Guys...I'm really worried...Scale rot?? Infected burn?? Please help!!

[RaeDee]

So about a week or so ago, I posted a thread with pics of my BP's belly after her shed. Here is what I posted a week ago:



The vet and the people at the reptile store I bought her at both told me it was a minor burn and to simply apply a light layer of Neosporin (Yes, I know what everyone says about Neosporin but I did what the vet instructed me to do) This is Matilda today:


I really can't tell what's going on here. She didn't eat when she normally eats like monster, which I understand because that burn cannot be comfortable in the slightest. I'm taking her to the vet again in the morning to see what I can do but in the mean time, I'd like to see what you guys think. All of the husbandry specs are on par so I'm not worried about that. The temp in her warm hide is right at 90 degrees with an ambient of 78. But now some of the scales along her back are coming off. I could see them on my hands when I handled her just now. The 'scale' still seems in place as I can see the outline of it on her back but its like the top layer of them are coming off in one small patch along her back. I've read this can come from a bad shed but it still has me worried. Any and all advice is most welcome!!!

[DVirginiana]

I've had a lot of success with using Neosporin on small areas, but some of the chemicals can soften scales and make them come off, so I'm betting that's what's causing the scales on her back to come off.
I imagine you already do, but do you have her in a hospital setup with just paper towels as bedding? That'll keep debris out of the burns.

It's good you're going to the vet again tomorrow, let us know what they say.

[RaeDee]

I have her on clean reptile carpet. Should I switch to paper towels ASAP?

[nightrainfalls]

you need to be asking right now. You have to take the offending heat source away pronto.

How are you heating?

If you are using a UTH is it on a thermostat?

The snake is clearly reinjuring itself on the heat source. Can you give us the details of your setup so we can look for the problem. A photo of the tank would be great.

I hope your snake survives this.

David

[RaeDee]

I am using a UTH but its not on regulated thermostat. I have a rheostat in the mail, arriving tomorrow though. I do have a thermometer resting under her warm hide, right over the heating pad. It reads 91 degrees right now. I put her on dry paper towels and have already removed all rough objects in her tank. After doing some research on exotic vet sites, I'm convinced this is scale rot, secondary to her burn. I'll post pics of the tank when I get a moment.

[M.P.C]

That unregulated uth is what did that, your probe may read 91 but i bet it gets alot hotter then that at points during the day.

[DVirginiana]

Woah, didn't realized you hadn't regulated the heat source yet. Unplug it until you get something to regulate it, I'd bet you money it goes over 91 at certain points during the day.

I'd still change from reptile carpet to paper towel. It's a little less abrasive, but it's also better for being able to see any discharge or bleeding that might be coming from the wounds.

[RaeDee]

I have her soaking in a betadine solution right now and I've switched her over to paper towel bedding. My rheostat is coming tomorrow.

[Asherah]

Wow, you really should have turned off the uth like we told you in the last thread. Leaving it on unregulated did nothing but allow what was a relatively minor burn to continue to get worse. If you have not turned off the uth and absoutely turn it off now leave it off until you have a thermostat on it. I would personally leave it off and use ambient temps at 86 or a heat lamp until that burn heals.

[RaeDee]

I would've done but I don't have a heat lamp. How can I keep her tank warm until tomorrow when my rheostat comes in??