Pink Belly: About to shed or something worse?

1600ish gram female, currently being treated for an RI (daily oral doses of Baytril for 30 days, almost done meds, still lots of mucous), she was shipped to me with the RI, it wasn't from my husbandry. Housed in a 44 qt rubbermaid for the extra height, paper towel substrate, water changed daily or every other day at most. Cool end 80-82, hot end 94-95 to help with RI, lowered yesterday when I noticed the pink belly, now 90-92.

Her belly is quite pink, but since this is my first ball python of this size, I'm not sure if this is what pre-shed looks like in the bigger ones. My 500 gram male pastel just shed, and his belly was very pink, solid pink, so I guess that is what this could be, but I thought I would post some pics to be sure. Her skin was also feeling rather dry, so i just gave her a 15 minute soak. Now I'm worried that it was the wrong thing to do if this is the beginnings of scale rot or something. There are no signs of any sores, or blisters or anything like that.

Lots of pics.
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/5228/dsc07944k.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4333/dsc07946x.jpg
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/3585/dsc07947c.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1087/dsc07950f.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1070/dsc07954ms.jpg
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3268/dsc07955e.jpg
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/8002/dsc07956g.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4973/dsc07957pq.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7595/dsc07958y.jpg

It looks like a pink belly before shed to me. My large normal's belly looks like that before she starts going blue. It will probably get pinker as she progresses with the shed process.

shedding

Do NOT soak the snake, it does not need it, you only need to increase the humidity.
Also I have never heard of an antibiotic tx for 30 days for an RI :confused:

Is soaking harmful? I've never seen any ill effects from it before. (not that I've done it often) Like I said, I only left her in for 15 minutes.

IIRC it can cause stuck shed and what not.

It can cause a bad shed, the snake has natural oils, that are necessary for proper shedding, and by soaking, it leaches away these oils, causing the snake to shed in pieces.
Soaking can be done just after a bad shed, to remove any stuck shed.

I'm gonna say the samething as everybody else, shedding. But I am gonna add something, I have older biggers and they do that weirdness you showed us. Nothing to be alarmed about it just looks weirder cause they are larger animals. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by llovelace

It can cause a bad shed, the snake has natural oils, that are necessary for proper shedding, and by soaking, it leaches away these oils, causing the snake to shed in pieces.
Soaking can be done just after a bad shed, to remove any stuck shed.

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Thank you for expanding ... this is where I was going :D

Soak that snake. Every other day at least. Antibiotics are hard on their kidneys, and they need those extra fluids. I had several animals shipped to me last year with RIs, and it's par for the course. If your vet is telling you not to soak, I'd find another vet.

If you're almost done with your course of antibiotics and see no change, I'd drag her back in for something else. Sometimes it can take months of battling and several switches of meds before you finally kick an ri, just hang in there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadera

Soak that snake. Every other day at least. Antibiotics are hard on their kidneys, and they need those extra fluids. I had several animals shipped to me last year with RIs, and it's par for the course. If your vet is telling you not to soak, I'd find another vet.

If you're almost done with your course of antibiotics and see no change, I'd drag her back in for something else. Sometimes it can take months of battling and several switches of meds before you finally kick an ri, just hang in there.

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The vet didn't say not to soak (at least, not that was mentioned in this thread). It was just mentioned by members here because that is a common mistake to make when a BP is going into shed. Soaking is not helpful for the shedding process, and sometimes can make it more difficult.

I hadn't heard that about antibiotics and the kidneys, but it does make some sense. And if it comes down to a choice between making sure a medicated snake is as hydrated as possible...and risking a flaky shed...I'd risk the bad shed. A flaky shed doesn't hurt the animal at all..it's just not pretty.

Antibiotics are notoriously hard on the kidneys of reptiles. (Nephrotoxicity) Especially when they're sick enough that they aren't doing any drinking on their own to keep themselves hydrated.

What I meant by mentioning the vet saying that is, that I'd go with any reliable herp vet's advice over what is said on a forum. People mean well, but it can cause more harm than good sometimes.

Thanks everyone. I actually have an appointment with the vet (herp vet) for Saturday morning. I will ask him about soaking and whether it would be good for her or not. This is actually her second round of Baytril. The person I bought her from said she had an RI a couple months before I bought her and that she had been given Baytril. Of course I didn't find out she had been recently sick until AFTER I bought her and opened the shipping tub to a wheezing snake.

