White Lipped

[Lasher]

I have a baby White Lipped Python that is sick and won't eat. The vet diagnosed her W/ mouth rot. I am currently giving her shots but have not yet got her to eat pinkies (live or frozen). Can anyone suggest a feeding method that might provoke her to eat?

[Bryce Masuk]

braining may work or try or wiggle it with tongs you could also warm the pinkie maybe try puting the pinkie in a black bag with the snake or cover its cage with something to make it dark. but none of these may work sick snakes are hard to get to feed. sometimes the best thing to do is let them alone. but with others you need to continueously try differnt feeding methods in order to get them to eat

[Katt]

If your mouth hurt, would you want to eat? Probably not. You _may_ have to resort to syringe or tube feeding. Get your vet to show you how to do this, as you can damage the throat or stomach or mouth. Good luck.

[ReptiZone]

I never heard of giving a shot to a snake for mouth rot. I usualy clean it up real good with Q-tips and take a sering and spray some scoop along the gums several times when needed it dose wonders and snakes recover fast all the feeding suggestions are good and good luck I just thaugst I would tell every one this so they can save some cash in the future.

[Trace]

Hey Lasher. Some precribed antibiotics/medications sometimes make reptiles go off their food. This probably isn't helping your situation. What are you using?

As for "saving cash in the future", I TOTALLY recommend a trip to the vet if your herp is not well. The treatment Chrondro refers to MAY be correct, but there may be other underlying problems in your snake that might not be cleared up with a simple mouth rinse.

Kudoo's to you Lasher for taking your snake in to a qualified vet.

Cheers!

Trace

[reverendsterlin]

mouthrot injections, new to me. I use a 1:10 solution of chlorhexidine in saline as a rinse for mouthrot. As for feeding, no tips except watch the weight and resort to more strenuous methods if it declines much.

[Lasher]

Thanks for the replys. The injection is "Baytori or Baytoril". I can't read her hand writing. Is there some over the counter mediacation that I could us that is available in the states? Sorry for my ignorance, but this is my first case of mouth rot ever.

[LdyDrgn]

Baytril. When mouth rot has progressed past a small, controllable spot, then antibiotic injections are necessary. What surprises me is that is was prescribed to a baby....

Keep the mouth clean inside with cotton swabs dipped in peroxide, then swab again with clean water. Don't attempt to feed until after the shots are done.

Antibiotic injections are painful. Were you instructed to administer the injections ONLY on the upper 1/3 of the body and to switch sides/locations each time?

[Lasher]

No. I was instructed to give the injection just under skin around the middle of her body. It seems to be clearing up. I tube fed her a little Lamb baby food/Pedialite/calcium/vitamin yesterday and she seems to have perked up a little. I will try the peroxide in addition to the injection.

[LdyDrgn]

Just be careful you don't go too low. All of her organs (except for the lungs) are down there whereas the upper third of her is muscle.....

Good luck with her. Too bad you weren't closer to me. I'd love to see her! How far is Seymour from Louisville?

[Lasher]

LdyDrgn:
About 4 or 5 hours. I am about 35 Min east of Knoxville. I will post some pictures as soon as she gets well.

[Linds]

I wouldn't worry about your snake not eating until his mouth is completely healed up. As Katt said, he's nt going to want to eat if his mouth hurts. Also, antibiotics can sometimes make ya feel icky :medpuke: Right now the most important thing is getting the mouth rot taken care of. Even babies can go lengths of time safely. As long as her weight is ok, I would leave her. Forcefeeding/tubing is very stressful for them and should only be used as a last resort.

Originally posted by chondro python
I never heard of giving a shot to a snake for mouth rot. I usualy clean it up real good with Q-tips and take a sering and spray some scoop along the gums several times when needed it dose wonders and snakes recover fast all the feeding suggestions are good and good luck I just thaugst I would tell every one this so they can save some cash in the future.

Only minor mouth rot can be resolved with topical measures. Moderate to severe cases typically require anitbiotics to clear up, and conjunction with topical care.