the 3rd time on Friday night, took me almost an hour to stop the bleeding..:main_no:

 

[roger]

Good to hear :main_laugh:

 

[tlbowling]

Well...you haven't seen a serious big male bite. :main_evilgrin:

Its a completely different story if a male leo mistakes you as another male. They'll bite down with full force and will not let go no matter what. Sometimes they'll also shake their head trying to rip out your flesh. And yes, you'll bleed a lot. Why do I know? Because I've been through it 3 times...just experienced the 3rd time on Friday night, took me almost an hour to stop the bleeding..:main_no:

Thanks for sharing...I think I'll be putting all of mine up for sale now, lol.

were you serious?

 

[tlbowling]

Ah ha! You finally got bit! And see, it didn't hurt

I was just going to say the same thing, lol...that she finally got bit, I remember us both saying that we were scared that we would get bit...now I guess Im next!!! After reading this post, I wasnt scared, but then THANKS TO GOTHRA...Im terrified!

 

[M_surinamensis]

Well...you haven't seen a serious big male bite. :main_evilgrin:

Its a completely different story if a male leo mistakes you as another male. They'll bite down with full force and will not let go no matter what. Sometimes they'll also shake their head trying to rip out your flesh. And yes, you'll bleed a lot. Why do I know? Because I've been through it 3 times...just experienced the 3rd time on Friday night, took me almost an hour to stop the bleeding..:main_no:

... you must have some really soft skin. Or a clotting disorder. Or both.

Any chance of a close up, macro style photo of the nostril?

 

[Dog Shrink]

I wish Semus... I don't have a macro lense. It is looking a little more opened as of yesterday from my work on him, I'm giving him today off to recoup from all the stress and handling and prodding. I will post an update tomoro after I feed him and take him out for play time. I'll see if I can get any kind of decent picture for ya.

Tara and Laney thanks a lot for the "HA she finally got bit : guess I've been christened. It wasn't bad or painful at all. Just like you said Laney... more of a surprise than anything. It was like did he just actually bite me? There was a little row of red marks where his "teeth" had hit me, but it's gone already.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Well Kel, next christening is to be pooped on