Tail injury

[GP Chick]

My leo has had an injury to her tail for about a month. It started after she shed a while ago and was just an irritated spot on the end. Now the end looks dark and scabby and the underside is bright red and irritated. Every time she sheds it rips back open and starts bleeding again. I've been putting neosporin on it but it just gets worse every time she goes through a shed. Any ideas?

 

[Coils]

Maybe it's too hot for her in her cage as this has been known to happen. I honestly would say if it's just the tip that's scabby and shriveling it's likely to fall off over time >_<

 

[GP Chick]

Alright, I'll try turning the temp down. It is right now at 95 but I'll change it when I get home.

 

[emmagecko]

that's a tad to hot. try around 80 -85

 

[maximusx6910]

There might be a particularly hot spot. where she burned herself? maybe a spot she lays on? and i think 95 is good though, but thats my thought. Mine is 95-90 on the hotside, and 80 on the cool side. Or maybe a heat rock? those can burn gecko's bellies.

 

[maximusx6910]

take a pic of the skin irratation?

 

[Coils]

I keep mine at about 90 right now, I think 95 might be border-line too high, but that's my opinion.

See if that helps though and yes, pics would surely be helpful for people(some vets even on the forums) to see maybe what exactly is up with her tail :main_yes:

Oh and also, is the leo housed alone? Sometimes the tail tip might look like a yummy mealworm to other geckos when it's movin' around.

 

[maximusx6910]

Oh and also, is the leo housed alone? Sometimes the tail tip might look like a yummy mealworm to other geckos when it's movin' around.

I just finished feeding and noticed One was looking very curiosly at the others tail. and moved him to the side. haha

 

[Coils]

I just finished feeding and noticed One was looking very curiosly at the others tail. and moved him to the side. haha

Lol, yeah they DO mistake them...that's a fact! I was feeding and accidentally had a bite to a tail by another gecko.

I was trying to watch her, but it was hard to tell what she was doing and then just CHOMP on my other poor leo's tail and it wasn't even moving O_O...well she didn't like that very much to say the least, but thankfully no harm done! *phew*

 

[GP Chick]

Alright sorry it took so long for a reply. No heat rock, I turned down the temp to 90. She shed today so I was able to get before and after shed pics. The skin from the area did not come off so I'm wondering if I should try taking it off for her or if I should leave it alone and let it heal. It is getting larger and when I picked her up to take pics she was bleeding. It kind of looks dry despite me putting neosporin on it. Should I try soaking it?

 

[GeckoTrouble]

I would soak it in warm water to help get the stuck shed off.... but to be honest, this may need a call to the herp vet for some advice. I imagine it's not that fun for the poor gecko to have a tail like that... is it possible that she could have had stuck shed there before and that's why the tail is damaged?

 

[GP Chick]

I'm really anal about getting shed off as soon as possible, so it is no likely that there was stuck shed there before.

 

[GP Chick]

We just got back from the vet. I tried to take the shed off her tail but the end of her tail ended up coming off with it. There was a bone exposed so I rushed her into the vet. The vet said she probably got burned on an old heat mat with hot spots, but there is no way to really tell how it happened. She is on 3 different meds and cream. Re-check in 2 weeks.

 

[GeckoTrouble]

Glad to hear you got her to the vet and she now has medications.