Medicate Missing Arm?

[menwa]

I just bought a large healthy looking Firebelly, who is missing almost his whole front arm. Originally I would not have bought it but I was told he was very active, and eats regularly and I felt bad and had to give him a better chance than in the petshop...

Sure enough the very day i got him home he ate a good size worm from me and seems to be doing ok..

First thing im curious about is whether of not newts regrow limbs? And secondly the wound looks like it is a little bit fuzzy (but not like cotton balls that i have seen on other newts with missing limbs) so im wondering if i can medicate him? Help him heal better?

He moves around pretty good given his handicap

 

[jeff]

He seems to be fed quite well. You might want to place him into a land quarantine set-up, with moist paper towels changed out 3 times per week. Treat the wound with an amphibian safe anti-bacterial product such as Bactine until the wound heals over. Come feeding time you might try feeding him on land by placing live blackworms near him, then cleaning the tank once the feeding has commenced. If he doesn't take to eating on land, you may place him into an aquatic environment until he's done eating, then treat the wound and place him back into quarantine. Given time, the newts limb should grow back.

 

[menwa]

Thanx for the advice, do you know if bacitracin is ok to use?

 

[jeff]

Bacitracin like Neosporin is okay as long as it doesn't contain benzocaine.

 

[jeff]

Also , you may try salt baths, check out caudata culture for the link, search for the article and you will find it.