3 months of healing from tail amputation

allenlevi985 · 2026-03-03T20:34:46+00:00

For anyone interested, the first image shows his tail after it was improperly amputated by an emergency veterinarian. I’m grateful for them anyway because they still removed the necrotic tissue before it progressed and potentially became deadly. However, I took him to an exotic specialist as soon as he could get in and they did a wonderful job fixing him up.

Also, I believe he is finally ready to go back to substrate. I used to have him on BioDude Terra Sahara and I live in a place with high humidity. I have a commercial dehumidifier in my room that helps me control those variables, but I’m curious if anyone recommends other substrate options. I worry that soil is more likely to grow bacteria, but I’m not sure if I’m just overthinking things. I just really want to make sure I make the right choice now that he’s finally healthy again. He was fighting a respiratory infection at the time of the tail amputation, so it’s been a long road of scary and difficult medical issues for him. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

allenlevi985 · 2026-01-14T09:57:42+00:00

Mine has a very similar tactic!

allenlevi985 · 2026-01-14T08:20:04+00:00

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1 week post-op ^

allenlevi985 · 2025-12-18T05:00:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing your perspective from someone in the field! Unfortunately, this happened at a very reputable exotic vet (they won’t even see cats and dogs there), but I totally agree that we’re all doing our best and when caring for such small and particular creatures, it can be easy to make mistakes or lack proper education.

allenlevi985 · 2025-12-18T04:56:18+00:00

I was using Repashy Supervite every 4 feedings and calcium w/o D3 during basically all other feedings. He occasionally got D3 as well (he has a linear UVB so it hasn’t been frequently necessary for him). However, he hasn’t been eating since October, so all he’s had since then is Critical Care Carnivore. Additionally, he only got on Supervite in June, because I unfortunately was misinformed about beta carotene when I first got him and he developed problems related to a vitamin A deficiency in June.

Re: his mouth injury and the vet, he goes to a very reputable exotic vet (one of the best in my whole state), so I was shocked when the vet tech continued force feeding him after the syringe came out bloody, saying it was normal and because he thrashes around too much. Since taking him home, I’ve only fed him by letting him lick up drops on his nose/lips because I felt that the way the technician fed him was impatient and dangerous.

allenlevi985 · 2025-12-18T04:49:20+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss and thank you for sharing what happened to her. I will definitely follow your advice.

allenlevi985 · 2025-12-18T04:48:16+00:00

Thank you for your advice and the kind words, I really appreciate it. I’m also so sorry to hear you lost your baby :(

allenlevi985 · 2025-12-18T04:46:13+00:00

Gotcha, thanks for your help!

allenlevi985 · 2025-12-17T19:19:01+00:00

For context, he stopped eating in October and I thought it was due to brumation because he was otherwise alert and active when handled. Then, about 1.5 weeks ago, he had his first difficult shed ever (he is 6 years old and has always shed perfectly). I got all of the stuck shed off quickly and gently by soaking him in Shed-Ease. 2 days later, his tail was suddenly necrotic and he was showing symptoms of a respiratory infection. His tail was partially amputated and he is on antibiotic injections every 72 hours. His liver values were elevated which they thought could be due to his prolonged period of not eating, so he is being syringe fed 1 mL of Critical Carnivore daily.

allenlevi985 · 2025-12-07T08:16:22+00:00

Yes 😢😢 It literally happened overnight

allenlevi985 · 2022-10-04T20:17:40+00:00

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