Home

>

Reptile

>

I just noticed on my desert spiny swift lizard that his tail is oddly missing scales, this had to have happened within the past 36 hours because I haven't gotten the chance to take a good look at him. Does this type of lizard shed? If he doesn't, what should I do?

I just noticed on my desert spiny swift lizard that his tail is oddly missing scales, this had to have happened within the past 36 hours because I haven't gotten the chance to take a good look at him. Does this type of lizard shed? If he doesn't, what should I do?

Updated On September 4th, 2017

Pet's info:

Image profile

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

They do shed their skin occasionally, usually in pieces. This may be what you are seeing. If looks more dull these past couple days, it could be the beginning of a shed cycle. Monitor for lethargy or decreased appetite. Soak or mist him daily to aid shedding. If he doesn't shed, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Other possible explanations would be infection or injury. These would need a physical exam to confirm.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

See More Answers

Related Questions

left image

My dog has this on her skin what is it?

The picture makes it difficult to see. It's possible it may be a scab trying to heal, a minorly infected area of skin, or a wart/growth forming. It would be best to keep the area clean and dry and keep Belle from licking or chewing at the spot. If the area continues to change in appearance, is bothersome to Belle is hot to the touch, painful, or oozing debris, or doesn't seem to be healing, it is best to seek veterinary care in person. Your vet can take a look at and sample of the spot as needed and provide more tailored treatments depending on the cause.

Read More

5.5 week old foster kitten has a flaky spot on chin. The hair fell right off when lightly rubbed. She’s in good spirits and I’ve found no spots on her siblings of mom. I’m taking her to the vet in the morning. I’m just wondering if she needs to be seen in the ER tonight.

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Key and for providing a picture, it's helpful. No, I don't think she needs to see the ER vet tonight, tomorrow will be fine as long as she is eating, drinking, behaving normally, and it's excessively rubbing at the area. I do wonder if she may have ringworm; that's highly contagious and if she does have it, her siblings and mom will also have to be treated. You would need to check out for spots of it on yourself, as it's contagious to humans too. Take her into the vet in the morning. I hope this helps!

Read More

My Mini Schnauzer Cooper has started scratchong excessively a few weeks ago. Hes always scratched a bit but never like this. Hos neck is raw. Ive tried some moisterizing lotion for dogs thinking it was dry skin. He doesnt have fleas. His diet is stable so i dont think its an allergy. Ive tried to redirect him but tonight he snuck off and ended up doing this. Ill be calling the vet tomorrow but it can take a week to get in there. What can i do in the interim?

Poor Cooper! It sounds like you're already on the right track for ruling out issues, however, environmental allergens can also flare up this time of year which may be causing the excessive itchiness. Since that area is very badly irritated and inflamed, I definitely agree with getting into your vet ASAP. Since it's right on his neck, you can try inverting an Elizabethan (cone) collar so that the cone part covers the irritation and the neck park sits up closer around his ears, so that it doesn't rub against the irritated spot and protects it from further scratching. Keeping the area clean and dry can also help reduce any secondary infections that may take hold in the irritated skin. An over the counter allergy medication such as Benadryl can also help by reducing any irritation/itchiness, and may also have the added benefit of making him a little drowsy so he's less likely to scratch. However, getting into the vet like you planned is the best course of action. If there is a big wound opening up, it gets worse, it oozes debris, or Cooper seems in major distress, getting into your vet sooner or reaching out to an urgent care vet may be a good idea.

Read More

Hello I was wondering what would be the cause to this happening to my Dog she has had this over a little more than a month now, also what can I do to help her coat get better and help her.

