I need a Los Angeles Vet for my ball python.

Reptile probiotics: Nutribac or Bene-Bac. There may be others, but these are the 2 that I'm familiar with. They're safe & helpful for the snake's digestion, but NEVER give them WHILE the snake is receiving antibiotics- ONLY AFTER the medication is done.

Neosporin is not the best choice- and NEVER use the "pain relief" variety on a snake- it's toxic to them. If you have already, please wipe it off a.s.a.p. A little of the regular Neosporin is safe for use on a reptile wound, but anything with a petrolatum base (as Neosporin ointment has) is also known for causing skin problems in snakes -it can really mess up future sheds for a while- so use it very sparingly if at all.

Better choices for wound care: Vetericyn ointment (for reptile use) it's water-based, but I don't think it's a pain relief formula- I know of nothing you can use topically for that on snakes, & I doubt that your snake is having much pain anyway. Also safe for wound care is povidone-iodine (brand name is Betadine), diluted to look like weak tea, applied topically to prevent infection. (Vetericyn is available online or in some pet stores, Petco & maybe others; Vetericyn is just the brand name- they make products for many kinds of animals, so make sure you're getting only what is intended for snake-reptile use.)

As I mentioned before, abscesses in snakes are generally composed of solid material that will not drain- they're usually removed surgically, but that's between you & your vet- you might want to ask them why you're only doing antibiotic injections, if that's the plan? It seems your vet is either suspecting or trying to prevent a wider infection? It would be good to know their thoughts- or perhaps the lump isn't large enough to bother with surgery, or it has shrunk?

She's fine being in shed & not eating right now- as I said earlier, with antibiotic injections + the stress of seeing the vet, it's better she doesn't eat right now anyway- the last thing you need is a regurgitation. Also, she may shed more frequently for a while now- that's how snakes heal- when they have any sort of wound to heal from, they shed their whole body as a means of repair, so don't be surprised if sheds come more frequently for a while.

You'll have to experiment for what she likes as a substrate & hides, but keep in mind that snakes generally like traction & things they can hang onto, since they have no hands or feet to help. For the time being though it's best to use white paper towels (layered) while your snake is dealing with an infection. ;) Snakes usually prefer hides that they only just fit into snuggly- they feel safer that way, with only one door & a low ceiling- "cave-like". In other words, they want the opposite of what magazines like House Beautiful "sells" us humans on...snakes aren't into grand entryways or high ceilings. ;)

Got meds today. Braved the weather for them.

She's recovering from the original visit and starting to move around a bit. I tried to update the hide, but Iunno, she might be rejecting it. (I took a melamine dish, and ground into it a hole big enough for her yesterday. Underneath that is the bonsai bowl which helps with heat distribution and a paper towel.)

I gave her the injection, but then she moved, and now I'm worried I effed it up, ya know. TT I'll be monitoring her for the next 48 hours to make sure I didn't eff it terribly.