Infection? Hard lump behind front leg?

amsdadtodd

New member
Well, I'm going to keep my hopes up. You've put an awful lot of effort into his health, I really hope the vet is able to help him again. Good luck, and please keep us posted....
 

6duckie6

Member
Well
It's been a long, long time since Oreo has eaten anything.
But to my joy he took down 3 meal worms by himself! I actually cried a little. Maybe he can bounce back. I didn't give him crickets because I was afraid it would scare him off...praying this isn't a one time thing.
 

amsdadtodd

New member
Let's hope his appetite is now stimulated!
Did you end up taking him to the vet after your last post?
Do you have a local source for hornworms? I have found them to be the best recovery food, bar none!

Todd
 

6duckie6

Member
They have hornworms at Petsmart but I'm pretty sure that a hornworm the size of my pinkie finger isn't the best option xD Gonna look for places to get few smaller ones. As for the vet we weren't able to get in. Might've been the holidays
 

amsdadtodd

New member
I'm surprised to hear Petsmart has them! You're right, one that big is probably not going to help a leo with an eating problem! Hornworms do grow very fast, so it's not out of the question that they were an appropriate size a day or two earlier, it's worth asking anyway.
I'm fortunate that my LPS often has them, in fact a fresh shipment is due tomorrow.

Hopefully, Oreo's newfound appetite is long term and there is no need to get in to the vet!
Good luck!
Todd
 

6duckie6

Member
Oreo just ate a cricket and a mealworm.
He already seems less lethargic...
Got him out to take a pic, little guy wouldn't stop squirming...as soon as I tried to get him at a good angle, he would turn around and face the other direction. Lol!

...Dang it my phone is refusing to post the pics...oh well.
Wishing you all a happy new year!
 

6duckie6

Member
Uh, hi guys. It's been awhile again, hasn't it?
I'm here for an update on Oreo...boy, is he one heck of a fighter! He's still eating, and I'm glad to say he's no longer a little stick. Still not as heavy as I'd like him to be, but not anorexic by any means. Meanwhile, the "scab" has slowly been getting bigger. The vet said they couldn't remove it, due to it's size and the fact that we don't know how deep it is. There was really nothing more we could do.

But of course, Oreo makes his own decisions, and last night during a shed decided he didn't want that thing there anymore. It seemed he was purposely rubbing it against his rocks to try and rip it off. I put paper towel down on top of the repticarpet to keep it from getting infected...

Woke up this morning and there he was, a little slow but otherwise fine, with his scab next to him...scab isn't even the right description anymore now.20160410_173326.jpg
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Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
WOW! :)

Can you share a picture of the place on Oreo's body where that "unusual" scab had been? Is it an open wound?

I would replace the reptile carpet with paper towels for now. I'd keep the "wound" clean and dry. Only if any infection sets in would I use a non-petroleum based cream. If so, I'd suggest Silvadene cream (silver sulfadiazine).

Some vets say that petroleum-based ointments are not good for reptile skin.

BTW: You might wish to place the scab in a plastic bag in the refrigerator and have it cultured. Just in case, keep it contained and be sure to disinfect your hands thoroughly.
 
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6duckie6

Member
The wound is small and deep, nearly impossible to do anything with it. As for putting it in a bag, we've already done that. It's in our fridge! :)

Are the pics blurry to you btw? I can try and get a pic of Oreo for you too.
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
The wound is small and deep, nearly impossible to do anything with it. As for putting it in a bag, we've already done that. It's in our fridge! :)

Are the pics blurry to you btw? I can try and get a pic of Oreo for you too.

Good job with the scab!!! Your 3 pics are good!

Do you think the wound could be stitched?

Can you take pics of Oreo and a close up of his wound?
 

amsdadtodd

New member
Wow, that scab, or mass, or whatever it should be called is interesting, to say the least! The pictures looked nice and clear here. Just the shear size of that thing is mindblowing!

Thanks for the update, this is certainly a thread to watch now, even more than it has been!

Todd
 

6duckie6

Member
I'm at school atm, I'll take pics when I get home. We're hoping to get him into the vet today.
The hole probably can't be stitched, it's deep and hollow... the thing that came out of him was rock hard, and it's as if the body was just accommodating it.
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
I'm at school atm, I'll take pics when I get home. We're hoping to get him into the vet today.
The hole probably can't be stitched, it's deep and hollow... the thing that came out of him was rock hard, and it's as if the body was just accommodating it.

Were you able to get Oreo to the vet this week?
 

TheresaB.C

New member
Cysts are common in leos. They get infections quite easily. I have lost two leos to this. One had a cyst growing agents his bain (He had to be put down) Another had a cyst in her tail and even our vet could not find it. It did not show up on the xrays. They are deadly but treatable. Happy to hear your going to a vet.
 

6duckie6

Member
The vet is pretty confident it's a fungal thing. We've been giving him some anti-fungal medicine also, and so far it hasn't come back! It's also healing up nicely. Sorry about not posting pics, I've been very busy lately with school, I'll try to get a pic of the wound...
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
The vet is pretty confident it's a fungal thing. We've been giving him some anti-fungal medicine also, and so far it hasn't come back! It's also healing up nicely. Sorry about not posting pics, I've been very busy lately with school, I'll try to get a pic of the wound...

Wow! After all that Oreo's been through, it will be awesome if the issue is resolved! I'm so impressed that Oreo removed it all by himself. :cheer: Go, Oreo, go!!!
 

6duckie6

Member
Wow! After all that Oreo's been through, it will be awesome if the issue is resolved! I'm so impressed that Oreo removed it all by himself. :cheer: Go, Oreo, go!!!

Yeah, he's a trooper. The wound is healing nicely!
It seemed some was starting to grow back right by the base of the neck...I was actually able to pop it, and sure enough a little bit of that stuff came out. Hopefully this is the last we ever see of it.
 
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