Urgent · Reptiles, birds, small mammals
Burns & thermal injury
Burns from heat lamps, rocks, mats, or cooking surfaces are often deeper than they look and can take days to fully appear.
Immediate safe actions
- Remove the heat source and turn off unguarded lamps or heat rocks.
- Cool the area with room-temperature (not ice-cold) clean water for several minutes.
- Move to a clean enclosure with paper towel substrate.
- Book a vet visit — burns need pain relief and infection management.
What NOT to do
- Do not apply ice, butter, oils, or human burn creams.
- Do not pop blisters or peel skin.
- Do not use loose substrate that can stick to wounds.
Information to gather for the vet
- Heat source type and temperature
- Size and location of burn
- Photos over time
Red flags
- Large area of the body
- Blackened, white, or leathery skin
- Burns around the eyes, mouth, or vent
- Lethargy or not eating
Veterinary escalation
- Large, deep, or facial burns = same-day or emergency vet.
General educational information only. Species differ greatly — always confirm with a licensed veterinarian or animal poison service.