When to do what?

[Marla]

Question for those with more experience than I have. I've found a few spots on Snyder with scale rot that the vet apparently missed, and I've started treating them with Polysporin. I'm still giving her daily soaks (except Thursday, the day after she ate) as the vet instructed for her dehydration because her skin is still a little loose, though I think now that's more due to underweight than to dehydration at this point.

I'm feeding her tonight, and I don't want to skip her Polysporin treatment, but I am not sure whether it's better to treat a snake with a full belly (assuming she eats) or treat her before feeding and risk her losing most of the Polysporin on the floor of the feeding container. Or should I just try to feed her in her own enclosure? What would you do?

[Wizill]

well, if i were you... i wouldn't even worry too much about it. peanut has had a spot of scale rot since the day i brought him home, and with a higher humidity it gets better with every shed. a few soaks will help, but i don't see any need for polysporin yet unless it's REAL bad...

[Mike]

are you positive it isnt just specs of color pattern? wait until the next shed and check really closely if you arent sure. i thought mine(one ive had since very early in 03) had a tiny spot of scale rot. i wasnt really sure if it was pattern or rot. it shed the day before yestarday and today i was looking at it. now i can tell its just its pattern. just a few small spots in the middle of the belly. im not saying your rong at all.(especially given the condition it was when you got it). thats all just something to think about.
i dont know what polysporin is...but im guessing its like neosporin. id put some on before you feed...hopefully a little will get in there and stay.

[Marla]

Thanks, y'all. I'm pretty sure it's scale rot from photos I've seen online to compare to, though I could be wrong. I figure better safe than sorry, right? Polysporin is like Neosporin, Mike, but has more meds in it. Snyder's just eaten again, so she's going to have to shed fairly soon (I got her 12/17, not long after she'd had a bad shed), and maybe she'll be able to get rid of some of it when she sheds.

[Mike]

let us know how things are after the shed. it seems like youve had to do alot of work with this snake and youve been doing a good job of giving it the best care possible. that snake has one very good home. keep up the great work!

[Marla]

Thanks, Mike! I will definitely keep you updated on how things go. It's worth it to do what takes to have a healthy snake, especially since it's not too expensive to do it right (so far, anyway).

By the way, I skipped the pinkies I was going to give her tonight and went ahead and gave her an adult mouse since she took the pinkie so well on Wednesday and still looked hungry. She ate it, though it definitely took longer both to start and to finish than it did with the pinkie. Here's a pic of her full belly: