As a beardie owner, you are always trying to do the best for your little friend and their health. But what is there to do when you notice your buddy is having some issues with their mouth? Specific smells, trouble eating, and noticeable swelling or discoloration are signs that denote that your bearded dragon may be struggling with Stomatitis, or mouth rot.
Mouth rot can be truly uncomfortable and difficult to handle for your bearded dragon, and it is important to keep an eye on symptoms as well as seek the aid of a vet. How can you tell your beardie is suffering from Stomatitis and what is there to do once they have it? Don’t panic, we have a quick little guide that can help you out in your time of need.
What is Mouth Rot and How its Treated
Stomatitis, or mouth rot, is a bacterial infection that attacks the soft tissue of the mouth of your bearded dragon. It can affect the jaw and gums specifically and can be denoted by a white or yellow mucus that has a cheesy consistency, as well as swelling of the head and gums. You may also notice looseness in your beardie’s teeth and that they are struggling to eat and drink.
Bacteria are the biggest culprit here and can wreak a large amount of havoc with your dragon’s health. The bacterial plaque in their mouths must be taken care of and removed by a proper veterinarian. In addition to that, it is imperative that they get a good dose of antibiotics to clear up the infection and ensure the plaque does not return. You can find one of the most popular antibiotics for this situation by clicking here.(Consult vet before application)
If your bearded dragon is particularly struggling, it may even be necessary to administer treatment several times rather than just a single regimen. If their environment is to blame for their bacterial issues, it may also mean that their tank will need a deeper clean and a different kind of bacterial antibiotic will need to be administered. The two popular solutions used to deal with this issue are Betadine and Nolvasan. Nolvasan can also be used as a solution for cleaning the cage. **Contact your local vet/herp before applying either solution.
What’s After Antibiotics
In addition to antibiotics, it is important to remember that your little one will be struggling to ingest proper nutrients. With their mouth being in such pain and attempting to not swallow any of their bacterial plaque, they won’t be able to eat live prey like they normally would. It is recommended that you introduce a slurry of some sort that is a mixture of baby food puree and the Vitamin supplement powders that they will be lacking.
It is still important to pay attention to what veggies and fruits your beardie is allowed to eat and to use baby food that meets their dietary needs. They will be in need of their Calcium Powder, as well as Vitamins B and C, and even A but in small doses. It is recommended that your dragon is administered water through a spray or an eyedropper to give them enough liquid without them having to lap it up themselves.
Your bearded dragon may also benefit from having their warm temperature kept throughout the day and into the night. Keeping a steady warmth in their environment aids their immune system to help them heal.
**Note – Temperature issues are a big cause for a lot of other bearded dragon illnesses. Here’s how you can make sure your beardie is not at risk for a respiratory infection.
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Wrap Up
Stomatitis can be a very painful and stressful experience for your beardie and you. Try to keep calm and take them to a vet as soon as you notice any symptoms or weird behaviors. The quicker you can catch it, the sooner you can begin the proper treatment for your buddy to recover.
It is also important to monitor them thoroughly throughout the treatment process. Depending on the severity of the infection your beardie may need more than one treatment. This doesn’t mean you’ve failed as an owner, but that your pet just needs a little more help getting well.
Bacterial infections can be aggressive and difficult to pinpoint the correct dosages of treatment. Keeping an eye on your beardie as they heal will help you know what is working and what isn’t. The most important thing is to keep your buddy stress free and give them plenty of love and care.
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