scale rot :-( HELP ASAP, vet havent helped

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Originally Posted by mackynz

Maybe it is correct, but "scrubbing" would hardly be a word I would want to hear when it comes to removing skin from a severe burn.

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Yeah scrubbing isn't really the right word in terms of force. Lightly rubbing the area with gauze soaked in the sterilizing solution...maybe lightly "dabbing" it would have been a better choice of words. Definitely don't scrub with any heavy force. The actual light scrubbing comes later, when removing (debriding) the dead skin and there are scales growing back underneath.

I was thinking about asking a mod to just delete my post because basing any "treatment" off of a forum post is just not good. I was really just trying to share what worked for me, not be an advocate for treating the snake. He needs to see a herp vet.

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Originally Posted by mackynz

Maybe it is correct, but "scrubbing" would hardly be a word I would want to hear when it comes to removing skin from a severe burn.

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You should visit the burn ward at a hospital sometime....

Scrubbing might not be the correct term, but removal of dead skin is typically a step in the process of treating a burn. I'm not familiar with treatment of it in snakes, but I am familiar with treatment of 3rd degree burns in humans. It's not the burn that hurts. It's the healing afterwards.

There are so many different approaches to treating burns in snakes. I'll just stay out of it for now, but with the common note to keep the area from getting too dry as it heals. Just like long soaks aren't ideal, neither is drying the area out completely.

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Originally Posted by Vasiliki

You should visit the burn ward at a hospital sometime....

Scrubbing might not be the correct term, but removal of dead skin is typically a step in the process of treating a burn. I'm not familiar with treatment of it in snakes, but I am familiar with treatment of 3rd degree burns in humans. It's not the burn that hurts. It's the healing afterwards.

There are so many different approaches to treating burns in snakes. I'll just stay out of it for now, but with the common note to keep the area from getting too dry as it heals. Just like long soaks aren't ideal, neither is drying the area out completely.

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Aw you mean you can't just dump maggots on it? :P

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Originally Posted by mackynz

Aw you mean you can't just dump maggots on it? :P

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Might work better! If a little creepier, haha. Thankfully, they didn't strap maggots to my arm. Not going to lie, that would've given me the heebie geebies :colbert:

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Originally Posted by mykee

So much for "being a good keeper"!!! I've never seen a burn that bad in my life. That kind of junk doesn't happen overnight and only an irresponsible snake owner would allow that to happen.
There 's been good advice given, but I am absolutely disgusted with the OP. Sickening.

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A bit harsh, since he took the animal promptly a vet, and was told it was a bacterial infection, not a burn!
I don't believe that the OP is an irresponsible owner--just one who didn't have a crucial piece of information, and then fell victim to a less than competent veterinarian, compounding the problem exponentially.
If the vet had said 'that looks like a burn', if the vet had asked any questions about the temperatures and husbandry, it would never have become so severe.

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Originally Posted by Vasiliki

You should visit the burn ward at a hospital sometime....

Scrubbing might not be the correct term, but removal of dead skin is typically a step in the process of treating a burn. I'm not familiar with treatment of it in snakes, but I am familiar with treatment of 3rd degree burns in humans. It's not the burn that hurts. It's the healing afterwards.

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This.

The term you want is "debridement", and is pretty much one of the most painful things you can do to a person. Because yes, "scrubbing" is essentially how it's done, and there's nothing gentle about it. It's also essential for the healing process after a burn. Any dead tissue/skin hanging around is a breeding ground for infection, and it's gotta come off.

....and the maggots used are sterile. Actually quite helpful little buggers, they only eat dead flesh and so leave healthy tissue behind (unlike debridement) and are significantly less painful (unlike debridement). Not sure how a snake would feel about that though....


To the poster who thought the OP was being irresponsible because such conditions don't happen "over-night", you are correct. It wouldn't have taken over-night. Probably only a few minutes on a shorted UTH is all it would take to cause a burn. Irresponsible would have been not noticing it/correcting it/taking the snake to the vet/questioning the vets advice/seeking new advice/vets and taking care of the injured animal. All things the OP has so far done.

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Originally Posted by OmNomNom

To the poster who thought the OP was being irresponsible because such conditions don't happen "over-night", you are correct. It wouldn't have taken over-night. Probably only a few minutes on a shorted UTH is all it would take to cause a burn. Irresponsible would have been not noticing it/correcting it/taking the snake to the vet/questioning the vets advice/seeking new advice/vets and taking care of the injured animal. All things the OP has so far done.

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I can understand the argument that not having a regulated UTH is irresponsible.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

A bit harsh, since he took the animal promptly a vet, and was told it was a bacterial infection, not a burn!
I don't believe that the OP is an irresponsible owner--just one who didn't have a crucial piece of information, and then fell victim to a less than competent veterinarian, compounding the problem exponentially.
If the vet had said 'that looks like a burn', if the vet had asked any questions about the temperatures and husbandry, it would never have become so severe.

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This is exactly what I was going to post! Harsh words at this point are not going to help in this sitaution!

I just recently delt with a similar situation. My male got a belly burn when I was on vacation. I took him to a vet and got a antibacterial ointment to rub on his belly every other day and an antibiotic injection every 3 days. I removed his substrate and put in the softer astro turf(grey kind) not the rough (green kind). I then turned his belly heat on medium heat and kept his top heat lamp on med to low during the day. The water dish and the lamp heat will keep your tank slightly humid but don't spray the enclosure. 50% humidity will do fine. It took about 3 shed cycles for his belly to fully clear up. But he made a full recovery and is eating like a machine. I hope this helps a little and good luck.

