Mouth rot or yellow fungus help

[Renee]

Please help Mr. Rogers! We got him 2-6-16 from a local family run pet store. A few day after we go him I noticed discoloration on his mouth. I put a bit of coconut oil on it but when it didn't get better I took him to the vet. I told her I thought it might be mouth rot, she said to take out the aggregate mat they sold us and the tree out. She suggested to use and replace paper towel daily. She gave me a solution and silver cream. When I cleaned him some chucks of skin came off but no more since then. I've been cleaning it and putting cream in for about a week but I don't know if it's healing properly. I'm worried it might be more severe than mouth rot, like yellow fungus. He's eating 4-6 crickets a day, drinks, dedicated almost daily and is active still. I took some pics of his infected area, cage, food, and healthy side of his face. Wondered if y'all have some feedback? Any insight would be appreciated as we are newbies.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Hard to tell by the pictures could you get a more close up of his face?
Is it the bottom part of his mouth and beard? or the top lip area?
I'm wondering if he was just shedding.. The scales get dull greyish in color when they are going to shed and most dragons don't shed all at once they do parts here and there. Being that he is just a baby they are growing like weeds so they shed like crazy..

 

[PatsyB]

I don't know much about infections but I think mouth rot would be more in the mouth than outside of the mouth. It's hard to tell from the photo but I do agree with Hdrydr31, it does look like it was some sort of stuck shed either that or some sort of bacterial infection. Both medicines the vet gave you are good the chlorahexadine is an antiseptic cleaner and the silver solution is good for wound healing. Does he have any spots elsewhere on his body? Also the fact that he's still eating and very active makes me think that it's just shed. Because if it was mouth rot that bad that it spread to the side of his face, he would be sore and not want to eat.

He really looks like a sweetheart. I hope this is just a case of stuck shed.

 

[Renee]

Hard to tell by the pictures could you get a more close up of his face?
Is it the bottom part of his mouth and beard? or the top lip area?
I'm wondering if he was just shedding.. The scales get dull greyish in color when they are going to shed and most dragons don't shed all at once they do parts here and there. Being that he is just a baby they are growing like weeds so they shed like crazy..

 

[Renee]

Yes it is the bottom part of his mouth and beard. Listening to what your saying it definitely sounds more like shedding than mouth rot. I took some better close ups. I took one of his good side for an easier comparison. If it is shedding should I just discontinue using the rinse and silver cream and just let nature run its course? Thanks for your help, I was feeling like a pet failure and we would like to have Mr. Rogers around for a long while.

 

[PatsyB]

I don't really know what it looks like now that I see it up close. I would continue to at least use the silver cream on it. Is the vet going to recheck it in a couple of weeks?

 

[Hdrydr31]

Yea I agree with patsy to me it doesn't look like shed that doesn't look normal to me.. I would continue the tx the vet gave you and have a check up if it spreads or doesn't get better or turns black. I would keep on top of this and have a re check like patsy suggested.

 

[Renee]

Thanks you guys! I really hope it isn't yellow fungus, what I read on that makes it sound like a death sentence. I was thinking maybe a bacterial infection from a cricket bite if it isn't shedding. I'm going to keep putting silver cream in it and hope it gets better. Vet said check back in a month.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Thanks you guys! I really hope it isn't yellow fungus, what I read on that makes it sound like a death sentence. I was thinking maybe a bacterial infection from a cricket bite if it isn't shedding. I'm going to keep putting silver cream in it and hope it gets better. Vet said check back in a month.

if it doesn't get better and you are unsure please go back before a month. Such little ones can be tough little buggers but can also go down fast. Hang in there and I'm glad he's still eating and such...

 

[PatsyB]

Yeah hang in there. It doesn't look good but the fact that he is eating good and active is a good sign.

 

[Renee]

if it doesn't get better and you are unsure please go back before a month. Such little ones can be tough little buggers but can also go down fast. Hang in there and I'm glad he's still eating and such...

He's tough just like the real Mr. Rogers (navy seal sniper btw). I think another vet call is in order but I'm weary to take him back to the vet who misdiagnosed him. This is so frustrating. I went out of our way to get him at a small town family run pet store where I hoped they carried a healthy selection. Now I'm feeling downhearted and sad for our little guy. I really want him to get healthy but if it is that yellow fungus there is no cure really. Thanks again for the support. It's very relieving having you guys rooting for Rogers. Will update after next vet visit.

 

[Hdrydr31]

He's tough just like the real Mr. Rogers (navy seal sniper btw). I think another vet call is in order but I'm weary to take him back to the vet who misdiagnosed him. This is so frustrating. I went out of our way to get him at a small town family run pet store where I hoped they carried a healthy selection. Now I'm feeling downhearted and sad for our little guy. I really want him to get healthy but if it is that yellow fungus there is no cure really. Thanks again for the support. It's very relieving having you guys rooting for Rogers. Will update after next vet visit.

Yea Mr. Rogers was great not many knew what he did... I am keeping him in my prayers they are such great little critters.. I agree with a different vet are you sure he knew about reptiles? It's hard when we go to the extra means to get a healthy critter and I just hope that if things ......well you know I hope that it doesn't keep you from trying again.. There are many that need good homes.. But my fingers are crossed..

 

[Renee]

I asked if the vet had reptile experience when I made the appointment. Online it said they serviced reptiles. When I met with the vet she was surprised they sold him to me so small, 6.6 grams. She said she had seen a smaller five gram one in just the day prior. She wouldn't say exactly what she thought was going on, she said there a few things and told me to simplify his surrounds and gave us the wash and silver. Although none of this experience is convincing me she is experienced in beardies a like a seasoned owner. I wish I had determined her experience better in retrospect. I will have to do more research to find a better vet.
I'm still hopeful our love and vigilance will persevere and Mr. Rogers heals. Thank you for your positive prayers, our family is praying too. If things take a turn for the worse I believe we will try again. We all really love our beardie.

 

[Hdrydr31]

I asked if the vet had reptile experience when I made the appointment. Online it said they serviced reptiles. When I met with the vet she was surprised they sold him to me so small, 6.6 grams. She said she had seen a smaller five gram one in just the day prior. She wouldn't say exactly what she thought was going on, she said there a few things and told me to simplify his surrounds and gave us the wash and silver. Although none of this experience is convincing me she is experienced in beardies a like a seasoned owner. I wish I had determined her experience better in retrospect. I will have to do more research to find a better vet.
I'm still hopeful our love and vigilance will persevere and Mr. Rogers heals. Thank you for your positive prayers, our family is praying too. If things take a turn for the worse I believe we will try again. We all really love our beardie.

I sure do hope that Mr Rogers heals up and gets to continue living in the loving home that he has! Once you have one they wiggle into our hearts and our lives I do believe it's the beardie way lol I can't even imagine not having my Izzy she's just awesome and my "little" living broach I call her lol

 

[PatsyB]

I really do hope it's nothing real serious, he really is a cutie and they do dig their way into our hearts real quick.

Here's a link to exotic vets, maybe this will help if you scroll down you can pick your state
http://www.herpvetconnection.com
Here's another one:
http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

 

[Renee]

So there is a vet in my hometown on the list with an appointment available tomorrow. I called the other vet before I saw your post to make an appt. The other vet on duty told me that they and their partner have 30 years experience in veterinary, are experienced with lizards and have worked at the zoo. She continued to say that it is very hard to diagnose discoloration and infections on a lizards so small and she suggested I see her partner who I saw before tomorrow since she saw it last time and can see the disease progression. So I made an appt with the same vet.
Dilemma now is, do I keep my appt with the old vet who didn't think it was a big deal earlier this month or take Mr Rogers to the new place that's closer and is on the link you sent even though they didn't see the onset earlier this month?

 

[Renee]

I sure do hope that Mr Rogers heals up and gets to continue living in the loving home that he has! Once you have one they wiggle into our hearts and our lives I do believe it's the beardie way lol I can't even imagine not having my Izzy she's just awesome and my "little" living broach I call her lol

You're so right they do wiggle in. I just had my second child, a beautiful little girl, back in August so my mothering instincts are in full force. I feel so sad Mr Rogers is sick, almost like he was my own kid.

 

[PatsyB]

My gut is telling saying to get a second opinion. The new vet is closer and an exotic vet. However, you've already seen the first vet and they may not charge you as much for the visit. But then if you figure in the gas money to get to the first one, they both might cost you the same amount.

 

[Hdrydr31]

I agree I would go with the new vet

 

[Renee]

Going to the new vet tomorrow morning. Thanks for reaffirming my gut!