help - back spines hanging off

[foxymiche]

hi all, my veiled cham kumar is just over a year old now and luckily has not had any health issues so far.

yesterday i noticed that he has ripped off his back spines somehow. i dont know how he has done it but it isnt completely off and the skin underneath is slightly pink.

what shall i do? it doesnt look like it is going to come off, it seems pretty solid, almost like a spear on his back.

has anyone seen this before?

should he go to the vet to have the excess cut off or is it something that will repair itself?

he is fine in himself, still eating, drinking and getting about.

im only asking as my vet is over 50 miles from me so would rather not resort to this if i dont have to, plus he is not too happy about being held and he would totally stress out getting a train to the vets"!

today the pinkness has darkened, i guess as the skins healing.

thanks

heres a pic, its the best i could do as he hides when i get the camera out!

 

[SimonBolivar]

Hmm prolly did it rubbing against the eclosure? Is it metal?
Do you have live dry branches? I'm guessing that could have done it...
but i got no idea ho to treat it.
Call the super heroes (vets)

 

[jannb]

Personally, I would take him to the vet. It could get infected and the vet could give you any necessary creams or meds that you might need for him.

 

[codiwatkins]

It looks like a burn to me.......like jannb said, you should def get him to the vet.

 

[gary1621]

I thought maybe a burn.

Are his lights inside the enclosure?

I was worried about my Peanut doing this by getting too close to her UVB as it is in her enclosure

 

[Eric Adrignola]

top of his head looks burned too. Lights are too hot and/or too close most likely.

 

[dodolah]

appointment with the vet. He/ she then could help to debride the wound (if necessary) and clean it up to prevent infection.
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/health-chapter-f-burn.html

 

[xanthoman]

looks like a burn issue to me too ,thats what you get when the lights are inside the enclosure, it all works fine , until one day it doesnt

 

[Syn]

The spines will come off. This is most likely the result of a thermal burn on his back.
Get an appointment with the vet as soon as you can. The vet will most likely give you some silvadene(sp?) cream.
This is what the burn looks like once it is fully healed up.

Best of luck, and let's hope there is no infection!

 

[foxymiche]

ok thanks for the advice, going to google vets now just to make sure there is not one closer.
his lights are inside but covered by mesh, maybe its time to test with a different thermometer.
poor little baby.

any advice on how to travel him on the train? he is quite big now so dont know how to transport him.

 

[Pure]

Put him in a soft bag, pillow cases work great, and put him in a box. He will sleep once he's in the dark.

 

[foxymiche]

wont he suffocate? im scared!

i gave him a little wash today with warm water and cotton buds and got off most of the shedding skin, i definately think he was burnt now, he has black patches on his knees with burnt on skin poor lad, i feel terrible.
ive ordered a new stat as i dont trust this one now.

 

[Karen]

This is the guy you wnat to see in Kent, he knows his stuff
http://www.trinityvetcentre.co.uk/reptiles.html