Need Help, URGENT

Hey all,

well, about 2 weeks ago after I fed my female BP, I picked her up to hold her and noticed that she had a very very very small "chip" in one of her scales with some brownish/reddish stuff in the chip. Kinda like she slid over something sharp and it caught the scale. After looking at the scale, I didnt see any damage to the skin underneath, just the scale but to be safe, I put her on paper towels and daily neosporin treatments for a 5-7 days. I then soaked her after that week and put her back on Aspen. Well, after picking her up today, I notice that the scale is turning pinkish. At first I thought "She's going into shed" but I can't see any real pink tinge anywhere else. Now I'm worried it's infected somehow. What do ya'll think? Pics are below.

[IMG]
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file..._boo_boo_2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...vega_boo_3.jpg[/IMG]

You can't even see the cut it's so small but you can see the pinkish tinge. Any advice?

Edit: Temps, etc are as follows

90 hot
78-81 cold
58% humidity
Aspen bedding
41q tub

Are you sure its a cut and not a burn?

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Originally Posted by DZ Reptiles

Are you sure its a cut and not a burn?

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Yes, I am 100% sure. If I had a better camera I could show it to you but the scale is "slit" so to speak. If you look at it the top layer has been slit and 2 weeks ago I actually peeled off the top layer of a scale. Kinda like a shed as in the scale is intact but the very very top layer came off. If you search my previous threads, you'll see that the last time she shed she also shed scales and this was EXACTLY the same. In fact, I've seen some other scales "shedding" but very very few. But the cut/chip is only on the very edge at the bottom of one scale.

Edit: Also, her UTH is on a thermostat. on/off so it hits 93-94 and goes down to 87-88. Not nearly high enough for a burn

More pics:

[IMG]http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2/6/vega_3.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2/6/vega_2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...a_good_pic.jpg[/IMG]

Its fine, just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get infected, or worse.

clean it with betadine twice a day.

Dot use rubbing alcohol or peroxide.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

clean it with betadine twice a day.

Dot use rubbing alcohol or peroxide.

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Would neosporin with no painkiller suffice?

IMO no need for neo or polysproin as its not a open cut or wound.

Just keeping it clean and keeping snake on paper towels is all thats needed. If it gets worse then vet is needed

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

IMO no need for neo or polysproin as its not a open cut or wound.

Just keeping it clean and keeping snake on paper towels is all thats needed. If it gets worse then vet is needed

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Just put her on paper towels. Would applying neosporin hurt her at all? I would much rather put some disinfectant on her just in case.

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Originally Posted by Black_Shark

Just put her on paper towels. Would applying neosporin hurt her at all? I would much rather put some disinfectant on her just in case.

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Betadine is all you need. Neosporin isnt a disinfectant at all, betadine is

Ok, sounds good. I'm assuming I can find betadine at any pharmacy?

yes....

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

yes....

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Well, just switched her from aspen to paper towels, applied some neosporin for the night until I can get to a pharmacy tomorrow and I'll apply betadine twice a day and keep her on paper till she sheds. Hopefully, it will be fine

Any idea what it is?

Honestly i think everything will be just fine. Just let it ride out, but keep an eye on it. Things like this happen, and we cant always freak out, even though we think we should. I had a small freak out like this a little over a month ago, and everything is fine. GL.

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Originally Posted by CINCYBall

Honestly i think everything will be just fine. Just let it ride out, but keep an eye on it. Things like this happen, and we cant always freak out, even though we think we should. I had a small freak out like this a little over a month ago, and everything is fine. GL.

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Haha yeah, its just really frustrating and disappointing knowing that something may be wrong even though I *thought* everything husbandry wise was perfect. I still don't know how she slit the top layer of that scale. :confused:

But I think with the neosporin and soaking in betadine twice a day she'll be fine. Just frustrating.

*Update*

I just gave her her first diluted betadine bath ( the water was a light orange color, similar to crappy tea for those from the south :D) for about 15 minutes, then rinsed her off in the bath tub, dried her off and applied neosporin to the scale and surrounding area. I still have no idea what it is because it looks nothing like scale rot, I can't see any blood, and the area is pretty much back to normal except for a very light pink tinge. But just to be safe, I'm going to continue this routine until she sheds.

Thanks all!

-Andrew

I think you might be doing a little TOO much. Two soaks a day and neosporin for a tiny cut? I have seen ball pythons recover from multiple rat bites without any disinfectant or anti-biotics or anything.

Just leave the snake be for a while. Once she sheds everything should look back to normal. The more you mess with her, the more you stress her out. The more stressed she is, the slower her recovery.

I know it is hard to not be a paranoid parent, but sometimes you just need to let things run their course before throwing antibacterials and medication all over the place. :)

Did the snake just shed? If so, sometimes the scales will remain a pinkish tone for a few days after.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I think you might be doing a little TOO much. Two soaks a day and neosporin for a tiny cut? I have seen ball pythons recover from multiple rat bites without any disinfectant or anti-biotics or anything.

Just leave the snake be for a while. Once she sheds everything should look back to normal. The more you mess with her, the more you stress her out. The more stressed she is, the slower her recovery.

I know it is hard to not be a paranoid parent, but sometimes you just need to let things run their course before throwing antibacterials and medication all over the place. :)

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Yeah, I'm just worried that its not a cut. I really can't tell but the scale has a brownish/reddish tip and is "chipped" so to speak. It also looks like a slit has gone through the middle of the scale and both "sides" of the slit have already flaked off. So, I'm literally clueless here. I wish I could get a good pic of it but no camera besides iphone. Because of the brown tip, I'm concerned it is scale rot in the very very early stages but since I've always kept the enclosure clean, wet free, and humidity in the 55-60% range permanetly, I don't know how she got it. But I figured that treating it as scale rot in the early stages is safer than ignoring it and it getting worse.

