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No good, very bad shed
I soaked Madison today and ran her through a towel.
Some of her skin is stuck on her and all that will come off is a few pieces, tiny pieces.
Her belly is pink and red and irritated and some scales look swollen.
I can't get anything else off no matter how long I soak her and no matter what I do.
Why is this happening?
What should I do?
Some spots where the scales came off were bleeding.
I don't know what the heck to do. My snakes have shed so many times and it's never been like this. none of them have ever had even a speck of blood when I ran them through a towel, especialy not after soaking them.
??????
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A picture of the snake would help.
A picture of your set up would help others troubleshoot with you. Providing both will get you more help that may pinpoint the issue so that it can be resolved.
If you can't provide all that, my suggestion is get the animal to a Vet.
Good luck!
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I meant to include in the original post "pics will come later". So sorry, I'm exhausted, forgive typos and what not.
Thanks for the reminder Deborah. :)
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Re: No good, very bad shed
Just PLEASE stop peeling the snake. :please: I have heard a horror story about a woman that didn't know what she was doing and peeled her snake alive.
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i didn't mean to peel it all i did was run her through a damp washcloth like i usually do if they have a bad shed but it's not working. I realized it would not come off after a soak and figured i'd ask here for advice. i haven't touched her since which is why pics will be coming later--i don't want to bother her, maybe she'll get it off herself. have sprayed her tank really good and made a humid hide again, but she never uses it. :( i think that may be why it's stuck right now anyway.
peeled a snake alive? that is terrible :( i usually leave them alone if it doesn't come off becuase i'm no expert. :/ i don't want t hurt them
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How long did you soak her for? I've been through bad sheds where I have to soak. Usually soaking for 15-20 mins will do the trick. If the skin won't come off super easy after that, I leave them, mist the tub and soak for the same amount of time the next day til it's gone.
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Re: No good, very bad shed
One other question while we are waiting for pictures..did you have any oil based product in the water?
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No oil based product in the water, but I do have some "Zoo Med repti-shed aid" which has oils and minerals in it...should I give that a shot?
Should I spray that on or dump it in some water and have her soak in it?
I soaked her for about 10 minutes, BUT she kept climbing out of the water. The tub I had her in has an area she was able to crawl under between the lid and top of the tub so I think she was in there for at least 7 minutes as I kept opening it to check, but at the end of the 10 min she had figured out how to pull her whole body up there and hide. lol
The water should be around 70 degrees, yes? OR warmer/colder?
Thanks. Going to take photos now, should be uploaded in about 15 min (it's a long process uploading from my phone to computer. grr)
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Is there any red ink/dye she has had access to? Newspaper inks, substrate like wood shavings that have red to them?
If not, it looks like the beginning of extensive belly rot. I'd suggest contacting your vet and asking if he can give you the same medications you are treating the cornsnake with scale rot with.
Also, if you are soaking her BEFORE she sheds, this can actually remove beneficial oils and make it harder for them to shed properly in some cases. Can't bring up the 'where' I read that, but I think it was on here somewhere. I don't soak snakes, but then I have high humiidty anyway.
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Re: No good, very bad shed
Looks like some blister disease starting. She probably needs to see a vet.
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Grrrr. Will make a vet appointment, let you know how it goes.
I had moved her onto paper towels last night just in case the aspen irritated her scales.
Thanks for your advice.
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One question--I don't get it. Where is the scale rot coming from? :( I'm confused. I clean and disinfect the tanks weekly and put in completely new aspen about once every other week. What am I doing wrong?
:/
I appreciate the advice, very much. :)
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Re: No good, very bad shed
Quote:
Originally Posted by shelliebear
One question--I don't get it. Where is the scale rot coming from? :( I'm confused. I clean and disinfect the tanks weekly and put in completely new aspen about once every other week. What am I doing wrong?
:/
I appreciate the advice, very much. :)
What kind of disinfectant are you using? Is it possible that it doesn't get rinsed off thoroughly enough? Not saying it never gets rinsed enough...but perhaps sometimes there has been enough chemical residue left over to irritate or "burn" the snakes?
:confuzd:
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I use Zoo med or whatever's "WIPE OUT 2", for the tank.
It said to just wipe the bottom of the tank clean after wards, and I always wipe it completely 100% dry after I'm done--but I never rinse it. :/ Should I?
Can wipe out burn the snakes? :(
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The snakes were on Aspen anyway so they didn't touch the bottom of the tank where I cleaned it the most. :(
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Re: No good, very bad shed
it resembles how my new snake looked when i got him i just took him to the vet and found out that it was what the vet cosidered a third degree burn, he also informed me that with burns it can take a week or more for the scales to blister and swell so i will agree on the vet visit idea. If it is scale rot which is caused by sitting in either urine or feces for an extended period or by too much humidity looks like an early enough stage to be treated, i just recieved meds and don't know any other direction to point you i wish you the best
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Re: No good, very bad shed
Quote:
Originally Posted by shelliebear
Grrrr. Will make a vet appointment, let you know how it goes.
I had moved her onto paper towels last night just in case the aspen irritated her scales.
Thanks for your advice.
It's been about 3 days now - what did your vet say yesterday? If I remember from the past, your exotics vet is in on Thursdays, right?
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They were booked for Thursday. :/
Have an appointment for the 3rd of next week (I said the 4th in another thread but it's the third, I checked my reminder card.)
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Re: No good, very bad shed
Quote:
Originally Posted by shelliebear
They were booked for Thursday. :/
Have an appointment for the 3rd of next week (I said the 4th in another thread but it's the third, I checked my reminder card.)
I hope the snake is improving, I am glad it appears so.:)
If you would post those pics of your set up, I am sure many of the members would be happy to troubleshoot with you to prevent further occurrances.
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Thanks Deborah--I appreciate your comments on my Fauna thread. :)
I will get pics up later today.
:gj:
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