Can you help this Newbie?

impressivesmoke · 11-11-02, 11:51 PM

I've been trying to find a good site to chat with other snake enthusiasts, have I found it? I've been to dozens of sites that just aren't that good, and now, I really need help. I just recently aquired a Ball Python who shows severe signs of necrosis of the skin. She has several lacerations and fluid filled pockets all up and down her body. The skin is starting to turn a reddish purple color. She also has a pretty bad respitory infection. I've taken her to my vet, but he couldn't help me out much. He put her on an antibiotic, but couldn't give me any clues as to the cause of her condition. He thought possibly a heat rock was the culprit, but I was able to find out that no heat source had ever been provided.
Could this condition have been caused from an lack of heat? Are there any other possibilities? What about her chances of survival, has anyone had a similar situation? Please help me!

sSNAKESs.com · 11-12-02, 05:30 AM

That definatly sounds like a burn for sure.. They are probably saying they never gave it heat because they are feeling guilty. I would take it to a vet ASAP... If you want her to have any chance of survival she needs vet attention like yesterday..

oh yeah.. welcome to the community!

Dom · 11-12-02, 07:12 AM

Thats sounds really serious . what are the antibiotics he gave you???

I suggest going to an other vet if he isn't helping .. this seems extremelly serious .. I doubt she will live long if she aint taken care of asap.

Real sorry to hear .. best of luck and welcome
Dom

SilverTongue · 11-12-02, 08:37 AM

welcome to the forum.

You can call the local vets in your area and see if they treat herps. If they do not or you can not find one, then contact you local zoo and or Herp society. Someone will beable to help you or atleast direct you to someone who can. Good Luck and keep us informed

nyx · 11-12-02, 02:10 PM

The fluid-filled pockets sound like blister disease, which comes on when snakes are kept in wet, dirty conditions. I'd keep her on a dry substrate - paper towel or newspaper, as wood chips could poke her blisters - and raise her temperatures to 100°F on the hot side, and 85°F on the cool side. If the blisters/lacerations are infected, debride them with a weak iodine solution [your vet can provide one or suggest how many parts water to parts iodine] and then apply a light cover of topical antibiotic, like Polysporin, etc. If she's eating, offer food. Provide water at all times. If she's not eating, you may have to force-feed her. You didn't mention if she was thin or not; if she's not thin, force-feeding a mouse smaller than what she'd naturally take is fine. [Note that if she's NOT thin, force-feeding can wait for a few weeks. If she is very thin, she has no reserves left to help her body heal and will need some kind of force-feeding. If she hasn't eaten for a long time, mice can be a shock to her system, so I would start very small on prey items, if not just going to the liquid mix.] If she's very thin, I recommend a chicken baby food & pedialyte mixture tubed down her throat; again, your vet can hopefully show you how to do this without harming the snake.

Good luck with your girl, and give her previous owner a smack upside the head.

lance · 11-15-02, 05:32 PM

well i can't help you but someone in the chat room i'm sure will
and welcome

Linds · 11-18-02, 01:50 PM

I would recommend finding a qualified herp vet, as this seems quite serious from your description. Hard to tell exactly what is wrong, it could be any of the forementioned, but either way I would treat it like Nyx said until you can locate a good vet. I would raise her temps to 115 degrees basking spot, not letting the cool side drop below 85. By this you are creating a "fever" to help fight off the RI. Good luck with your lil snakie, and welcome to the site!