scale rot :-( HELP ASAP, vet havent helped

[snyper93]

im not ignoring anything, i just have a lot of questions to answer to. No, i do not have a heating pad thermostat. by the way it sounds i should invest in one. I spoke with the snake guy and he was pretty pissed about what the vet was telling me to do. he said, as most of you have as well, keep the area as dry as possible and no creams. he said the baytril should def. help clear up what he has going on. no more soaking, no more clyndamyicin, no more creams, no more heat pad. he said if it doesn't start to look better in about a week come in and see him and hell bring it to their vet and take care of things for me. so im going to go with that. and ill let you all know how everything goes!!

i appreciate everyone's responses, you all may have saved my snakes life :-)

[Vasiliki]

Glad to hear that you are getting some good advice from a person that is likely familiar with this. I know how hard it is to get information from a vet, only to have people in the hobby tell you something completely opposite. Who do you believe?! It's not surprising at all that there are so many different approaches to things. I'll be honest: The best way I've found to get the correct information is to listen to everyone, focus on those with experience, those who want to genuinely help you (not just tell you you're wrong, but offer ways to fix it) and the most consistent information.

In this case, many of us here are saying burn, saying to keep it dry and to regulate your heat. By the sounds of it, that should offer relief to your animal.

I also want to agree with the person who suggested putting your UTH on the BACK of the tank/tub for now.

If you've ever burned yourself, you know how sensitive that skin gets to heat. If you have your poor boy sitting on top of heat (even at the correct temperature), it's going to be uncomfortable.

So I would offer just appropriate, indirect heat. Get the ambient temperature up in his enclosure, make sure he has a cool side and a warm side, but keep him off belly heat for now. That's going to be so painful for him for the next little while. Definitely leave him be as much as you can and only handle him when you need to. Don't 'check on it' all the time. He needs to just chill and heal for now.

Poor boy! That looks just awful.

Please keep us posted and don't be afraid to ask anymore questions if you're unsure of something

[don15681]

if that's a burn, then you need to be treating it most likely with Silvadene Cream. 1 percent includes 10mg of micronized silver sulfadiazine. with a burn, you need to be concern with the area becoming infected. take everything out of the tank and use paper towels and a water bowl. don't use the uth until you get the temps from it controlled. and I don't think I would even use it until this heals. the slightest heat on a burn = pain. silvadene cream is also used on humans for burns to prevent infections. keep the enclosure clean. very important. change the paper towels at least twice a day or more if needed.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Right, undertank heat pads should not, ever, no matter WHAT the manufacturer says, be used without a controlling device, whether it's a rheostat or a thermostat. Thermostats are best.

These devices get HOTTER as they age, and develop irregular hot spots. They are also designed to raise the temperature a certain amount above the AMBIENT--not just to a set temperature. Imagine that heat pad has probably been over 110F at some points!

The evidence is very clear on the belly of that poor snake.

Ball pythons NEED heat--the temperature shouldn't drop below 80F for them, and they need a 90F basking spot...I definitely second everyone's recommendation for a side-mounted heat source until this poor guy is fully healed. (Provided he can recover from such a severe burn--burns are extremely traumatic).

I've never heard anyone reputable using oral antibiotics for a snake. Should be injections.

Any vet who diagnoses a problem like that, and prescribes meds without taking cultures, is an idiot.

Ball pythons live for over 30 years. A quality thermostat is the most expensive piece of equipment you will buy for your snake, and THE MOST IMPORTANT. It's the one thing people should not skimp on, and it's the one thing pet stores never stock. Education is the only way to change this.

I feel terrible for that poor animal, he has to be in absolute agony.

[adamjeffery]

don't use neosporin. i recommend a very diluted solution of iodine and soak him in it for 3 minutes, 3 times a day, very gently pat dry with paper towels or a clean towel each time. go see snake junkie because he can for sure recommend someone if he doesn't know himself. ASAP or you will have a dead snake in no time.

(no sarcastic undertone, just a general question)
i personally recommend neosporin for most small injuries. this case is more severe than any i have had to deal with. neosporin has worked wonders for a couple of my snakes and many that were rescued here locally.
is there a specific reason that you dont recommend neosporin ?
im asking for general knowledge. not being sarcastic in any tone. just wondering WHY you dont support its use.
adam jeffery

[The Serpent Merchant]

(no sarcastic undertone, just a general question)
i personally recommend neosporin for most small injuries. this case is more severe than any i have had to deal with. neosporin has worked wonders for a couple of my snakes and many that were rescued here locally.
is there a specific reason that you dont recommend neosporin ?
im asking for general knowledge. not being sarcastic in any tone. just wondering WHY you dont support its use.
adam jeffery

Any oil based cream will turn the scales to mush. it is fine to use extremely sparingly with a single application, but if you are going to have to reapply it should not be used.

Water based products such as Betadine (watered down iodine) are much safer to use and are the preferred method of disinfecting wounds.

[Skittles1101]

(no sarcastic undertone, just a general question)
i personally recommend neosporin for most small injuries. this case is more severe than any i have had to deal with. neosporin has worked wonders for a couple of my snakes and many that were rescued here locally.
is there a specific reason that you dont recommend neosporin ?
im asking for general knowledge. not being sarcastic in any tone. just wondering WHY you dont support its use.
adam jeffery

Any kind of petroleum based product should NEVER ever ever everrrr be used on burns, that goes for humans AND reptiles.

[hucklecookie]

Everyone has given all the answers and what not so I would just like to wish you very very good luck with your snake. I know how it feels for your snake to be your buddy/friend.

[snyper93]

Just a quick update for you all, i have STOPPED all previous treatments. no more soaking, no more clyndamyicin, no more polysporin. as of now im giving .25ML of baytril every other day and thats it. the UTH has been turned off. he has also been removed from my front room and placed in a bedroom where it stays 80-90 day and night, VS the front room dropping to 70 during the night. Im still cleaning his tank 2x a day, sterilizing everything and placing fresh paper towels down.

He did come out from under his log for the first time today and was roaming for about an hour. HE DOES NOT SMELL ANYMORE, he does NOT look any better, still open wounds, stilly yucky skin in places, and hes still testy. but well see from here. ill continue to take pics and keep you all updated

[mackynz]

What were you using to measure the temp of his hot spot?