Opinions on what this is please (lip infection?)

[Laura]

She's had this for a couple of weeks now, it looked like she had some substrate in her mouth (coconut husk) but lately on close inspection it looks almost like a scab? Apologies for the blurry pictures, iphone cameras don't do too well super close up








Opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated

[guidofatherof5]

I've never seen a scab that dark.
Have you tried to remove any of it to see what it is?

[Invisible Snake]

I have no idea.. Could it be mouth rot?

[Laura]

I've often cleaned the area with a cotton bud (q tip?) when she has substrate in her mouth which is that dark, however I've had her out just now to try and see what it is but nothing really comes off. I tried putting her in a warm bowl of water to try and get whatever it is wet in case it came off any easier but still nothing really came off. As I said, it looks/feels like a scab but I've never found any evidence of her cutting herself, plus it's like this on both sides of her mouth

[Laura]

It pretty much looks like this

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/urgent-care/7672-seems-not-right.html

Perhaps I need to change the substrate. How would I go about cleaning the area if it is indeed hardened substrate?

[Thamnophis]

Keep her for a while on tissue paper. Maybe tip it a few times with iodine and then see if it heals.

[d_virginiana]

Does the mouth look puffy or swollen around it? Harley had a mouth infection over Christmas, and for some reason she had problems with substrate (not coco-fiber, but just bits of dust and grime) getting in her mouth DURING the infection. It wasn't the cause of it, but it would crust around her mouth kind of scab like. I think it was because she couldn't keep her mouth closed as well.

It shouldn't hurt to swab the area with betadine.

[Laura]

Well she had a shed a couple of days ago and the dirt is gone, she's eaten since and seems quite happy despite sticking to her warm hide the majority of the time. Put an ugly reptile carpet thingy down to stop it happening again (function over fashion) thanks for the advice guys

[guidofatherof5]

Glad it cleared up.

[Laura]

Thanks Steve, I do worry about her as she is my first reptile and is such a sweet little thing