Blister Disease in Reptiles

Blisters may appear on the legs and bellies of reptiles in captivity when the cage conditions are not optimal. Blister disease is also known as scale rot or vesicular dermatitis. This blister disease is seen on animals in cages that are too wet or too dirty, and appropriate veterinary care is required to treat the condition.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of blister disease are small blisters on the skin of the reptile, generally first seen on areas of the body that come in contact with the cage substrate, such as the belly and legs. In extreme cases, the blisters progress to the point where the skin will open up in large patches. Secondary infection is also seen, and the disease may kill the animal.

    Causes

    • In the wild, reptiles are able to live in an area optimal to their health. If an area is too wet or contaminated, the animals will move to a place better suited to their lifestyle. Wet, dirty cages are the leading cause of blister disease. Blister disease may also be seen on reptiles that have cuts or abrasions or are infected with parasites such as mites or ticks.

    Treatment

    • A veterinarian will assess the severity of the disease, remove dead tissue and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment, such as Betadine (povidone-iodine), either as a water soak or topical application. This will cleanse the skin and prevent further infection. This treatment is generally followed up by a topical antibiotic. In severe cases, the veterinarian will prescribe antibiotic injections.

    Cleanliness

    • The reptile's skin can become infected from dirty cage conditions, and Melissa Kaplan recommends that the terrarium be kept clean at all times. She recommends removing urine and feces promptly from the cage and replacing the substrate as it becomes wet and contaminated. She also recommends rinsing the terrarium well after cleaning, as blisters may also be caused by toxic burns from cleaning products and disinfectants.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Dr. Margaret Wissman cautions against a cage that is too damp, or has too high a humidity for the particular animal species. She recommends providing a cage substrate that is lightly damp, but not soaking wet. The cage should also have a dry area where the animal can retreat off the damp substrate.