Scale infection

Well my female purple tiger just shed and I took her out and noticed she would not let part of her lower body touch the ground. I checked it out and it looks like a bad case of scale infection of some sort. After checking many posts i have concluded it was due to her laying in wet urine too long. Right before that she was rolling along her water bowl to induce shed so she was moist for quite a while. I do check and clean her cage every morning but the last two times I did not catch it because she decided to do it in her hide and by my mistake I never checked under there when she's in there. I have started to spray her with Betadine and changing substrate daily, dirty or not. If anyone has any better methods please let me know. I feel like a loser since I let her get this way so I want to fix it ASAP. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Havok73

Well my female purple tiger just shed and I took her out and noticed she would not let part of her lower body touch the ground. I checked it out and it looks like a bad case of scale infection of some sort. After checking many posts i have concluded it was due to her laying in wet urine too long. Right before that she was rolling along her water bowl to induce shed so she was moist for quite a while. I do check and clean her cage every morning but the last two times I did not catch it because she decided to do it in her hide and by my mistake I never checked under there when she's in there. I have started to spray her with Betadine and changing substrate daily, dirty or not. If anyone has any better methods please let me know. I feel like a loser since I let her get this way so I want to fix it ASAP. Thanks.

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Brother please don't put yourself down! Things happen and reptiles are living organisms with vulnerabilities to illness and injury. We learn from our mistakes and shortcomings. The only way you lose is when you don't ask for help and just let the condition fester. You sound like a responsible owner who happens to have a problem with 1 of your animals. Now, betadine is great. Immediately switch the substrate to paper towels or unprinted newspaper if you can get it. Whichever is easier. IMO, I would alternate the betadine with chlorhexidine gluconate [brand name Hibiclens], make a weak solution of it to apply with "q" tips. The other treatment for mild cases is Neosporin or silver sulfadiazine. The Neosporin is easier to get and doesn't require a prescription but silver sulfa does need to be prescribed. Neosporin should be the ointment and not the cream! The cream has a pain killer in the ingredients that is not good for reptiles. None of this is to meant to replace the advice and evaluation of a qualified reptile vet at all. I would be highly suspicious of the condition if it doesn't show improvement after a couple of treatments! Stay in peace and not pieces. Don't forget to join USARK in the fight to repeal the "lacey act". Good luck. :gj:

Thank you very much for you help!! Already started my shopping list. This forum is great to keep learning new ways to care for pythons.
Trying to accept that these things can happen but it's hard for me at times. I like to ensure that I'm being a responsible owner. To
see one of your pets in a bad way is kinda heart breaking. It might sound a little soft but I admit I love my pets!!