By Margaret A. Wissman, DVM, DABVP
My appointment book reads that an iguana with “mouth rot” is my 11 o’clock. This rather colorful term is kind of a catch-all phrase for “there is something wrong with my pet’s mouth.” There are other kinds of rots, as well, including “shell rot” and “scale rot.” All are generic terms for problems with the mouth, shell or scales (or skin in general).
These problems are quite common in many herps, and there can be many causes for them. Ulcers, abscesses, abrasions, burns, scabs, parasites, bacterial infections, fungal lesions, viral infections, sloughing areas, tumors, underlying bone abnormalities or necrosis are all medical conditions that may be involved in what is lumped into the term “rot.”
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