Isambard, my veiled, is shedding again. Last time the skin didn't come off the toes properly and the dead skin turned brown. It didn't affect him at all but this time he's again having trouble getting it off his toes. I've sprayed them with warm water and he's now busy scraping his feet against things to try to remove it. Is there a way I can help him out? can't really get him to bathe in warm water as he hates being picked up, doesn't get aggressive he's just very shy. Any suggestions please? thanks.
Helping skin off toes?
- Thread starter Slofe
- Start date
Lizardlover
New Member
Id just keep up the humidity and let it be, thats probably the best thing to do
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blackbetty
Guest
I agree. Leo is going through the same thing. If you pull it off, you could make him bleed and cause an infection if its an open spot. Just directly mist that area so that it gets enough moisture to be wet and with any luck and some moving around, it will come off on its own. If its a lot away from the attached area, you could always snip away the excess very carefully just to trim down the amount. I don't do this as Im shaky with sharp objects anyways, but it might help the uncomfortableness.
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blackbetty
Guest
I really feel for him when he sheds but it makes me laugh at the same time. Especially when he scrapes his foot on his head, much like a dog scratching behind his ears lol poor little fella
I agree. I imagine its quite uncomfortable, like a sunburn that is peeling..all itchy and annoying.. But it is rather cute.
Lizardlover
New Member
off topic but i was thinking about my cham at the beach the other day, i was shedding
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think increasing general humidity and directly spraying his toes with warm water is a good plan, especially if this has encouraged him to rub the skin off. If he doesnt get the skin off himself, there is some small degree of risk of cutting off circulation.
PardalisGirl
Avid Member
Another idea....
You can also gently apply some Neosporin to the toes with a Q-tip. It soaks into the shedding skin and makes it easier to come off. Then the next day you can give him another warm shower and gently use a Q-tip to move the dead skin off. If it doesn't budge don't force it. Apply more Neosporin and try again the next day. It needs to come off or it could harden/dry in place, cut off the circulation and cause the toe to die and fall off. I use the Neosporin on toes all the time
You can also gently apply some Neosporin to the toes with a Q-tip. It soaks into the shedding skin and makes it easier to come off. Then the next day you can give him another warm shower and gently use a Q-tip to move the dead skin off. If it doesn't budge don't force it. Apply more Neosporin and try again the next day. It needs to come off or it could harden/dry in place, cut off the circulation and cause the toe to die and fall off. I use the Neosporin on toes all the time
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
Lily has trouble removing the 'cones' under her chin (the spikey bits underneath) when she sheds. She sheds them individually and they look like tiny ice cream cones! I dip a cotton bud in warm water and wipe it on. Usually the 'cones' come off fairly quickly if they are ready. I've also used this method on some of her toes a couple of sheds ago. This can be easier if your cham hates being misted.
I dip a cotton bud in warm water and wipe it on. Usually the 'cones' come off fairly quickly if they are ready. I've also used this method on some of her toes a couple of sheds ago. This can be easier if your cham hates being misted.
ChrisnLisa
Avid Member
I have used KY in the past for this type of situation. If he is a feisty chameleon, you can put a bit on a q-tip and rub it on his toes while he is sleeping.
Eric Adrignola
Avid Member
the mineral oil in neosporin is what does the trick. Mineral oil, bay oil - even regular, human skin moisturizers work well.
Plain mineral oil seems to be the best, fastest way to get it off. Even thick, heavy layers, built up over years sloughs off within a few hours.
We had a panther that had trouble shedding the skin on the top of his head. We put on a good bit of oil, and that afternoon, it just pushed off like mashed potatoes.
My WC veiled had some layers on his toes, with some swelling. mineral oil helped me take it off without hurting him further.
Use a Q-tip. The best thing about oil vs neosporin, is that (well, it's cheaper) it is thinner, and seems to get sopped up into the unshed skin very easily. You'll see some flat sections just lift off immediatly.
I only intervene with the stuff if it's in a tricky area, like toes, tail tips, injuries...
Plain mineral oil seems to be the best, fastest way to get it off. Even thick, heavy layers, built up over years sloughs off within a few hours.
We had a panther that had trouble shedding the skin on the top of his head. We put on a good bit of oil, and that afternoon, it just pushed off like mashed potatoes.
My WC veiled had some layers on his toes, with some swelling. mineral oil helped me take it off without hurting him further.
Use a Q-tip. The best thing about oil vs neosporin, is that (well, it's cheaper) it is thinner, and seems to get sopped up into the unshed skin very easily. You'll see some flat sections just lift off immediatly.
I only intervene with the stuff if it's in a tricky area, like toes, tail tips, injuries...
