Help please... irritated scale around cloaca

Hi Everyone,

I was holding my BP yesterday and noticed the last scale before his cloaca is discolored slightly and red underneath. I don't have pictures, it would be very hard to get a picture of because its small...
I was wondering what this may be. It almost looks like if the scale got stuck on something and got pulled up, its like a slight tear on either edge of the scale and then red and irritated underneath. Everywhere else looks healthy, no other discolored or irritated scales, just right at his cloaca.:confused:

I put neosporin on it (the kind without pain relief) and I am cleaning his enclosure today. I usually have him on reptibark, should I go with paper towels until its healed?
Any help would be much appreciated!! Thanks!

If it were me, I'd keep him on plain, clean paper (paper towels or newsprint) until it heals up. It's probably going to be just fine. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't spread. Don't go overboard with the ointment, you'll want the area to stay clean and dry.

Is his cloaca looking irritated as well? He might have gotten a bit of bedding stuck in there.

It only looks like the scale right in front of his cloaca and not the actual cloaca itself. If he did get substrate in there will it clear itself up?

If he did, it'll have to be removed by either you or your vet. It can cause some serious irritation and abrasions which can lead to infection. I learned that lesson the hard way, and only keep my animals on paper now.

thanks so much for the advise. I have him on paper towels now, and will keep an eye on it.

Any thoughts on how long it should take to heal up? If it gets worse I will take him to a vet for sure.

thanks again!

Hi All,

I'm reviving this thread... Since I first posted on the irritation, my BP has shed. The irritation has gone away, and after closely inspecting it more, I do think the actual cloaca was irritated as well. So I'm a little worried about the idea of substrate having gotten stuck in there. He has not pooped since I noticed the original irritation, but he has passed two small urates. I know that they can go a while without pooping so I dont want to get worked up over nothing, but thats what I do best when it comes to my pets :oops:.

So does anyone think I should be worried about the fact that my BP hasnt pooped in a few weeks after the initial irritation was found?? If there was substrate in his cloaca or something else was wrong would he still be able to pass urates? Thanks so much for any help!

Glad the scale has healed up :]
No need to be worried about his pooping habits.
My snake has gone through almost 2 sheds and no poop before! Until he pooped on my bed :O
For some reason they like to stock up for the month lol Be careful cuz they like to let it rip at the most inconvenient times and places. haha

Haha lets hope mine doesnt poop on my bed...yuck! I've been lucky so far and havent gotten pooped or peed on...yet!

Pop him and see if there's anything in there that shouldn't be.