There's a slight swelling on lip. I'm worried. (Photos)

[Lunaire]

Thanks everyone for your input. I hope that the swelling will go down then if it was just something careless he did like biting something he shouldn't have. I will continue to watch it and if it gets uncomfortably worse, I'll visit Dr. Kamaka. I will post photos again if the swelling changes. I also hope that his internal parasites will go away.

At least this is a learning experience with reptile vets and BTS!

[Spindown]

yeah, the dishwashing liquid sounds wierd, I'd personally try and do a soak with diluted Betadine if I was that worried about it. Betadine is like Iodine (or is, I'm not quite sure on that), and is usually safe for reptiles. I know many use Betadine to help with irritated scales around the lips (for when they get dirt or food stuck on, and use it to get off the debris before mouthrot can set in) and I personally have done this with no ill results.

[Lunaire]

yeah, the dishwashing liquid sounds wierd, I'd personally try and do a soak with diluted Betadine if I was that worried about it. Betadine is like Iodine (or is, I'm not quite sure on that), and is usually safe for reptiles. I know many use Betadine to help with irritated scales around the lips (for when they get dirt or food stuck on, and use it to get off the debris before mouthrot can set in) and I personally have done this with no ill results.

Where do you get Betadine? Do you just put a little of that in water and let them soak?

[Spindown]

Betadine can be found walmart, thats where i got mine, in the pharmaceutical department. Its a brown liquid. I've been told to dilute it to a nice "iced tea" color (not an exact measurement, ugh) and dab on the lip (or affected area). I'm not sure what the dilution is for the bath since i've only used in on the lips.

[El Lobo]

Just re-reading the thread I notice the vet diagnosed trichomonas which may be why metronidazole was prescribed. Trichomonas is an anaerobic protozoan (which I suggested in an earlier post to be a possibility). Being anaerobic, metronidazole would seem to be a good choice of abx. The only odd thing is trichomonas is an STD.

[Lunaire]

Just re-reading the thread I notice the vet diagnosed trichomonas which may be why metronidazole was prescribed. Trichomonas is an anaerobic protozoan (which I suggested in an earlier post to be a possibility). Being anaerobic, metronidazole would seem to be a good choice of abx. The only odd thing is trichomonas is an STD.

An STD? That scares me, should I be afraid of contact with Kupo? He peed on me today too.

Sapphire: Thanks for info.

[Lunaire]

So an update on Kupo's lip scales. It looks exactly how it has been, still swelled and sticking out like that. The CRAZY thing is, it's beginning to start on the other side of his face too! Same area, symmetrically! So now he has that older swelling on one side, and the other side is beginning to swell up too. It's almost like he has wisdom teeth and both sides are swelling up. Sigh.

I'm taking him to vet this Saturday, a different vet. To check both his weird lip scale swelling and fecal. I hope they will finally offer insight.

[Edward]

Please keep us updated. I'm very interested to hear what the new vet will advise on the lips.
(The swelling was not caused by internal parasites. Of that, I am sure.)

[Lunaire]

I just got back from the vet and I am SO happy! After about 3 weeks of force-feeding him medication he is finally, parasite free. I swear I held my breath when the vet came in with the results. I was afraid he was not entirely in the clear, and had to be put on a second set of medication.

SapphireTigress: Thank you SO much for recommending Kamaka. She made me feel so much more comfortable with how she handled Kupo.

As for his lip, the vet checked his lip and scales thoroughly (and I got to watch everything this time!) and she said there were no signs of pus/infection. She also said his gums looked good. She believes it was accidentally self-inflicted by Kupo and brought up something interesting; she asked if his first lip swelling happened around the time he shed. Because his 2nd lip swelling on the other side happened just two days ago, right when he started shedding. She says he might have rubbed his face scales too hard and harmed his lip hence the swelling. All in all, no infection and the swelling should go down in time, and if not, it should not be harmful.

I finally could put him back in his home, he was living on paper towels for almost a month and he looks happier now.

[Fatal_S]

I'm glad the vet visit went well for you Great job on looking after him!

[iLoveMyLizard]

Very good news. Kupo is a very good, healthy looking skink (albeit his lip did look swolen). His enclosure looks very good too, and I bet finding out he is all clear felt good!

Glad your happy and glad your skink is well. Its good to see people worry, because it shows they care Well done for visting a vet. Well, two, and im sure you will be taking good care of him