What should a sore look like after a shed??

[theturvs]

So SoCo had his first shed since I've had him yesterday (he's turning into a big boy!!). I looked him over and he seems to have gotten it all off his toes and tail and everything...hes back to his usual self today. I looked at his tail...if you all remember he sustained a bit from a slightly larger leo before I got him...and it doesnt look like its getting worse, or infected, but it doesnt look better either. It pretty much looks exactly the same as it did when I got him. Its just a very small patch of pink skin. It doesnt look like its growing larger, and the skin looks very healthy as well as the edge or the...reptily skin around it.

Is this good or bad? How long should I expect this to take to heal?? Should I risk trying to put neosporin on it?

This is my first leo, and while I've done a lot of research and am starting to feel like SoCo is happy and healthy and becoming more and more at home by the day, I'm a little shaking about the actual handling. I dont want to stress him out by handling him too much at a young age. At this point, I'm getting him comfortable with me by hand feeding him, and hes doing wonderfully, but I'm only actually picking him up when I clean his cage up once a week. Im especially concerned about putting the neosporin on his tail specifically. How much handling can I do with his tail before he drops it?? I dont want to make him drop his tail over a bite thats not even hurting him or becoming infected. Obviously, I'm not going to like...attack his tail to put the neosporin on it, but still.

Sorry if I rambled too much. Like I said, this is my first leo and my main concern is making sure that SoCo is happy and healthy.
Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[ColdBlooded]

I would just let it heal on it's own without applying things to it, it'll be just fine. Now, if it starts looking infected take him to the vet, especially if it looks as if it's traveling up his tail rather than staying in a localized area.

They don't drop their tails easily, either. I had to give one of mine shots in the tail area when he was ill and he never dropped it, if that makes you feel any better.

 

[Holly12]

Um I would keep on puting the neosporin on it but use the qtip and just put on his tail it will keep the infaction away and also it will heal it.

 

[ColdBlooded]

If you choose to continue using Neosporin, which I personally wouldn't (they can heal fine on their own.), make sure it doesn't have anything else in it like the pain reliever (that can be fatal to reptiles.)

Remember, these animals are very resilient little creatures. Breeders have animals that get bitten ALL the time (part of the mating process, sometimes they can get really rough) and they usually have no complications from letting the wounds heal on their own.

 

[theturvs]

Sorry if I made it seem like I have been using Neosporin. I have not. I've been told in previous posts that it would be the product to use if push came to shove, but I've not yet resorted to it.
I think I'll take all of your advice though, and just leave it alone and keep an eye on it.
I did finally get a day lamp though (as opposed to using red constantly) so I will see if he gives me an opportunity for a photo op and post a pic of the sore for further advice.
And yes, coldblood, it does make me feel better to know they dont drop their tails easily. A lot of other things I've read make it sound like if I sneeze and surprise him hell drop it. lol.

 

[hyposhawn]

Just let it heal by itself. Congrats on his first shed. My leo just got done shedding yeaterday!

 

[theturvs]

I managed to get a halfway decent picture of the spot...

Its in the middle of the black spot on his tail.

 

[ColdBlooded]

I have to say I can't see the spot but I can say that the tail looks normal. I'm sure he'll be fine. Good luck.

 

[cat_named_noodles]

...A lot of other things I've read make it sound like if I sneeze and surprise him hell drop it. lol.

lol. I handle my leos all the time (well, at least 1x a day or two-mainly for picking up poo out of their enclosures (leo in one hand, poop tongs in the other...) and for weighing purposes (they get weighed 1x-2x a week..mainly uz it's fun to put a number with the weight gain and i am bored alot ). When I put them back in their homes they often will use their tails somewhat prehensiley (is that even a word?) and I will hold that part of the tail whle they slowly drop down into their cages. No harm ever done. Note I don't flat out grab their tails either. Of course Athena is the exception (tiny regen tail).

 

[theturvs]

Huh. Well that makes me feel a lot better. When did you start handling them that much? I've been told not to handle them too much at a young age, as it stresses them out to much, but I'd like to start getting him used to being handled.

 

[hyposhawn]

I handle my Leos once a day.

 

[cat_named_noodles]

Huh. Well that makes me feel a lot better. When did you start handling them that much? I've been told not to handle them too much at a young age, as it stresses them out to much, but I'd like to start getting him used to being handled.

I usually let new leos get settled in for about 2 weeks with minimal handling (1x week for cleaning-and I put them in critter keepers), then up it up to a couple times a week. Eventually I increase it another time or some each week or two. If I notice they don't freak out in my hand I will let them sit there as long as they like. I don't like handling hatchlings except for weight checks. Now though all of them will sit calmly in my hands. Athena even loves head rubs and Sprocket gives "kisses." Neko used to freak out but now she will sit in one hand and eat a waxworm out of the other.

 

[hyposhawn]

Waht exactly are "kisses"?

 

[theturvs]

lol. I was wondering the same thing. What exactly would constitute a lizard kiss???

Thanks for your help. Next week I'll start him in on the plan. Now, one thing I feel bad about is taking things out of his enclosure to pick him up. Im concerned that if he sees I can just take things out, he wont feel safe in them. I usually wait till he's in his house, take the rest of the stuff out, and then take the house so I'm not chasing him out of things. This is probably totally irrational, but is there a right way to do it?