Water requirements? how much is too much?

[ridgebax1]

Several weeks ago Omar pulled out the screening at the top of his cage, crawled up onto said screen and was directly under his heat lamp; as a result he suffered a pretty significant burn along his back and on the top of his casque. It seems to be healing nicely and since the black eschar came off I have been applying Neosporin to it on a daily basis. I have also been giving him extra free water every day as I know in humans burns can contribute to insensible water loss. It occurred to me today that I am not sure if I would recognize an infected wound on a lizard and I am not sure how much water would be too much. If he were to develop a localized infection at the site of the burn what would it look like? I know it must be painful in places because when I apply the neosporin he will pull away when it touches a couple areas.

To give him the water I put the tip of a 3cc syringe at the tip of his nose/mouth area and dispense a drop or two of water that runs along his mouth which I can then see him swallow. Then sometimes he will actively drink from the water dripping out of the syringe or other times he will just sit and swallow while I drip the water along his mouth. I use about 1.5cc each time but a lot of that drips outside his mouth.

 

[Lpsouth1978]

I don't know that you can give him too much water in this fashion. If he needs the water, he will swallow and drink it, if he doesn't need it he wont drink it. In my experience, they need LOTS of water anyway, just don't force it in him at this point, otherwise keep up what you are doing.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

My panther will only drink from a syringe and he will lick until he's done. He puts away 15-25cc in one go easily on most days. So I don't think you're overwatering! Best thing is to let them set the pace. Oscar will actively lick at the syringe when he's thirsty but when he stops so do I.

Watch for discharge and discoloration as signs of infection. Sometimes discharge is very watery and sometimes it is thick like goo. Definitely continue to put ointment on it until it has healing tissue covering it.

 

[ridgebax1]

Thanks for the info! I recently upgraded to an Aquazamp misting system with a rain dome and he will actively drink from the water droplets on the leaves in his cage too. I am just glad that I had his lights sitting on top of a wood frame rather than right on the screen. It might have burned him to the point of not surviving had it been in contact with the screen. He could have gotten trapped under it or something.