Snake Lump

Well i just moved to florida from wisconsin and im haveing a bit of trouble tracking down a vet. I called pet stores and the vet in town woth no good leeds. Does any one know of any resources that might help me find a herp vet in north florida

Just this I'm afraid. :(


Any members located near you that you could ask who they use?


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Squishy Burrito

It does feel soft almost like an air pocket under the skin. There is a bite mark there but its at least 6 months old because i got this snake from a friend and it was there when he gave it to me. Im gonna take him to the vet just thought id see what the general consensus was before i went
Thanks to all who replied

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Sounds totally like an abscess to me. Cats get them very often from fighting. They will get a lump about the size of the pad of your thumb from one tiny claw or tooth puncture. Oh man, one time one of my cats got one and I didn't know what it was. I noticed the hair was matted and as I investaged further I could tell there was a bulge. I was really looking close and started tugging at some of the dried, matted hair to try to get to see the skin and, all of a sudden, this massive river of white puss came out and ran down its fur. :puke:

So, an abscess is something that will probably go away on its own over time but generally a simple lancing procedure along with something to kill the remaining infection is done.

That would put me in the "go to the vet" camp. Personally, I would risk going to about any reputable vet that feels confident with a snake if I couldn't find a specialist. An abscess is sort of a universal thing with a universal treatment. If I did go to a non-specialist vet I would ask him to determine if there was an abscess or not. If he came back with some other weird diagnosis I would then more strongly consider seeking a specialist.

http://books.google.com/books?id=qQV...ct=result&cd=2

"Abscesses are the most common dermatologic condition seen in captive reptiles. They are commonly caused by bites from prey or cage mates. Most abscesses are filled with a solid exudate. Treatment for abscesses include surgically removing the abscess and irrigating the area and using antibiotics pending culture and sensitivity"

Also:

http://www.klsnet.com/sicksnake.html

Ok i cant get into the snake specialist for over a week. When i called the snake shop in valdosta to try to find a vet in my area they said i could possibly try something called Tetracycline. Wondering what your thoughts are on this product

Tetracycline is a very weak antibiotic and is used mainly for fish, cattle and pigs. This is not something that you want to be treating with home remedies as the abscess could rupture internally and your snake could get very sick. The abscess needs to be lanced and removed(reptile abscesses are firm and not fluid-filled) and the snake put on antibiotics so it doesn't form again.

well the apointment has been made so you dont have to worry about that i was just wondering if it could possibly be benificial to try since i have to wait a week no mater what i do

I wouldn't mess with it but if you are concerned about any home care during the week before the appointment then by all means give the vet's office a call. They are always the best source of information and advice when it comes to your animal's health concerns.

Yea, I really think an abscess is most likely to eventually go away and, therefore, is not an emergency situation. You might call your specialist back and ask about their emergency policy. Keep your eye on the ball ;) and if it starts looking really sick you can go there and pay emergency rates.

You may also consider gently tugging and/or prodding the lump again. Don't use any level of force that could actually injure healthy tissue. If the abscess has a weak spot you may be able to get it to open up. If it is an abscess and it does open you will start to see puss (you've basically got your hands on a giant pimple). At that point you can at least drain it using mild pressure and then swab the area with a mild anti-biotic. I personally find (on my own body) that a little hydrogen peroxide goes a long way to ending the infection pronto. I've seen alot of suggestions for things that are preferred over h2o2 on this site. Anyway, getting a little anti-biotic around the wound and a little back into the hole is a very mild form of the "irrigation" referred to in the first reference I gave you.

Best of luck.

... Abscesses don't just go away. It is infection that is incapsulated, therefore the body cannot get antibodies to it to fix it. It needs removed by a qualified vet and the snake needs to be put on antibiotics since there will be a hole where the abscess was.

Do NOT poke it, mash it, wiggle it, squeeze it, etc. They are more prone to rupturing internally rather than externally and that is a whole boat of trouble you don't want.

Reptile abscesses are SOLID masses, not liquid putrid green stuff. They cannot be squeezed out. Also, hydrogen peroxide damages tissue and isn't an effective cleaner. I only use it to get blood out of scrub tops.

I realize you're only trying to help, but information like that could unfortunately get someone's pet injured. The owner would then have an even bigger vet bill on their hands. He said he has a vet appointment soon, and if the wound has lasted for a few months before now, it can wait a few more days.