Tail Rot?

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322
Location
good 'ol AL :/
We think that one of our females has tail rot due to improper shedding. She did not shed completely this last time and had some excess skin stay around her tail and cut off the circulation. Now the tip of her tail is this funny black/brown color and looks like it is falling off, and it also smells like a dead awful nightmare. We have moved her to her own enclosure, which was scrubbed ridiculously clean beforehand and we have been cleaning her tail and done everything we can possibly think of to keep it from getting infected. She's also gravid, btw. She has been acting normally, eating normally and her stools are normal. She's not even acting like her tail bothers her at all.

Should we take her to the vet or will she be fine? I am unsure what to do at this point, b/c it honestly seems as though it's bugging us more than it is her. (lol) Below are a couple of pictures of it from the day before yesterday. It doesn't look that bad now and the dead part seems to be attempting to fall off. .... So, yea. .... Opinions?
 

fl_orchidslave

New Member
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4,074
Location
St. Augustine, FL
I would get her to the vet for a clean amputation. That would be the best chance of an almost normal looking regrowth. Also, infection can take more of her tail if not properly treated.
 

fuzzylogix

Carpe Diem
Messages
2,115
Location
Dallas, TX
it should drop off and be fine. what you want to avoid is any spread of infection. i've had this happen to leos that accidentally have bitten their tail tips while removing shed. the tip eventually just falls off and regens back with no issues.
 
Messages
322
Location
good 'ol AL :/
Wow. 2 opposite answers. Thanks for clearing up the confusion guys. (lol) (jk)....

I was trying to rush her to the vet when I first saw it, but idk. She's still acting perfectly normal and it's not getting worse or spreading. Actually, it's looking a lot better, and the dead tissue is starting to fall off. We've been making a shallow betadine soak and holding her tail in it to ward off infection, so maybe that's working. I'm just still so torn about what to really do. Is an amputation necessary if it's falling off on it's own?........
 
Messages
322
Location
good 'ol AL :/
Yea. I just don't wanna take her and spend hundreds of dollars on something that would have been perfectly fine if we had treated it at home, ya know? And honestly if the main reason for a clean amputation is just to ensure that her tail looks (relatively) normal again, then I don't even care. I could care less what her tail looks like, so long as she's alive. (lol)
 

fuzzylogix

Carpe Diem
Messages
2,115
Location
Dallas, TX
shouldn't be hundreds of dollars, maybe tens of dollars, lol. and our answers aren't that opposite, i've just had this happen and it dropped off fine. but as stated, if you think it's getting worse, or you see the necrotic tissue spreading, then a vet visit is in order.
 
Messages
322
Location
good 'ol AL :/
lol the only reason that I said that much, was b/c on guy told us that he had to pay $50 for his gecko to even be seen (for impaction, I believe.) and it ended up costing him like $150 total after all was said and done. To be quite honest, I would be so mad to go and spend that much and them just send us home with a couple of "you people are paranoid" looks. (lol)
.... It seems to be doing a lot better. I just took her out actually and checked on it and it's falling off. It seems to be healthy tissue underneath, so I think that she's going to be fine. She may drop the whole thing after we get done tending to her wounds so much though. She was already kind of timid when we got her and she really hates our guts now. lol....
 

fl_orchidslave

New Member
Messages
4,074
Location
St. Augustine, FL
I always consult my vet when in doubt. Even if you spend $50 on an office visit for a qualified herp vet and are told it can be treated without amputation, you would have a professional opinion based on a a physical examination, degree in veterinary medicine, and detailed instructions on the routine. As mentioned, the biggest concern is a spreading infection. Experienced gecko colony keepers have often dealt with a number of issues, and have learned how to handle many specific situations, but also can recognize when an animal needs to get to the vet quickly. We aren't vets here.

It might fall off and be fine with what you're doing. Please do keep a vet in mind, and locate one experienced with reptiles in case it is needed.
 
Messages
322
Location
good 'ol AL :/
I always consult my vet when in doubt. Even if you spend $50 on an office visit for a qualified herp vet and are told it can be treated without amputation, you would have a professional opinion based on a a physical examination, degree in veterinary medicine, and detailed instructions on the routine. As mentioned, the biggest concern is a spreading infection. Experienced gecko colony keepers have often dealt with a number of issues, and have learned how to handle many specific situations, but also can recognize when an animal needs to get to the vet quickly. We aren't vets here.

It might fall off and be fine with what you're doing. Please do keep a vet in mind, and locate one experienced with reptiles in case it is needed.

Trust me. I will. (lol)
 

Kat&Rin

Leopard Gecko Girl
Messages
132
Location
BC, Canada
lol, it seems so pricy! Maybe I'll just become a herp vet and all the issues over spending money to consult a specialized herp vet will be over :p
 
Messages
322
Location
good 'ol AL :/
lol, it seems so pricy! Maybe I'll just become a herp vet and all the issues over spending money to consult a specialized herp vet will be over :p

To be honest, I have thought of that many times, especially considering that the closest herp vet to me is like 2 hours away and we know lots of people in this area that have reptiles that have died b/c they didn't wanna drive that far. ....
 
Messages
322
Location
good 'ol AL :/
Oh we ended up taking ours to the vet btw. (don't know if I posted it or not. lol) She had to have about half her tail amputated and a round of antibiotics, but she's going to be fine. .....
 

contracteryin

Shakawkawkaw
Messages
229
Location
USA
Speaking of extra skin, my leo has some near one of her front legs, but it doesnt seem to bother her at all. I keep a close eye on it a lot, and it doesnt go away with shedding. Is it fine for her to have it if it isn't bugging her in any way?
 

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