bp belly rot?

[Carlene16]

Snake being in pain or not, it's obviously a problem. I don't know about you guys but this sort of thing really angers me, when someone let's this happen (which does happen from time to time, honest mistakes, inexperience) BUT that is NO excuse not to get the correct care for the snake. I believe and always will believe that you should not have an animal that you can't pay a vet bill for.

[llovelace]

Enough all ready ppl, the gal came for advice not to get bashed or ridiculed, the snake has a burn not scale rot and judging from the pics it looks to be healing, there is no swelling/major redness or sangineous drainage or exudate noted in the pics.

The only thing a vet will do other than presrcribe silvadene cream & soaks is culture the wound (which I doubt), and give the animal a prophylactic injection of antibiotics, which may or may not be needed.

[blackcrystal22]

Just so everyone's clear about this snake must be in pain and such. Snakes dont have the proper nerve ending like mammals to feel pain. In such you get snakes with burns and what not acting like nothings happened since they can not feel the pain.

Look into the link i provided as its your only option if you cant afford it up front.

They're nerve endings are not as developed, true. Their pain receptors exist, however, they are not as complicated as ours. Saying that they do not feel pain at all is incorrect. They are more tolerant to pain and don't feel heat as quickly as it burns. Also keep in mind that the hide was likely where the burn occurred, and the snake probably did not think to leave his secure spot for a bit of discomfort.

Lisa, burns that cover more than 1/3 of the body could mean significant fluid loss and high chances of infection. Even though the burns look like they're healing doesn't mean they are. Healing appears very differently on reptiles than it does on humans and mammals.
That snake could survive with the common over-the-counter creams, but I cannot diagnose that snake through a picture but I can tell that not going to a vet is risking the life of the animal. The vet can make the proper diagnosis and determine if antibiotics are needed, we don't have the credentials to play vet.

[A&S Reptiles]

They are more tolerant to pain and don't feel heat as quickly as it burns.

Exactly my thoughts.

[XIIIPythons]

i look at this as having a 3-4 year old child who knocks a boiling pot off the stove onto his/her skin .. they child can not get in the car and go to the doctor just like a snake in your care cannot go to a vet .. when u purchase a pet you take on the responsibility of providing that animal with all the care it needs ... i know when my weenie dog got parvo and then 2 weeks later had a seizure it cost me right at $400 for both visits.. the vet allowed me to setup a payment plan with no interest .. so they are willing to work with you .. btw my dog is doing great.. he kicked parvo's butt

[jsmorphs2]

It looks to be a burn, until you can get the animal to a vet, soak him with tepid water and betadine solution daily (10 min.), apply silvadene burn cream after soaks. keep on paper substrate, check on him often. Monitor wounds for increased redness, swelling.

Best of luck

btw is that heat pad on a thermostat?

That's what I thought too when I saw the pictures. Scale Rot can take a little while to get that bad, with a snake sitting in a dirty/wet cage for a few weeks. If you noticed it just "appear" then it sounds like a burn. Definitely use a thermostat if you use a heat pad (but I think you said you removed the pad).

Soaking in Betadine will help protect against infection (mix it with tepid water until it looks like dark tea). Just make sure you dry the snake well before putting Neosporin (with OUT pain reliever) or Silvadene on the wound. You want to keep any moisture to a minimum. If you treat the snake at home and if in a few days it looks to be healing and not infected (no puss, redness or swelling) it should be ok. I would still follow up with a Vet as soon as you can.


PS - Good, knowledgeable herp vets can be hard to find. I hate to say it but sometimes taking a reptile to a vet can do more harm than good.

[blackcrystal22]

That's what I thought too when I saw the pictures. Scale Rot can take a little while to get that bad, with a snake sitting in a dirty/wet cage for a few weeks. If you noticed it just "appear" then it sounds like a burn. Definitely use a thermostat if you use a heat pad (but I think you said you removed the pad).

Soaking in Betadine will help protect against infection (mix it with tepid water until it looks like dark tea). Just make sure you dry the snake well before putting Neosporin (with OUT pain reliever) or Silvadene on the wound. You want to keep any moisture to a minimum. If you treat the snake at home and if in a few days it looks to be healing and not infected (no puss, redness or swelling) it should be ok. I would still follow up with a Vet as soon as you can.


PS - Good, knowledgeable herp vets can be hard to find. I hate to say it but sometimes taking a reptile to a vet can do more harm than good.

A lot of people don't know how to look. I thought the same thing two years ago and now I know of one that I specifically use that's a bit of a drive, and two that are closer in case of an emergency. One in my town and one in a neighboring town.

Call some veterinary offices, just normal ones, and ask if they know of any good herp vets in the general area. You'd be surprised, vets tend to know other vets.

Sometimes it can do harm, but in this case I don't see how. I would say 70% of the exotic vets know how to treat reptiles properly. They did go to school for 8+ years after all. Usually you only hear stories about the 30% that are bad because those are the only stories that people tell.

[rdoyle]

How is the snake doing any up dates????

[Generationshell]

Best of Luck.
I just dealt with a stubborn friends ex that wouldn't take his snake to a vet for severe scale rot...Animal control wouldn't do crap, and I had to just leave it in the hands of the Herp association...
All I can say is take responsibility. Admit mistakes in husbandry or what not and do what is needed. The snake did come with risks and responsibilities. And we all should be held accountable for our pets.

[kasmiraross]

Best of Luck.
I just dealt with a stubborn friends ex that wouldn't take his snake to a vet for severe scale rot...Animal control wouldn't do crap, and I had to just leave it in the hands of the Herp association...
All I can say is take responsibility. Admit mistakes in husbandry or what not and do what is needed. The snake did come with risks and responsibilities. And we all should be held accountable for our pets.

is there a update on your ex friends snake ?