Puffy Lip

[WarriorPrincess90]

My vet was use to retics. He's an exotics vet. He very much liked her quirkiness. He is not however, a vet that will send home syringes and medication... Now do you understand?

I had to take her back every couple days over the course of treatment for her regularly scheduled injections. Because the affected area in her mouth had caused her trachea to swell and her mouth tissue to discolour. It was looking like a bad RI even though the infection had been caused by the tooth/gum problem.

He was less concerned with the tooth issue, as was I, than the bigger infection in her mouth. The problem tooth could not be seen and we both agreed after the infection was gone to just wait it out without putting her through the stress of X-rays.

It did flare up every so often for awhile after that, but only the gum area by the tooth causing the problem would swell. It never did cause another bad infection. It eventually worked itself out.

Believe me, i would not be taking a snake for injections if I did not feel it was needed. I have full faith in the exotics vet that I've used exclusively for my herps, and even a couple rescued birds in the last 20 years.

Just thought I would point out the spots you clearly overlooked MMReptiles in your somewhat unnecessary retaliation. Clearly, Foschi has full faith in this vet and it seems as though he did the right thing in his course of treatment for that particular instance. Perhaps you should read more carefully as it was painfully obvious that the vet was treating the MOUTH and not an RI as you accused. The mention of RI was merely for comparative purposes.

At any rate, the swelling looks pretty bad in the pic. Keep an eye on it and if you notice any negative changes I would suggest considering a visit to a qualified vet. However, if MMReptiles can help you, and she doesn't get much worse before Sunday, he can give you a more accurate assessment of your situation. It was very kind of him to offer.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Just thought I would point out the spots you clearly overlooked MMReptiles in your somewhat unnecessary retaliation. Clearly, Foschi has full faith in this vet and it seems as though he did the right thing in his course of treatment for that particular instance. Perhaps you should read more carefully as it was painfully obvious that the vet was treating the MOUTH and not an RI as you accused. The mention of RI was merely for comparative purposes.

At any rate, the swelling looks pretty bad in the pic. Keep an eye on it and if you notice any negative changes I would suggest considering a visit to a qualified vet. However, if MMReptiles can help you, and she doesn't get much worse before Sunday, he can give you a more accurate assessment of your situation. It was very kind of him to offer.

Exactly.. There was a culture taken but while waiting for the results of that culture, we felt it best to get the infection under control with a broad spectrum antibiotic as it was beginning to block the trachea.. As I said, it was beginning to look like an RI but it was an infection caused by the tooth. The swelling was so bad that none of her teeth could be seen below the gum line on that side at that time.

When the culture results came back it was an infection but not RI. It was treated the second time around with clindamycin due to it being an external mouth infection and a broad spectrum antibiotic was not required.

As for the decision to allow it to work itself out, this was a decision come to by myself, my vet, and an experienced retic keeper/breeder who I had previously sold retics to. A gentleman who does have plenty of experience with retic mouth issues. The bad tooth was not apparent even when the swelling was gone, which is why we all figured it was likely an abscess deep below the gum line. Since they regularly lose and regrow teeth, we did not see the benefit in digging around for something that may never be found and risk causing more trauma. Since it never did cause an infection like the first episode, and merely swelled slightly a few times after that, in my opinion, this was MY best course of action.

Every case needs to be taken differently.

[thedarkwolf25]

I checked on her a little bit ago and the swelling seems significantly reduced. It may have just been that I am tired and the lighting was poor. But if it's going down then she should be fine. I normally feed on Fridays, is it ok to feed her or should I wait until this has blown over?

[MMReptiles]

If the swelling is going down, by all means feed her friday.

[thedarkwolf25]

If the swelling is going down, by all means feed her friday.

Glad to hear that, she has a voracious appetite and would be rather upset to miss a meal. On regards to her rubbing on anything: When we first got her she was rubbing on everything in the tub (my guess is to try and escape) but after a week or so she stopped that and spends most of her time just coiled up and chilling. I do sometimes find her with her nose up in the edge where the tub and rack meet.

It doesn't look as though she is rubbing or pushing much but I am also gone 10 hours a day, so she could be doing it when I am not home.

[MMReptiles]

Nose in corner like that is typical of rubbing, trying to get out for varying reasons. Some retics will rub non stop until moved into a real cage, I've seen plenty of smaller ones just too high strung to be in a rack long term. Your other option is up her feedings, more frequently/larger prey, they don't move much when full, and it's a great little trick to get them to calm down when you stuff them full of food .

[thedarkwolf25]

She doesn't seem to mind the rack that much, but it's just temporary until she hits about 5-6ft or so, then I will need to build her a real enclosure (or buy one). She is an eating machine, she gets one rat fuzzy a week and sometimes gets seconds if one of the others doesn't eat.

[MMReptiles]

Dark how is she looking now? Has it gone down or persisted? I would expect if it was just pushing alone- it would have probably all but gone down by now?

[thedarkwolf25]

We are at the vet now, it appears that she has an abscess. The vet is going to remove it then give her an antibiotic.

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[MMReptiles]

Did he culture it? I'm eager to hear what he uses to treat it, make sure he checks for teeth while he's in there or it might return.