Need some opinions on my monitor's tail

[AReptile]

I have a couple of pictures I just took of my green tree monitor Rosie's tail and i can't tell if her tail is maybe getting an infection or it's just crap/dirt so i was hoping someone would lend their opinion and if she needs a vet visit... I got her from a Reptile Show on July 10th and the end of her tail was raggedy when I got her but it wasn't discolored like this. I dont know if that's just her tail being dirty ( she makes a mess when she goes to the bathroom and eats lol) or it is the start of an infection. Also she is starting to shed if that affects anything. Any comments and opinions are greatly appreciated!

Edit: The third one is the most accurate portrayal of her tail color, idk my camera always distorts the color like that..

 

[kinyonga]

I'm not a vet but it looks like its going necrotic. Sometimes there is a dry gangrene that sets in in cases like this. I think I would take it to the vet.

 

[JackP308]

Looks like the end is dead and gonna fall off. Id just keep an eye to see if it spreads further. Shouldnt effect the lizard if it falls off and heals properly. Just keep the cage clean and the tip if it does lose that part.

 

[KatiLemons]

I would maybe put some bactine on it or iodine to sterilize it and kill any further infection. Let it sit for a couople minutes if possible then rinse that off then try putting some neosporine or something along the lines of an antibiotic ointment! Not to much just a thin layer! good luck and Definatly take it to the vet.

 

[AReptile]

Does anyone have a chameleon or another aboreal lizard with an incomplete tail? How bad would it affect her ability to climb if the tip is amputated/falls off? Because I would probably imagine that is what the vet would do.

 

[Lizardlover]

Many chameleons have had tails amputated and are fine. It shouldnt affect him at all since they dont have prehensile tails so it doesn't really aid in climbing.

 

[ataraxia]

ive never owned a green tree monitor. although i did just google it and it did say they have a monkey like prehensile tail. with that said though, his tail is in bad shape and he isnt going to be able to use whats injured anyways. i would second a vet amputation of the affected site. it may mess with him climbing a bit but i dont think it will cause any harm doing so. more harm can be done by keeping it untreated.

 

[djfishygillz]

Get some money to cover bills from seller

I would try to find the people who sold you the monitor and request they pay for the vet bills or do something to compensate for selling you the damaged reptile

 

[fluxlizard]

I would watch it- mark the end of the dead part closest to the body with a permanent marker and if the dead part continues moving up the tail beyond the mark get immediate vet attention for an amputation of the necrotic part. Frankly- vet treatment would be a great idea now anyway- can remove now safely and make sure infection doesn't spread throughout your lizard's system and kill it. It would be unusual but not impossible for bacteria from the necrotic portion to spread and become really dangerous to your lizard...

 

[AReptile]

I got an appointment for her at 730 tomorrow so hopefully we have a good solution.I love some of these suggestions I am getting though, if only she would let me near her to try some of them. She's worse than both of my chameleons were/are lol.

 

[AReptile]

Update: I took Rosie to the vet today, they kept her and are going to amputate her tail tomorrow morning... With a lot of luck she will b ok...

 

[ataraxia]

how is she doing>?

 

[AReptile]

Thank you for asking, the surgery went well and she is home. They ran tests on the tail and it came back positive for an infection so I have been going to the vet every 3 days for her to get shots to treat it. She hates going there and she actually bit one of the nurses recently. Feeding her has been the most difficult part since the operation, because one day she will eat like a pig and the next she will not eat anything or very little. Still drinks a lot which is good.

 

[chameleongirl2]

I thinks its just, dirt, as you said u may want to go to the vet just in case

 

[okiroo]

Thank you for asking, the surgery went well and she is home. They ran tests on the tail and it came back positive for an infection so I have been going to the vet every 3 days for her to get shots to treat it. She hates going there and she actually bit one of the nurses recently. Feeding her has been the most difficult part since the operation, because one day she will eat like a pig and the next she will not eat anything or very little. Still drinks a lot which is good.

glad you went to the vet and everything is going to be ok.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I thinks its just, dirt, as you said u may want to go to the vet just in case

What are you talking about? Just one glance and you can tell it's not "just dirt" and they already took it to the vet, where they found it was necrotic and infected. If left untreated it could have progressed and caused this animal to become septic. Please don't offer careless advice to people needing help.

 

[djfishygillz]

Picture

Lets see a picture of the healthy monitor already!!! :d