Does your bearded dragon have Yellow Fungus, and you aren’t sure which antifungal you should be using?
Can you not get in to see your pet’s vet right away to treat the fungus?
Using a topical antifungal cream can help save your bearded dragon’s life if they contract a disease like Yellow Fungus.
There are a few options available to bearded dragon owners, but our top choice is the widely available Lamisil.
Continue reading this article for all the information you need about our top pick for an antifungal cream for your bearded dragon.
- Cures most athlete's foot and jock itch
- Relieves itching, burning, cracking
- Full Prescription Strength
Table of Contents
When Do You Need An Antifungal?
Your bearded dragon can benefit from an antifungal cream if they have developed a fungal infection.
Fungal infections are deadly to your pet, so it is important to diagnose and treat any symptoms at the earliest stage possible.
There are several fungal diseases your bearded dragon could contract, but the most common is a yellow fungus disease.
What Is Yellow Fungus?
Yellow fungus is an extremely contagious infection bearded dragons can develop due to poor hygiene, contact with an infected animal, or a lowered immune system.
If your bearded dragon is taking antibiotics, has poor nutrition, low environmental temperatures, or cohabitants with another animal, their immune system can become depressed.
Yellow fungus is a flesh-eating fungus working from the inside of your pet outwards.
All reptile species are susceptible to this disease, but it is common to bearded dragons.
Yellow fungus rarely crosses to humans from reptiles, but there have been occasions of reported incidences in immunocompromised individuals.
It is important to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your bearded dragon to prevent the transfer of this infection.
This is a fast-moving infection which will kill your bearded dragon if not treated early.
Symptoms Of Yellow Fungus
There are several symptoms you might see in your reptile if they have begun to develop yellow fungus.
The earlier you are able to notice the symptoms, the more likely you will be able to treat the infection.
You might notice your bearded dragon has scales discoloring, turning yellow, or sometimes a brownish or grey color.
The discoloration will begin in a small area and begin to spread throughout their bodies.
Another symptom of yellow fungus is irregular shedding where your pet is sloughing off dull, rough-looking scales constantly.
With yellow fungus, your bearded dragon could develop wounds which won’t heal or develop blackened body parts, which eventually fall off.
These are some of the most common symptoms of yellow fungus in bearded dragons, but you might also notice such things as weight loss, decreased appetite, and sunken eyes.
This is extremely contagious to bearded dragons, and the longer it goes untreated, the less likely you will be able to treat the infection.
Without any treatment, your bearded dragon is unlikely to survive.
Preventing Yellow Fungus
There are some things to do as a pet owner to reduce the risk to your bearded dragon.
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your pet’s enclosure is a good start to preventing a fungus from developing in your animal.
This includes not just the tank or enclosure, but the accessories currently in the tank or any new accessories you add, as well.
Along with the enclosure, keep your pet clean with regular baths.
Bearded dragons are solitary creatures who would rather live on their own.
With this in mind, keep your bearded dragons in separate enclosures to reduce the risk of sharing disease.
Treatment
If you suspect your bearded dragon has developed yellow fungus, call your vet and make an appointment.
This is the most important and first thing you should do if you think your pet has developed the disease.
Your vet will rule out other diseases and properly diagnose your bearded dragon using tests including a skin scrape, a blood test, a PCR test (a DNA probe test), or even a skin biopsy.
Having a definitive diagnosis will allow your vet to make the best treatment plan.
As discussed above, the yellow fungus is deadly to bearded dragons, and starting a treatment plan as early as possible, will help extend the life of your pet.
Applying a topical cream, like Lamisil, daily will help slow the progress of the infection.
You will likely also be directed to give your pet daily soaks in a medicated solution.
This solution will contain chlorhexidine or Betadine, and while this does not do anything to fight the infection, it will help keep your beardie clean and remove the shedding fungus.
Your vet is likely to prescribe an oral antifungal medication.
Some of these medications contain high levels of yeast, which can affect your bearded dragon’s kidneys over time.
Review Of Best Antifungal For Bearded Dragon
Lamisil
- Cures most athlete's foot and jock itch
- Relieves itching, burning, cracking
- Full Prescription Strength
The use of Lamisil for your bearded dragon has been known to help extend the life of your bearded dragon if they have developed yellow fungus or another fungal infection.
You might have heard of this cream when it is being used for treating athletes foot, ringworm, and jock itch.
This product is easy to find in the pharmacy section of stores all around the country or by having it shipped right to your door from Amazon.
Applying this cream every day to your bearded dragon’s affected scales can help keep the infection at bay.
Be sure to pat the area dry before applying.
Besides giving your beardie regular baths, applying this cream will work to relieve and help keep the infection at bay.
Pros Of This Product
- Easy to find in stores or online
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to apply to a dry bearded dragon
Cons Of This Product
- Must be reapplied daily
Conclusion
Understanding when to use a topical antifungal can save your bearded dragon’s life when they develop issues like Yellow Fungus.
Readily available Lamisil is the top choice for a topical antifungal for safe use on your bearded dragon.
After reading our review, we hope you have a better idea of why this cream is our top pick, and when you should be using it.