But we'll see if the vet prescribes something different. She isn't really wheezing anymore, but there is still quite a bit of mucous in her mouth and throat. i think I'll ask him about doing a swab.

sorry i know this is way off topic but i had to ask, are those desmacus gloves u have on?

No, just black leather. I didn't like getting snake drool on my hands lol!

And to update, she is definitely in shed, probably will shed in another few days.

The vet gave her an injection of Keflex, it is good for a whole month, so I don't have to give her meds every day anymore, thank god! She is doing a bit better, but still has fluid in the mouth. He swabbed her mouth as he was looking for IBD, but said she definitely has an infection. The Keflex is apparently something new that vets are using with some success.

I asked about soaking, and he recommended it, just letting her have a bowl big enough to soak in. I did give her a bigger bowl, which has upped the humidity too, I think a bit too high, but that's ok for shedding anyway. I'll probably switch it back after she sheds.

I also asked him about taking her out in the sun, and he did recommend it. In fact he believes it is good for all of our snakes to get out in the UV once in a while. So I think while the weather is good I'll be taking her and the rest of them, (not at the same time) out for some sun. I took the whole gang out on the weekend, and it was a blast. I got some great pictures which I'll try to post tonight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lorgakor

And to update, she is definitely in shed, probably will shed in another few days.

The vet gave her an injection of Keflex, it is good for a whole month, so I don't have to give her meds every day anymore, thank god! She is doing a bit better, but still has fluid in the mouth. He swabbed her mouth as he was looking for IBD, but said she definitely has an infection. The Keflex is apparently something new that vets are using with some success.

I asked about soaking, and he recommended it, just letting her have a bowl big enough to soak in. I did give her a bigger bowl, which has upped the humidity too, I think a bit too high, but that's ok for shedding anyway. I'll probably switch it back after she sheds.

I also asked him about taking her out in the sun, and he did recommend it. In fact he believes it is good for all of our snakes to get out in the UV once in a while. So I think while the weather is good I'll be taking her and the rest of them, (not at the same time) out for some sun. I took the whole gang out on the weekend, and it was a blast. I got some great pictures which I'll try to post tonight.

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Phew!!! My snake is like being treated for Respritary and blood infection and he has a pink belly and clouded sort of eyes so this is a real relief!! :sweeet: ANY advice welcome :P

I agree, looks like a normal pink belly from shedding. You really don't need to soak the snake unless it has several layers of stuck shed or eye caps. Soaking usually isn't necessary because bumping up the humidity will normally take care of the stuck shed if it's only one layer. It will not hurt the snake to have some stuck shed, people do it mostly for cosmetic reasons. I typically don't soak mine unless they still have stuck shed after the second shed. Which doesn't happen often.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lorgakor

And to update, she is definitely in shed, probably will shed in another few days.

The vet gave her an injection of Keflex, it is good for a whole month, so I don't have to give her meds every day anymore, thank god! She is doing a bit better, but still has fluid in the mouth. He swabbed her mouth as he was looking for IBD, but said she definitely has an infection. The Keflex is apparently something new that vets are using with some success.

I asked about soaking, and he recommended it, just letting her have a bowl big enough to soak in. I did give her a bigger bowl, which has upped the humidity too, I think a bit too high, but that's ok for shedding anyway. I'll probably switch it back after she sheds.

I also asked him about taking her out in the sun, and he did recommend it. In fact he believes it is good for all of our snakes to get out in the UV once in a while. So I think while the weather is good I'll be taking her and the rest of them, (not at the same time) out for some sun. I took the whole gang out on the weekend, and it was a blast. I got some great pictures which I'll try to post tonight.

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He does realize ball pythons are nocturnal and don't need UV right? I haven't heard of Keflex, hopefully someone knows about it. I hate to be like this, but most vets know nothing about ball pythons and what they actually need. That includes the reptile expert that I spoke with. Hopefully everything works out, but IMO you should be causing her the least amount of stress possible, which means, leave her in the tub, don't touch her, don't handle her, nothing.

I work in the vet field and an antibiotic being prescribed for 30 days is not uncommon for a bad RI. The snake is probably just going to shed soon.