Black dot/cut on mouth? Should I go to vet?

[McBoredFace]

So i went to go feed my northern today due to another post I made about him being very active during brumation so I was seeing if he was able to eat yet. Ive been checking on him everyday cause he’s been so active but today I noticed this weird cut/dot thing on his mouth. I tried taking pictures but my camera won’t focus very well. Idk if this is a regular type of cut or cause to take him to the vet. So I thought I’d ask here first. Here’s the pictures. I hope they help.
It sort of looks like a pimple black head if you’re curious as to what I would describe it as. But I don’t think skinks can get those. I’m not sure what it is and i don’t know if I should take him to the vet over it?

(I’m trying to add a photo now but it’s saying the file is too large. So I’m trying to figure it out)

[McBoredFace]

I think I figured it out. I hope these pictures are enough.

[McBoredFace]

((Bump))

I checked on it again today, and it’s still there. It’s not better but it’s not worse either. I tried to look in his mouth to make sure it’s not mouth rot and it seems to look normal but he’s very squirmy when I try and I can only see for a very short amount of time. I wish I knew what the dot was. I hope it’s not a burn or a splinter. It looks like a splinter or a bad black head zit if it’s hard to tell through the pictures. I just recently moved too back to New Jersey from Philadelphia Pennsylvania. So If I do have to see a vet I just hope the vets in my area are trained in reptiles cause most vets I’ve seen seem to know very little and rely on the internet for diagnosis… so I hope someone on here has possibly experienced this kind of dot and can help me clear it up

[Janella]

Hi there. I definitely see what you mean, but as you said your pictures aren't the greatest and I can't really honestly tell what it is either. Have you tried to take Q-tip and gently rub the area to see if the spot comes off or pops if it is a pimple like area? How is your skink acting? Eating and drinking still normally? It looks good in the pictures. It doesn't look like mouth rot. Is it perhaps a scab from rubbing on something? Have you tried to clean it with water or betadine or chlorhex? If you do the later two, make sure it is diluted with water. Sorry I can't be more of help. If it doesn't clear up on it's own or gets bigger/worse...vet visit.

[McBoredFace]

I have been able to open his mouth and look. It’s still looks the same. I gave him a soak the other day cause he had a rough dry belly and I tried cleaning it then and nothing happened. It almost looks like a hole with black stuff in it. Whenever I try to open his mouth to inspect it he squirms but I don’t think it’s because it hurts? I think he’s just like “hey don’t open my mouth woman!” Lol but I’ll try to inspect it better with a q-tip.

Thank you for responding though. I really appreciate the help hopefully it clears up. If not I’ll book a vet visit for next week. And I’ll also update with the results too if anyone else ever comes across the same issue.
Thanks again

[McBoredFace]

I just checked on it again and I can’t believe how good my little guy is, he squirmed at first then but he actually let me hold his mouth open very lightly to look at it. And it really looks like a hole with black stuff in it, between his teeth and where his scales meet his gums. I tried being gentle and pushing it out and nothing happened. So I’m not sure. I’m going to call some vets today and try to find out what’s wrong. In the meantime I’ll keep checking this forum in case anyone else has an idea.

[McBoredFace]

Here’s another picture I tried taking in case that helps more?
Where you see black on his scales is actually where the black is showing through the scales so it’s not on top of his scales it’s under them in his mouth

[Janella]

I completely see what you are talking about. It is hard to tell though exactly what it is.

[McBoredFace]

So since he does need a check up anyway, I scheduled an appointment with an exotic animal vet. The thing is, I’ve fallen on hard times financially. My mom said she would help me but she doesn’t get paid until the 3rd of February so our appointment isn’t until the 4th. I’ve been checking on him everyday. I think it might be substrate that somehow got wet and mushy and stuck in his lip. Cause he gets it stuck in his eye sometimes and it looks like that just not all packed into a hole. So I’m assuming that’s what it is. And hopefully the vet can take it out and help me so it doesn’t happen again. I’ll keep updating:)