Uninformed vet? PLEASE HELP!

[Bloodborn25]

Well it's not always the humidity. Snakes can get scale rot from being on wet bedding for to long if it's wet it cooks be that but if not more investigating to do.

0.1.0 normal Ball Python

[Daybreaker]

What thermostat are you using with your UTH? What temp gauge are you using to measure the 90 degrees hot side? (Heat mats can malfunction, they won't last forever)

What ointment did the vet recommend you to apply and what antibiotics?

What substrate are you using?

[Bloodborn25]

Also how deep is the bedding I'd do 2"-3" depending on size

0.1.0 normal Ball Python

[satomi325]

Looks like a burn to me.

Heat Rock - NEVER USE ONE. If your snake doesn't have a burn yet, it will soon enough on a heat rock.


Heat Mat - Get a thermoSTAT to control the heat. Unregulated heat mats can spike and be hot enough to burn a snake.


Regardless if it's a burn or scale rot, you can apply Silver Sulfadiazine cream. And you can also disinfect the area with Betadine before using the cream.
I would stop bathing your snake. You want the area to be dry, not wet or moist.

[STROUSE90]

Looks like a burn to me.

Heat Rock - NEVER USE ONE. If your snake doesn't have a burn yet, it will soon enough on a heat rock.


Heat Mat - Get a thermoSTAT to control the heat. Unregulated heat mats can spike and be hot enough to burn a snake.


Regardless if it's a burn or scale rot, you can apply Silver Sulfadiazine cream. And you can also disinfect the area with Betadine before using the cream.
I would stop bathing your snake. You want the area to be dry, not wet or moist.

I was told that using cream too much would cause the scales to come off, would that be something to be concerned about with the silver sulfadiazine cream or betadine?


The vet said a bath everyday. After this bath seeing how red her poor belly got I don't think ill be doing that again. Lucy was prescribed a "triple antibiotic with dex" according to the vets notes. Right now I am currently using brand new clean towel (I change every week) as the substrate. This vet bill is putting me so far into the hole, and it's getting more and more frustrating seeing that I've probably wasted a few hundred dollars on a vet who doesnt know jack.

They want me to go back two more times this week at almost 90$ per visit to get 2 more gentamicin injections on top of the one she got today. Is that a good idea? I really don't have the money to keep dishing out as I've already dropped a ton and need to make sure I have enough for bills and such.

Oh and one last thing, the vet said to get a UVA lamp to put on top of the tank, except now my humidity went from 50 to 20!! I have two huge water bowls in there but it's not helping.



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[satomi325]

I was told that using cream too much would cause the scales to come off, would that be something to be concerned about with the silver sulfadiazine cream or betadine?


The vet said a bath everyday. After this bath seeing how red her poor belly got I don't think ill be doing that again. Lucy was prescribed a "triple antibiotic with dex" according to the vets notes. Right now I am currently using brand new clean towel (I change every week) as the substrate. This vet bill is putting me so far into the hole, and it's getting more and more frustrating seeing that I've probably wasted a few hundred dollars on a vet who doesnt know jack.

They want me to go back two more times this week at almost 90$ per visit to get 2 more gentamicin injections on top of the one she got today. Is that a good idea? I really don't have the money to keep dishing out as I've already dropped a ton and need to make sure I have enough for bills and such.

Oh and one last thing, the vet said to get a UVA lamp to put on top of the tank, except now my humidity went from 50 to 20!! I have two huge water bowls in there but it's not helping.



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Using oil based products like Neosporin ointment will make scales soft and flake off.

Silver Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic cream for burns and scale rot and safe to use. Betadine is an antiseptic so its used to keep the area clean so it doesn't get infected.


Why the UV lamp? For heat? Snakes don't utilize UV like lizards. And ball pythons are nocturnal.


The burn doesn't look too bad compared to others I've seen. I think it will be fine in the end. Get a thermostat for your heating pad. I'm not a vet, but keeping your enclosure hospital clean and applying betadine and antibiotic cream should be enough in my opinion.I would consult a reptile vet for conformation. Many can advise you through email or phone if you do not have access to one locally. Sounds like yours isn't reptile knowledgeable.

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[STROUSE90]

Using oil based products like Neosporin ointment will make scales soft and flake off.

Silver Sulfadiazine is an antibiotic cream for burns and scale rot and safe to use. Betadine is an antiseptic so its used to keep the area clean so it doesn't get infected.


Why the UV lamp? For heat? Snakes don't utilize UV like lizards. And ball pythons are nocturnal.


The burn doesn't look too bad compared to others I've seen. I think it will be fine in the end. Get a thermostat for your heating pad. I'm not a vet, but keeping your enclosure hospital clean and applying betadine and antibiotic cream should be enough in my opinion.I would consult a reptile vet for conformation. Many can advise you through email or phone if you do not have access to one locally. Sounds like yours isn't reptile knowledgeable.

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Thank you so much, she said I needed to get the lamp because all pythons need UVA rays? She said nothing about heat. I've never heard of that before though. She also said to put a very large water dish in there so she can soak. I did that and Lucy has been in and out of it. But I don't know if her soaking is a good idea with the cream she's prescribed mixing in a waterbowl, and with keeping her somewhat dry right now.

I'll be picking up silver Sulfadiazine and Betadine tomorrow! Hopefully I can see her back to her old self again soon


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[Slim]

You need to run, not walk, RUN away from this Vet and never darken their door again. I don't know what kind of Cracker Jack Box Vet School she went to, but she clearly knows nothing about Ball Pythons, and I'm willing to bet she knows nothing about snakes in general.

Prescribing UV lighting for a ball python is like me prescribing contact lenses for Stevie Wonder...

[CatandDiallo]

You need to run, not walk, RUN away from this Vet and never darken their door again. I don't know what kind of Cracker Jack Box Vet School she went to, but she clearly knows nothing about Ball Pythons, and I'm willing to bet she knows nothing about snakes in general.

Prescribing UV lighting for a ball python is like me prescribing contact lenses for Stevie Wonder...

No kidding, my god. She sounds like a crock. Don't go back!

[Spiritserpents]

I am astounded she sent you home with neo-poly-dex instead of silver sulfadiazine. I've never seen any of the reptile vets I've worked with send that home. You can slather the SSD and nothing bad will come of it. I used that on my blind yellow ratsnake when I got him and he'd been bitten in the face by a rat at his last owner. We call it the 'miracle goo' at work. The stuff about the heat rock and UV is ridiculous as well. Flee! Flee while you can!