One Sick BP

[lordnikon]

Ok, my neighbor's grandkid has a very sick BP they brought over for me to see cause they knew I use to have one. Not a sick one, but just a BP. Well I was really spooked on seeing one in this condition. The first thing was the snake looks thin as all get-out. It's skin seemed really pale and loose. And it has either blister disease, or my first thought was burns from heat-rock. I never had anything like this with my BP, but I always took real great care of it.

Here's some other observations I got

Eyes looked good
The BP did seem alert, but they grandkid said that the back end wasn't very active (moving around). I didn' see alot of movement except for the front 1/4 of the snake.
She said the blisters were full of fluid, but when I saw it looked like they were drained.
Also it has large red marks on its underbelly.

Appartently the BP's condition started to deteriate in the last week or two, and now that it's gotten so bad they came to me, instead of the smart move and take it to a vet when it first started having problems. But we live in the sticks of WI and there's not alot of rep/specs around.

After reading alot of stuff online, my first thought is of the BP's living conditions. I'm going over to see what it looks like tommorow.

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated
Thanx

[llovelace]

1. Remove the heat rock
2. make sure set up is clean w/ appropriate bedding & fresh water
3. snake hide
4. proper temps
5. get pics if possible, maybe someone here can identify ?blisters
6. find out when last fed

[Vypyrz]

to BP.net. I wish you could have came here under happier circumstances.

As for the snake in question, blisters are usually caused by thermal burns. Since the blisters seem to have "popped" now there is a greater chance for infection to set in, if it hasn't already since it's been almost 2 weeks already, and a vet trip should be made asap for antibiotics
If they arent using a heat rock, then I would suspect an un-regulated Under Tank Heater, if that is what they are using...

I hope the little guy pulls through...

[bsash]

My best wishes to the poor snake. Please keep us posted.

[loonunit]

Vet trip is an absolute must. Between the red streaks and the blisters popping, sounds like the poor snake is heading straight for a screaming case of septicemia, and the outcomes for sepsis in reptiles seem to be poor.

If there's an infection happening, you want the ball python on antibiotics, stat.

Please keep us posted, and take pictures if you can.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

The blisters could be burns or scale rot. Scale rot will cause blisters. Get the husbandry correct with an under tank heater and put it on newspaper to monitor it. Tell them to keep the humidity a little low until the blisters dry up and begin to heal. Rub a very thin amount of bacitracin ointment or plain neosporin ointment. Do not use the ones with pain killers or any other added ingredients. I have delt with this very same thing (the blisters only) on a female which I allowed to maternally incubate one year. Wherever her body came in contact with the eggs she had blisters from the humidity and never moving from that spot for 2 months. If this is what the snake is question has this type of scale rot or burn blisters it can be treated and will look alot better in just a week or 2. It must be kept clean and dry with the exception of the ointment once a day very thin. If there is no improvement within a couple days then it must go to a vet but a skin condition that is not too far gone will clear up with the proper treatment very quickly.

On the other hand, if you notice anything else wrong with this snake take it to a vet anyway. Any signs of RI, making noises, mucus, bubbles, and strange lumps on or in the body. If it is merely a skin condition (without bright streaks) treat it like I said and keep us updated on its progress.

[baddawg91]

take pics if u can and hope he dos well hate to see that keep us posted