Edit: Also she hasn't shed since thanksgiving so she is probably due for a shed sometime soon.

Edit**: She also has no abnormal smells, swollen scales, pus or anything of that nature.

Edit #3

My roommate and I looked at it a A) the brownish/reddish tip seems to be getting smaller and B) it looks like dried/crusted blood to both of us. When a rat bit my BP a couple months ago she had dried blood on her neck till she shed (I couldn't wash/wipe it off for the life of me) and it looks very similar but much smaller. So that, along with the "slit" scale leads me to believe a cut. Plus, with no swelling, pus, bad smells or any pinkness around the area (The area is no longer pink anywhere) it leads me to disregard scale rot. I think I'm going to keep her on paper towels until she sheds and go from there.

Just for future notice. You shouldn't keep neo or triple a or any of those type things on any herp. It's oil based and softens their scales, leaving them open for further injury. I'd leave it at the betadyine baths and let it heal. It could also be another bite and the rat just got the tip of the scale. I don't think you will have any further issues from it but I'd leave the neo off for good.
Hope this helps.
Morgan

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

Just for future notice. You shouldn't keep neo or triple a or any of those type things on any herp. It's oil based and softens their scales, leaving them open for further injury. I'd leave it at the betadyine baths and let it heal. It could also be another bite and the rat just got the tip of the scale. I don't think you will have any further issues from it but I'd leave the neo off for good.
Hope this helps.
Morgan

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Hmmm, I do know that neo will cause the top layer of scales to flake off but assumed that it was harmless otherwise (non-painkiller)

I had made the same mistake when I first keeping herps I had a tokay gecko that ended up getting a big gash from his mate and before I went to the vet I was treating it with neo. I had unknowingly made it worse and got a huge lecture from my vet. So I do not use neo on them at all. Actually betadyne works really well and that's all I use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

I had made the same mistake when I first keeping herps I had a tokay gecko that ended up getting a big gash from his mate and before I went to the vet I was treating it with neo. I had unknowingly made it worse and got a huge lecture from my vet. So I do not use neo on them at all. Actually betadyne works really well and that's all I use.

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So, the only harm that it does is soften their scales which leaves them open to further injury?

Yes, once or twice probably isn't a bad thing and wont hurt but when it's on all the time not good. I don't use it at all for that reason. Washes with diluted betadyne keeps it clean just the same.

I use chlorhexadine 2% Glucanate for cleaning my enclosures and cage furniture. I've never had a problem like yours but from all the research i've done on chlorhexadine glucanate, i've read its supposed to be an exellent topical solution for killing all types of bacterial infection and is safe to apply directly to your animals skin when diluted w/ water. Thats probably what I would try if it hasn't begun to get better yet.

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Originally Posted by nor_cal1980

I use chlorhexadine 2% Glucanate for cleaning my enclosures and cage furniture. I've never had a problem like yours but from all the research i've done on chlorhexadine glucanate, i've read its supposed to be an exellent topical solution for killing all types of bacterial infection and is safe to apply directly to your animals skin when diluted w/ water. Thats probably what I would try if it hasn't begun to get better yet.

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It has def. gotten better. It is no longer pink at all and just looks like reg dried blood over a cut. So i'm going to wait for the next shed and see what happens!

Yes I love clorhexidine for cleaning cages. Only issue with it is it doesn't kill parasitic things. But with bacteria it does the job! I still like the betadyne for the snakes but I heard of it from a friend who's wife had cancer they actually used it as a soap and mouthwash for the cancer patients so it's realitivly tame if diluted. Glad she's doing better. I'm sure it will heal with no further issues.

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

Yes I love clorhexidine for cleaning cages. Only issue with it is it doesn't kill parasitic things. But with bacteria it does the job! I still like the betadyne for the snakes but I heard of it from a friend who's wife had cancer they actually used it as a soap and mouthwash for the cancer patients so it's realitivly tame if diluted. Glad she's doing better. I'm sure it will heal with no further issues.

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Funny thing. I was looking at ehr vent area today and she had a piece of aspen stuck in it (At least it looked like aspen. LIttle bigger than a hair, aspen colored, etc) So I pulled it out. Very awkward.

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Originally Posted by Black_Shark

Funny thing. I was looking at ehr vent area today and she had a piece of aspen stuck in it (At least it looked like aspen. LIttle bigger than a hair, aspen colored, etc) So I pulled it out. Very awkward.

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I bet any money that your HER is a HE. And what you pulled out was a sperm plug

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

I bet any money that your HER is a HE. And what you pulled out was a sperm plug

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No, shes a she. Shes been popped at least 6 times ( my roommate went on a popping binge with all of our snakes.) And it darn sure looked like aspen. Also she is 1500g and 3'7" at 3 years old. Too big for a male at that age.

Just for information: what exactly is a sperm plug and is pulling it out harmful?

Edit: we just popped her again. Its 100% female. My new theory is that she ingested some aspen last time she ate and just didnt get it all the way out

A sperm plug is exactly what it sounds like it a dried clump of sperm that is stuck in the hemipenes. Most of the time the boys get them out themselves. But occasionally I'll have to wiggle one out. It's not bad to do that, although some care should be used. She's a really short fat snake. Most of my girls are 4-5 ft by the time they hit that weight. Just be careful on having her gain too much more without length. She could develop fatty liver disease.