Savannah monitor lizard?

Question

I have a Savannah monitor lizard who is about two feet long and male. Over the past weeks he has been developing some sort of mold/fungus-looking yellow and red stuff on his mouth (inside of it, on the bottom and outside where a lip would be). All the vets I've called don't care for reptiles. What could this problem be? How can I medicate it, and if it's unsafe to medicate it, where could I take it for an operation?

Answer 1

I am not an expert on monitors to say, but it sounds like either his enclosure is not cleaned often enough, or it is to moist.  I could be wrong, but knowing that there are a vast type of reptiles.  I do know that the Savannah is one of the most neglected monitors there is.  Many people are afraid of them.  I think it is because a lot of monitors are mean in nature.  So they do not get the correct attention that they need.  I would clean his environment up good, and slow his feeding.  If he is eating anything that is living it may attack open sores.

Answer 2

It sounds like he  has developed mouth rot which can develop from husbandry problems (usually inadequate temperatures) or can originate from a wound to the mouth that becomes infected. Reptile pus can be either crusty or a semi-solid cheesey consistency, it is often yellowish. If it is not too advanced you can try a topical treatment at home. For the initial treatment I would suggest hydrogen peroxide swabbed on the area, try not to get any in his mouth if you can. This will  clean the area by lifting off the pus and dead skin, it will foam and bubble. Follow that by swabbing the area with dilute Betadine (povidone iodine) solution or chlorhexidine which both have a broader antibacterial spectrum then the peroxide. Don't use the peroxide more then you have to, it is hard on tissues and not as effective as an antiseptic as the other two. Mouth rot can become serious, if you don't see improvement in a few days you should see a vet for systemic antibiotics. I have included a link on mouth rot as well.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?...