MOUTH AND SNOUT INJURIES IN ASIAN WATER DRAGONS
This is R&R. R&R has been here just over a year. He came in a 25 gallon tank, small water container, 1 branch, he was full grown but his age wasn't known. He had been living off of dry cat food for 8 months or so. He was unbelievably emaciated. And he had a pretty bad case of mouth rot. The results of which you can see in the photo.
Fattening him up was easy. He was more than cooperative about eating everything in sight. The snout damage was more complicated. I used Polysporin a couple of times a week on the area. Made progress, which he would in turn set back by going into panic attacks and damaging it to the point of bleeding often. Taking him out of the temple, which is a set up open on 3 sides to viewing and placing him into the hexagon was a smart move.
*The polysporin/neosporin/ is a good product IF the injury hasn't resulted in damaging the jaw internally. The animal should not be able to injest it. Swabbing the mouth with Listerine or a Saline solution. lMouth rot can spread into the bones, in which case the treatment is much more complicated and should be seen by a vet.
With the exception of his first week in the hex, he has done little more damage to himself and has settled well. The hex is covered on 5 sides, has lots of dark areas and hiding places, has a loud splashing that likely covers more external noise. Water dragons dive for water when afraid and the full water base in the hexagon is likely helpful as well. It is also tucked into a corner. When I first introduced R&R and Bad Attitude, there was some tussling. Bad Attitude is a Green Basilisk who isn't generous about sharing his space. This has slowed to maybe one chasing episode a week.
For much, much more and accurate information on this topic follow the link below. Tricia's pages can be a huge resource for MANY water dragon issues, as well as other species.
Click here: Snout Rubbing - Effects of, and Prevention - Chinese water dragon lizards (nose, face, lip, damage)