How to Treat a Pet Lizard's Skin Problem

Lizards develop several main kinds of skin problems. Some develop from improper care in housing. Others from not taking care of a skin condition when first noticed. Lizards need a veterinarian to prescribe antibiotics or other medications when infections set in. A local pet store provides some of the solutions to skin problems.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Antibiotics
• Mite spray
• Miconazole salve

Treat Thermal Burns

1. Look for gray-colored skin areas that turn dark or crusty. Untreated, the skin dies, peels and usually becomes infected.

2. Move the heat lamp further away from the lizard's enclosure, out of its reach. Make sure the heat bulb isn't touching the top screen.

3. Keep the room's temperature warm for the lizard. Sometimes a cool or drafty room makes the pet stay too close to the heating lamp, risking thermal burns.

4. Take your lizard to a veterinarian to determine medical solutions when it appears serious. Normally, the burns heal without medicine.

Treat Mites

1. Examine and spread the wrinkles, folds and creases on the skin to look for mites. They usually appear dark gray or red. Some lizards like iguanas develop small black patches on the skin from the mites living under the scales.

2. Go to a pet store or a veterinarian for the correct treatment to kill reptile mites.

3. Take care administering the proper insecticide and always follow directions.

4. Watch for allergic reactions. Stop giving the medication if problems develop.

Treat Skin Infections

1. Notice infections from open wounds or raw skin caused from rubbing. Sometimes stress causes rubbing and digging in the enclosure.

2. Keep the skin area clean from debris and moisture. Maintain a comfortable living space.

3. Contact your veterinarian to examine and recommend medication. Lizards heal slowly.

4. Watch for white or yellow patches on the skin. There's a chance it's a fungal infection.

5. Use over-the-counter salves with miconazole for fungal infection. This chemical cures people's athlete's foot. Read directions and use sparingly on the lizard.

Treat Shedding Problems

1. Place your pet lizard in a tub of warm water to soak for several minutes. Do this only when its natural shedding stops and old pieces of skin remain.

2. Rub carefully the old skin away without pulling. Several baths might be required.

3. Examine the area around the toes and end of tail for drying dead skin. Continue using warm baths and rubbing the skin. Sometimes dry rot occurs in these areas.

Tips & Warnings

• A clean and sanitary environment helps prevent infections and fungal diseases. Remove old food and droppings and provide clean water.

• A chameleon that doesn't change color and remains brown or has a mixture of brown and green lacks proper nutrients. See your pet store for a special nutrient powder that you sprinkle on its food.

• Never apply permethrin to remove mites or ticks from a lizard. Small pets could die.