Nater

1.0 Albino BP
0.1 Het albino Het pied BP

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Originally Posted by mykee

So much for "being a good keeper"!!! I've never seen a burn that bad in my life. That kind of junk doesn't happen overnight and only an irresponsible snake owner would allow that to happen.
There 's been good advice given, but I am absolutely disgusted with the OP. Sickening.

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the funny part is A. i never said it happened over night....not 1x. B. I DID clearly state that ive had him for 10 years AND NEVER once have i had a problem with him OF ANY KIND!!!. C. i clearly stated that one weekend he was fine, HE BEGAN THE SHEDDING PROCESS SO I LEFT HIM ALONE AS YOU SHOULD!!!! the following week i noticed the damage. just because my heat pad wasnt regulated doesnt mean im a bad owner. but guess what, this bad owner now has a regulated heat pad. D. you or nobody in here even knows if its a burn. ask anybody who knows me, this snake is my world, he spends 3/4 of his life around my neck, or wandering around my house. SO YES IT DID HAPPEN VERY SUDDEN!!!! keep your rude comments to yourself. if i didnt care i wouldnt be here looking for advice, spending hundreds of dollars and hours of time trying to cure him.

NOW FOR HIS UPDATE- after taking everyones advice, the bottom of his belly is finally looking much better, and though its only been 4 weeks since his last shed, his eyes turned blue again 2 days ago so im assuming hell be shedding any day now. i have tried feeding him since hes been out and about acting like hes hungry but no luck. after he sheds ill take pics and try feeding again

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Originally Posted by snyper93

NOW FOR HIS UPDATE- after taking everyones advice, the bottom of his belly is finally looking much better, and though its only been 4 weeks since his last shed, his eyes turned blue again 2 days ago so im assuming hell be shedding any day now. i have tried feeding him since hes been out and about acting like hes hungry but no luck. after he sheds ill take pics and try feeding again

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You may have already done this, but you should offer smaller prey than usual if you are going to feed him, once he sheds (like weanling rats). This will keep him from having to stretch his belly scales to eat. Best of luck, and we'd definitely like to see pics as he progresses.

i actually only use feeder mice, though he can take down a rat, i dont trust the size/strength of a rat. so i usually grab 2 mice, if hes still acting hungry ill throw in another 1 or 2. i never see a bulge in his belly after he eats, so this should work out nice. and the problem starts about midway so his neck stretching wont be an issue. but thanks for the idea :-)

I am glad to here he's doing better. I've thought about you both often. Take what the other people said with a grain of salt, sometimes people just jump down your throat without thinking things through, it's happened to me before.

The way I see it, if you've had the snake for so long with no problems, and you were never told any different than how you had things set up, why would you change? The good thing is, you cared enough to seek help, and to take steps to correct the problem. Lots of people won't. Either they don't care enough to seek help, or if they do seek it, they are to stubborn to change.

I'd love to see updated pictures when he sheds.

Gale

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Originally Posted by Nater

I just recently delt with a similar situation. My male got a belly burn when I was on vacation. I took him to a vet and got a antibacterial ointment to rub on his belly every other day and an antibiotic injection every 3 days. I removed his substrate and put in the softer astro turf(grey kind) not the rough (green kind). I then turned his belly heat on medium heat and kept his top heat lamp on med to low during the day. The water dish and the lamp heat will keep your tank slightly humid but don't spray the enclosure. 50% humidity will do fine. It took about 3 shed cycles for his belly to fully clear up. But he made a full recovery and is eating like a machine. I hope this helps a little and good luck.

Nater

1.0 Albino BP
0.1 Het albino Het pied BP

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I have to ask, is YOUR heat pad regulated with a thermostat?

To the OP, thank you for coming back and keeping us posted. I'm so glad to hear that he is starting to look better. I do believe, that when he does shed, the scabbing will come off, leaving the wounds open again. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I just don't want you freaking out about it when/if it happens.

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Originally Posted by heathers*bps

I have to ask, is YOUR heat pad regulated with a thermostat?

To the OP, thank you for coming back and keeping us posted. I'm so glad to hear that he is starting to look better. I do believe, that when he does shed, the scabbing will come off, leaving the wounds open again. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I just don't want you freaking out about it when/if it happens.

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you are 100% right. he started shedding today and LOOKS FANTASTIC. however there are a few new open wounds that im sure will heal in time by the next shed or 2. i was so relieved this morning when i woke up and saw the difference.

AFTER
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...18183543-1.jpg

Yes that looks much much better. Looks like he's healing up well.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

I am so glad this story had a happy ending. :) Thank you for being a good pet owner and doing everything you could to get him better. I know plenty of people that wouldn't have wanted to pay for a vet visit, or wouldn't have bothered to seek additional advice after the vet visit. You did a lot of work to take care of your buddy, and it paid off.

On a scary note, I recently had the thermostat probe fall off of one of my zoo med heating pads. Luckily it was NOT on one of the plastic bins, and even more luckily, Dolly was smart enough to move away before she was injured. When I reattached the thermostat probe the temperature read at 138 degrees. I was horrified. The next day the heating pad shorted out, not sure if it was due to the extreme heat or if it was already malfunctioning to reach such a high temperature.

I'm glad I learned my lesson without casualties. I consider myself a responsible pet owner, but everyone can make mistakes.

You are doing an awesome job. He is looking great! Keep up with what you're doing, and don't forget to offer food every week, even if he insists on not eating. :)

wow just saw this story for the first time! what a difference!!

glad to see it!

AWESOME!!!! I was looking at previous pix and it had me worried for you, glad to see its healing, and nicely at that!

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AWESOME!!!! I was looking at previous pix and it had me worried for you, glad to see its healing, and nicely at that!

hey my snake has scale rot befor i got him i make sure he as dry as he can be but what should i put on it that will help you can send me a email to let me know thank
my email brandon93m@hotmail.com