I think something is seriously wrong with my BP :(

[p0ink]

I think something is seriously wrong with my BP.

I have a year and some odd months old albino ball, and it has not eaten in more than 3 months. In fact, it only weighs a little less than 400 grams. I took it to the vet, and I was told it has a mild case of mouth rot.

The vet put her on injectable antibiotics and had me clean her mouth twice per day with chlorhexidine. Well, she just finished her last injection on Sunday, and I really am not noticing any real, significant improvement, and I am really starting to freak out.

Inside her mouth looks fine, it is just that part of the exterior of her mouth. There is no pus, bleeding, etc. Just dark discoloration.

Her cage setup is a 20 gallon long, ambient temp at 83-86, a warm hide with a UTH, a normal dry hide, and a cooler moist hide, as well. It is also lined with cage carpet.

I have 5 other balls, and all of them are doing great...but this one just isn't. On top of her mouth, I am really worried about not only her mouth but the fact that she is under weight. Is it time to start force feeding? What should I do.

Here are pics

[LadyOhh]

It's basically a scar. It will shed away in the next few months, unless it keeps getting rubbed or peeled away.

Keep an eye on it.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Did the vet take a swab and run a culture to determine the best antibiotic to use? If not, that is an issue--should have been done. (You can't just throw Baytril at it and hope--putting the animal on antibiotics while you wait for culture results is one thing, but not doing a culture at all isn't responsible vetting).

Do not force-feed. Force feeding is incredibly dangerous, and can outright kill an animal. It's far too easy to perforate the esophagus. Instead, tube-feeding of something like Carnivore Care or even a pureed rodent would be a much better choice, if the snake needs nutritional support. The vet should do this when you bring the snake back in. Since the problem hasn't been resolved by the antibiotic used, you will have to take it back to the vet. If you aren't confident in your vet, find a better one.

[bsash]

You could take another trip to the vet and get another round of medicine, or when I used to keep snakes, my vet used to tell me I could use 50/50 mix of water and Listerine mouth wash as long as it was not inside of the mouth. I have tried that because that was when money was tight a long while back, it did work for mild cases like yours, but not for any thing worse. Now when things go wrong I run right to my vet, but I appreciated when she gave me that advice, and I'm willing to pass it on.

I will put out that I do trust my vet and she specializes in reptiles, but also takes other exotics. I am just throwing that out as some advice that my vet gave me in case money is tight your way.

Also, I thought I might add that you have a very pretty snake, and I wish good luck to the both of you.

[loonunit]

Is it possible that this is just a bit of paradox coloring popping through? ... I wish it wasn't right by the mouth. I second the swabbing+culture suggestion.

If it weren't for the mouth issue, I'd say not to worry about the feeding/weight problems. Your snake is small for its age, but it's got a lot of company in that weight/age bracket.

[Seru1]

There's a good list of vets somewhere on the forums.


It's not much but I will pray for your snake. Try taking her to a vet, but force feeding sounds awful dangerous.

[p0ink]

Does it appear to be mouth rot to you guys or something else? I opened her mouth and her gums are all pink and healthy looking from what I can see.

Should I continue with the Chlorhexidine or should I switch to hydrogen peroxide, listerine, tamodine, etc?

Also, what about the non-eating issue? This snake is definitely super stressed from getting injections the last 7 days, and I am sure she doesn't like me cleaning her mouth with a surgical scrub....

[p0ink]

The Vet I took her to is recommended by the Reptile Humane Society of Colorado. I figured their people would be the place to start.

[WingedWolfPsion]

If the snake no longer has mouth rot, the discoloration could be almost anything, including newspaper ink. Albinos can get so dirty.

[p0ink]

Is it possible that this is just a bit of paradox coloring popping through? ... I wish it wasn't right by the mouth. I second the swabbing+culture suggestion.

If it weren't for the mouth issue, I'd say not to worry about the feeding/weight problems. Your snake is small for its age, but it's got a lot of company in that weight/age bracket.

I have her sister, too (both from the same clutch), and the sister is almost double her size and a very aggressive eater.