Help?

[LinksMomma]

A friend of mine just sent me this picture and told me her blue tongue just shed and is worried he rubbed his mouth raw some how. I feel like this isn't the case and looks to be the beginning stages of Mouth Rot. Can someone please give me some info so I can help her?

[Lucifer]

Hi LinksMomma. Your friend should take her little cutie to a vet asap.. It does look like mouth rot to me too. My son's skink has been fighting a form of mouth rot since last Oct. and it seems to be in the same spot as your friend's skink (pink in corner of mouth-upper & lower jaw). The earlier that mouth rot is treated, the better the prognosis. By the time a bts displays symptoms of an illness, it is usually a very sick reptile (speaking from my own experience). Mouth rot can lead to sepsis and death pretty quickly. The vet will administer antibiotics and there is also a topical cream (silvedene) which may be used. Mouthrot is very painful for the skink so our vet also prescribed a pain reliever called Metacam. There are husbandry changes that your friend may have to address such as changing substrate, proper humidity & temp. depending on the underlying cause for the Mouthrot. Your friend should also maintain a consistent warmer temp. in the tank throughout the treatment (morning through night). Best of luck to your friend.

[Susann]

Whether it's mouthrot or something else, it does look inflamed, and inflammation is always cause for a vet visit.