Bearded Dragon Stomatitis

When a bearded dragon's mouth, gums, or jaw appears red, swollen, or has thick, white discharge, you are facing infectious stomatitis, a critical bacterial infection commonly known as mouth rot. This condition is rarely a simple infection; it is a serious warning sign that your dragon’s immune system has failed due to poor husbandry. Untreated mouth infection rapidly causes bone erosion (jaw rot), systemic illness, and starvation.

Mouth infection is a severe bacterial disease caused by stress, trauma and inadequate habitat temperatures.
Symptoms range from simple redness to visible, cottage-cheese-like pus inside the mouth.
Treatment requires specialized oral flushing, long-term antibiotics and mandatory husbandry correction.

Why Does My Bearded Dragon Get Stomatitis?

Infectious stomatitis occurs when a bearded dragon's immune defenses are weakened, allowing opportunistic bacteria to invade the mouth tissues.
The primary causes are: Improper temperatures (too cool), which paralyzes the immune system, Physical trauma (e.g., scraping the nose/mouth on rough décor or biting cage glass), Nutritional deficiencies (especially Vitamin C, which compromises gum health) and Compromised immune function from concurrent illness or parasites. The bacteria enter the injured tissue and quickly establish a painful, destructive infection.

Types of Bearded Dragon Stomatitis

Gingivitis (Early Stage Infection)

Target: Gums and lips.

Impact: Mildest form, presenting as slight redness or inflammation along the gum line, often noticed near the teeth. It signals early immune failure and is highly reversible with immediate care.

Caseous Stomatitis (Advanced Infection)

Target: Deep mouth tissues, tongue and throat.

Impact: Severe swelling and the accumulation of thick, caseous (cheese-like) yellow or white pus/exudate. This infection is active, highly aggressive and risks spreading to the deep throat and sinuses.

Osteomyelitis (Jaw Rot)

Target: Jaw bone and surrounding cartilage.

Impact: The most severe complication, where the infection has eroded the bone tissue. This causes extreme facial swelling, non-healing wounds, permanent deformity and is often life-threatening due to systemic bacterial spread.

Symptoms: Critical Indicators Your Dragon is in Pain

Because a mouth infection prevents feeding, you must look for these urgent signs of oral pain and systemic illness:

Excessive Mucus/Saliva

Noticeable drooling, stringy mucus, or bubbles around the mouth.

Redness and Swelling

The lips and gum tissues are visibly inflamed, puffy, or discolored.

Thick Discharge (Pus)

Yellow or white, cottage-cheese-like material visible inside the mouth, around the teeth, or adhering to the tongue.

Foul Odor

A distinct, unpleasant or putrid smell coming from the mouth, signaling necrotic (dead) tissue and severe bacterial decay.

Refusal to Eat (Anorexia)

The dragon consistently refuses all food due to the agonizing pain in its oral cavity.

Open-Mouth Posture

The dragon sits with its mouth slightly ajar or holds its head oddly to relieve pressure.

Facial Swelling

Severe, visible swelling of the lips and tissues around the jaw, often indicating osteomyelitis.

Lethargy

The dragon is abnormally inactive, refusing to bask or move, indicating the infection has become systemic.

Prevention & Bearded Dragon Stomatitis Care

Temperature
Lock-Down

Ensure the basking spot and ambient temperatures are always maintained at the Proper Optimal Temperature Zone (POTZ) to maximize the dragon's immune response.

Reduce Trauma Risk

Use smooth backgrounds and décor. If your dragon rubs its nose on the glass, address the stressor and provide visual barriers to prevent self-inflicted oral trauma.

Cleanliness and Water

Maintain a clean enclosure and provide clean, fresh water daily to minimize the environmental load of opportunistic bacteria.

Strict Antibiotic Adherence

Complete the full, long course of injectable antibiotics without fail to ensure the infection is fully eliminated from the bone and deep tissue.

Oral Monitoring

Gently check the mouth daily (as instructed by the vet) for any return of redness, swelling, or discharge, which could signal a relapse.

Bearded Dragon Stomatitis FAQ

Immediate surgery prevents permanent deformity. Stomatitis is an aggressive bacterial infection that can erode the jawbone (osteomyelitis) in days. We need immediate oral debridement and long-course injectable antibiotics to stop the spread.

Correcting temperature boosts the immune system. Low temperatures paralyze your dragon's immune response, allowing opportunistic bacteria to thrive in the mouth. Our service includes an immediate husbandry audit to fix the temperature failure.

We prevent fatal starvation. Stomatitis is agonizing. We stabilize the dragon with injectable fluids and use safe, precise tube-feeding protocols to ensure it receives essential energy and medication while the mouth heals.

Targeted medication guarantees a cure. We perform a bacterial culture and sensitivity test on the mouth discharge. This ensures we prescribe an antibiotic that the infection is not resistant to, maximizing cure rates.

Only specialized care halts bone erosion. No. Self-medicating delays life-saving care. Stomatitis requires powerful, systemic antibiotics, not surface washes, to cure the infection before it reaches the bone.