Tail Drop

Dracyia · 28th January 2010, 09:25 AM

I have a plated lizard, named Makenna. I had given him up last year becuase of money troubles, but had meant to get him back.. but I had a big argument with those who took him and things didn't go as planned. I just got him back say a week ago.

I can't find much information on this so I was hoping somebody could help.

He dropped his tail a few days ago. The bottom part fell off in two parts and thats what I came home to, and about half way up it was.. broken? The scales on one side were hanging off and you could see the flesh underneath and everything stank. A few days later after cleaning it and everything it fell off completely. In a way I was quite glad becuase all the info I could find about lizards, as opposed to geckos which have more fat in their tails, said a semi-break is worse becuase it can harbour bacteria. I feel awful or the wee guy. Anyway, here is what is bothering me:

What caused this? I had left him alone for a day or two as I know stress is a big killer in these animals, and the only interaction was feeding him using tongs. Everyything was the same as when I had him before. I obviously don't know what his diet has been but the people who had him I do believe know what they were doing. We didn't yank his tail at any point.. so how did this happen? I need to know if it was something I did :(

Thanks for all help.

Khanidge · 28th January 2010, 12:32 PM

Hiya Dracyia.
I put this up on the chat part of the forum and thought it best to post it here so every one can see.
I beleive that this could have been the result of a previous injury under the skin I,e a Broken bone/ligament.
This could have become infected and festered under the skin and the infection made its way to the surface, thus the terriable stench at the open fleshy part. The end of the tail would have died and needed to be removed. By luck this has happened naturally, possibly the stress factor has had a part in it falling off??
Had the infection travled in the other direction towards the body, Septicemia could/would have set in and unfortunatly Death would prevail.
As long as the smell has gone and its healing well give it a regular clean with Tamadene/Betadene and once there is no raw flesh the odd coating with a skin healing ointment ie Beafour skin healing cream wouldn't go a miss either.

But with all this said if you have any concerns please see your exotics Vet.

Regards Deano.............

Dracyia · 28th January 2010, 01:00 PM

Thank-you,

I phoned up the local rep shop and the exotic vet the day it happened, asking if stress could be a factor. Baisically it was agreed that if stress had been the cause then transporting him to the vet, which takes hours by bus, was just going to make things worse. Normally I would just pay up and get a taxi, but due to the christmas etc change in paydays I haven't enough money until tomorrow. I said I would wait a couple of days to see if the tail fell off itself, as if it didn't then the chances were it would have to be amputated. Luckily that has happened itself, and it bled alot hopefully cleaning the area inside. I have been using vetadine to clean the area. Just once a day at the moment. It smells much better now.

What you're saying makes sense- as he was in the local rep shop for about 6 months with another- who turned out to be male. He's got a few missing toes from fighting. They'd never noticed as they only fought in the morning- but being up early we did notice and returned the dominant one. It also explains why there was no blood loss in the tank from the bottom part of the tail that we could see. Over and over in my head I wondered if my flatmate had done something and therefore the blood would be on his clothing- not in the tank. But if you're saying the bottom would have died off.. that makes alot more sense. And as you said, explains the smell. I have smelt pressure sores before (I work in a care home) but not in years, and when I think about it the smells were very similar. Rotton flesh.

I'll get some beafour cream tomorrow first thing. Thank-you very much indeed.

Dracyia · 26th February 2010, 12:52 AM

Update on this:

Had been cleaned and he was recovering- due to the volume of bleeding and use of vetadine etc had hoped it was gone. And for a long while he was back to his old self and it was healing. Then a few days ago it began to seperate further up the tail again so arranged a visit to the vet who says there is definately an infection in the tail which has caused it to drop, but that the rest of him is healthy. He was excellent and showed me everything I'd need to do- and prescribed an antiseptic, cream, anti-inflammatory and anti-biotics for ten days. To go back in seven for a check up. But if it's not getting better and going up the tail, seeing as there is now so little of the tail left time is running short- they'll have to surgically amputate it :(

Feel so sorry for him. And to make it worse he is being a pain taking his meds. Everyone give him a wee prayer for me please? Would hate to have to put him through even more stress and risk an op.

maxichops · 26th February 2010, 08:05 AM

Oh, poor thing. I hope he gets better and doesn't have to have his tail amputated.