EMERGENCY* Bad skin disorder

[recycling goddess]

and IF you have any more snakes... make sure you quarantine this one!

[Evan Jamison]

Looks like necrotic dermatitus (scale rot) to me, but could be a burn. Either way, he obviously needs medical attention, and soon. For the time being, you can 25% hydrogen peroxide with 75% water and very gently clease the infected area. At this point the real concern is that the infection will go systemic, and he will go downhill fast, so topical treatment is not enough. Like Derek said, keep him on a dry clean substrate, and get to a vet ASAP.

As far as the cause, how wet do you keep that coconut fiber bedding where he hangs out most of the time? How often do you change it? do you have an under-tank heat source, and how it is regulated?

I hope he heals up after treatment.

-Evan

[TheAudOne]

Yeah I would call the emergancy vet atleast and see what they say to do to hold you over tonight if they cant see him....

I'm with the others in believing this cant happen over night...was he sitting in wet bedding or burned?

Gosh the poor thing Good luck and let us know what happens...

[crispy505]

Ok, guys, we've called every emergency vet within 50 miles. No one knows anything about reptiles. They have someone coming in on Tuesday who does reptiles, but she is about a half hour drive away. No one is open on Sundays. I really don't see how I can get him to a vet immediately. Is there something I can do until then? I've put him in a dry cardboard box. This must have happened in the last couple days. I see him every day and I haven't noticed this. His cage has been dry, but this is obviously some type of infection. I know a little bit about it since I am pre-med. Unfortunately, for all I know about reptiles, antibiotics could kill him.

[dr del]

Wow! What a horrific thing to let happen to your snake! :eek:

I know you are only speaking out of your love for the animals but lets not phrase things in that manner if at all possible.

We do not know how it happened or what other factors may be in effect. The O.P. needs help and advice on emergency treatment more than anything else at the moment so let's focus on trying to help his snake as best we can till he can contact a vet.

To crispy505,

Do you have another tub/tank you could place him in just now? even a non herp vet may be able to offer some advice if you direct him to the pictures or even suggest a fellow vet available to help at this time of night.



dr del

[crisstyle21]

Looks like a burn then too much moisture :eek:

[sweety314]

Newspaper or paper towels. If he's in a cardboard box, then keep him WARM. His body is really stressed right now, and you don't want other problems like an RI to add to it b/c he's gotten too cold. Take out the water bowl so he doesn't try to soak and make it all worse.

[Gooseman]

That looks bacterial more than anything. Has the substrate been changed recently? My guess is that the snake is wallowing in it's urates and causing damage. At this point you need to be scanning the yellow pages for any vet that may be open within driving distance while your snake is sitting in a warm dray tub thats been cleaned and disinfected.

[crispy505]

That looks bacterial more than anything. Has the substrate been changed recently? My guess is that the snake is wallowing in it's urates and causing damage. At this point you need to be scanning the yellow pages for any vet that may be open within driving distance while your snake is sitting in a warm dray tub thats been cleaned and disinfected.

I changed his bedding last week. Thanks for the help everyone

[Gooseman]

I changed his bedding last week. Thanks for the help everyone

In that case bacterial probably isn't the cause...