Ouch! That looks like a severe allergy, infection, or even parasite infection that is causing the large patches of redness and baldness. It's best to bring your pup into your vet for treatment and care since it's gotten to a serious enough point that treatments at home likely won't do too much. Your vet can take a sample of the affected area to test for issues such as mites/fleas, bacteria, yeast, etc, or start you on some allergy medications or a food trial to see if that helps. In the meantime, it's best to keep an Elizabethan (cone) collar or T-shirt on your pup to keep her from licking or scratching the area as licking can lead to worsening of infection. Checking for any parasites such as fleas and ticks and treating your pup and her environment may also help. It's also a good idea to keep the area clean and dry. Since there are so many causes of this, it's best to see your vet to help narrow down what's happening and get your pup on the right path.

Read More

My 16-year-old cat has stopped grooming herself and now has several small lumps of matted hair on her back, which I'm not able to brush out without seemingly hurting her. Should I get her shaved? Thank you!

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Lily. Poor girl! Yes I would get those matts shaved out, they will be painful to her. I'd also recommend having her seen by a vet. She's stopped grooming herself for a reason, and it could be it's painful for her to groom. Arthritis is common in senior cats. A chronic illness, such as diabetes and kidney disease, could sap a cat's energy and lead them to not grooming. Both of those are common in senior cats. I recommend having her seen by a vet this week, and getting her a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. I hope this helps!

Read More

Please help I thought this was a hotspot at first because he was just licking it and I thought he just rubbed himself raw by licking it. Now it’s scabbing over after putting sulfadene on it but he’s still licking it and I don’t really know if it’s still a hotspot or not he’s itching on his body and now there’s a tinier version right above his tailbone, it looks like the same thing as the big one The little one isn’t as irritating though not raw at all. Still has fur on it not itching as much.

Hello and thank you for using Boop by Petco. I hate to hear Cutty is having this problem! Being itchy can be quite uncomfortable for pets and is also hard on their human companions. A hot spot is an infection that often has a trigger such as fleas or allergies. They are very itchy. Cutty could be itching and scratching for many reasons. The most common reasons are •Fleas •Allergies (environmental or food) •Skin mites •Bacterial or fungal infection •Endocrine Disease Here are a few quick check points: If there has been any new treats or food within a few weeks of the itching, stop giving the new item. It could be related to the itching. If your pet have a history of itchy skin or ear infection, it could indicate an underlying condition like allergies or thyroid disease. If other pets in the household itching, it could indicate a communal cause like fleas or scabies. Here are some things you can do at home which may help with any red/irritated areas: 1. Stop any licking (since this can make it worse) - Cutty should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. - Remember that the collar must come out past his nose in order to be effective. 2. Next, wash the area once a day with either plain hand soap (like Dial) or a medicated pet shampoo. Rinse the area well and gently towel dry. -This will help to control the number of topical pathogens as well as remove oil and dead skin cells. 3. Lastly, apply a topical antibiotic twice a day to the red areas. Make sure the skin is dry before application. -Just a dab will do and rub it in well. Neosporin is fine to use. *Always wear gloves to handle skin lesions and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Here are some tips that can improve over-all skin health and decrease itchiness: 1) Add in an omega fatty acid supplement. - Your veterinarian will carry some nice products - You can also find a good product called Welactin online. 2) Change the diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. *It will take 4-6 weeks for any diet or supplements to take full effect 3) Wash your pup in a pet oatmeal shampoo and conditioner once every 2 weeks for general health. If you use a topical flea prevention, you will need to look for a compatible shampoo. 4) If environmental allergies are suspected, a daily antihistamine can also help. - Dogs can take Benedryl or Zyrtec 5) Keep your pet current on a good flea prevention. Fleas will do nothing except cause more irritation for an already sensitive pet. I recommend to stick with oral products that last a month or longer like Simparica, Nexgard or Bravecto. Please discuss these options with your veterinarian. Have Cutty examined if- •There is severe itching/licking •If the itching/licking gets worse •If in 5 days the skin lesion is not significantly better or if it is not fully healed in 2 weeks •If in 4 weeks the licking or scratching do not start to improve Sometimes no over the counter options will work and they need a stronger medication from the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out any time. Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth

Read More

right image
image

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored