Ticks are not very common, but they can still bite your bearded dragon and cause tail rot.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nIf you’re not sure if your pet has a parasite, then please consult with an expert reptile keeper who will be able to diagnose what type of parasites they may have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Incomplete shedding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n A bearded dragon’s shedding process occurs over a period of days. Incomplete shedding causes tail rot because the old skin remains stuck on the body, causing irritation that leads to bleeding especially if the stuck shed on the tail is removed forcefully. This then leads to infection starting from the part of the skin where the shed was torn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shedding is, however not the most common problem that leads to tail rot as most healthy beardies will shed successfully without even the need for human intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re not sure if your pet has incomplete shedding then please consult with an expert reptile keeper who will be able to diagnose what causes tail rot in your bearded dragons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fungus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Another possibility is a fungus from moist conditions, which manifests as dark patches under scales with balding spots on top. This causes irritation and itching, which leads to scratching. Scratching causes open wounds that can easily attract an infection on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s important to note the difference between fungus on a bearded dragon’s skin from tail rot: Fungus starts as small patches under scales with balding spots on top while tail rot has swollen or blackened tissue in one area of your pet’s tail. This also indicates if there are other problems nearby such as parasites because it usually occurs when these issues are present too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It might not always be possible to tell what causes tail rot in reptiles by looking at them but if you think your beardie may have fungus then consult with an expert reptile vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blood clots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n If your bearded dragon is suffering from embolism (blood clots) in the tail, there’s a risk of developing tail rot. Blood clots in the tail can result from a number of causes such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Injuries to the spinal cord, or reduced blood flow due to heart disease causes occlusion (blockage) of arteries within the circulatory system that supply nutrients and oxygen to tissues including those on your lizard’s tail.<\/li> Diseases affecting red blood cells all cause defective production of healthy red blood cells that cannot carry enough oxygen for effective bodily function.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nIf the tail is not receiving oxygen and nutrients, it can start to die from the tip, which is how tail rot starts to develop. Keep in mind that if embolism is the problem, you might want to check the reptile for other areas that may be suffering from clots to prevent more complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poor hygiene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n A dirty environment harbors bacteria and other pathogens that are dangerous for your bearded dragon. If the beardie’s enclosure is not regularly cleaned, the bearded dragon may ingest or come into contact with these bacteria that cause infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poor hygiene can be caused by a number of reasons such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sparse enclosure cleaning intervals<\/li> Rotting food such as mealworms, dubia roaches, etc<\/li> Poor cleaning of the enclosure<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nYou’ll want to make sure your beardie’s enclosure is kept tidy and disinfected before bringing your new pet inside to prevent the possibility of tail rot and other diseases. Always remember to do a thorough cleaning after shedding too since during this time, your pet is a lot more vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Tail rot is a serious condition that causes severe bacterial infection to the tail and surrounding membranes. Tail rot causes some very ugly symptoms such as inflammation, pus discharge, necrosis (tissue death) and ulcers on the skin of your bearded dragon’s tail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bacteria responsible for this condition are usually either Staphylococcus sp or Streptococcus pyogenes which can be transmitted through direct contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, how is tail rot in bearded dragons treated?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment usually involves topical application of antibiotics with repeated treatments until healing is complete. Treatment is usually confined to the tail, but it can be extended up to the body if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CAUTION: Do not try to treat the bearded dragon yourself. Consult a reptile veterinarian for help as you will need a proper diagnosis and the right application of medication to get rid of tail rot. Your reptile’s veterinarian may recommend the following in the treatment plan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isolate your bearded dragon from its cage mates and wash their living area with a disinfectant that kills bacteria. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before returning them back home.<\/li> Apply an antibiotic ointment or cream on affected areas such as five days in a row every day until healed.- Put some of these treatment options into use:<\/li> Administration of anti inflammatory medication<\/li> Applying cold compresses to soften skin ulcers and reduce swelling. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nREAD NEXT: Can Bearded Dragons Drop Their Tails?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tail rot in bearded dragons and most other reptile pets can easily go unnoticed especially if you’re a new pet owner. The problem is that if not identified early and treated on time, the infection … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nBearded Dragon Tail Rot: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment | Being Reptiles<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n