Scale rot problem NEED HELP

[Rottencore]

Hello everyone,
My snake recently got scale rot. This is my last attempt to stop the spread of infection and the seriousness of the rot. He has developed painful sores from the rot on his lower and upper below. He is a Murray Darling and I have had him for four years and this is the first time this has happened to me. I have applied dettol antiseptic skin cream on the affected area's but this doesn't appear to be stopping the infection. At this present time I have no money and no available vet in the Adelaide/Western suburbs area (that I know of). Any help in resolving this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
-RC

 

[Blood Mason]

Mark Hill
Somerton Park Vetinary Clinic
76 Byre Ave, WARRADALE, SA
p: 82956924


Shouldn't be too far out of your way if you're in the western suburbs & his prices are quite reasonable. He's always looked after my animals and is the only vet I've ever seen who knows what he's talking about when it comes to reptiles.

 

[Bonustokin]

Sounds to me the only option is a reptile vet dude. Ya cant be 100% sure its scale rot. Could be anything... I'd do whatever it takes to get it to the vet mate. Go to the pawnshop and get a loan if ya need to...anything!

 

[Rottencore]

THanks for the vet info. I understand that this seems like a simple 'Go to the vet' solution but I'm certainly not going to fork out a hundred or so dollars if it can be fixed by simply doing something I missed. I had planned to take him to a vet but after I had found the right vet (which was including in my opening post) sorry ignorance isn't bliss you can't just throw money on your problems. It is better to understand them.

 

[Allies_snakes]

rotten to the core...take ur snake to a vet or get rid of it as you are not being responsible.

 

[Ewan]

@Rottencore - Wranga gave you very sound advice.

clean and dry its enclosure. use butches paper or news paper and change it everyday. applie bedadine (not sure of the spelling) to the infected area. if you have no money for the bedadine metho will also work.

 

[mysnakesau]

I know you have said you are reluctant to take the snake to the vet but if the sores get infected he will need antibiotics. He needs to be kept dry and warm. An ointment containing chlorhexadine may work rather than wetting the area with liquids or bathing but infections, left untreated will spread bacteria through his body and possibly kill him. I recently lost a diamond python from what looked like scale rot. While the wounds themselves appeared clean and not infected, each wound had a core of bacteria growing internally. Abscesses underneath the surface of the skin were completely invisible. Bacteria broke away and spread to her respiratory tract which killed her. Un-treated bacteria can also turn their blood septic.

If you don't want to see a vet, find a friend, somebody who can supply you with antibiotic such as fortem or baytril. But I'm sorry, I do not know the dosage rate, nor can I tell you that the snake definitely needs antibiotics. I just know that scale rot can overwhelm their health. He may very well die, or may need to be put down.

Your username describes scale rot almost perfectly.

 

[Vixen]

Im with Wranga, he gave you very good advice and you just blow him off?

 

[Kurto]

HAHA! To funny! Sounds pretty negligent to me!

 

[BROWNS]

I would be jumping on the problem immediately as if you leave it any longer without the correct treatment for the problem which can't be worked out for sure what it is unless it's been checked over by someone experienced in this field.The problem is that like many animals they don't appear to be sick or have some sort of problem till it's progressed to being visible as it has in your case as in the wild it would make easy prey just like birds not showing they're ill till it's too late,so my advice for what it's worth is the same as others being taking it to the vet and if you don't want to spend anything to fix the problem I'm sorry but have to agree with others in saying if you can't afford to look after an animal if it falls ill or has something wrong you really shouldn't be keeping animals.I'm sure you could make some sort of arrangement with the vet to pay the bill off etc.

It may be too late already but you can try topical betadine to dry the rot however a vet is the best option for you and the well being of your snake.Try not to take offence to peoples comments as they are only trying to help with the health of your snake,if you don't wish to take the advice given that's your choice but then what's the point of making a thread asking for advice???????????

 

[serpenttongue]

Rottencore,

Once the cause of scale rot is rectified, the problem usually clears up by itself, even without treatment (of course this does depend on the severity of the infection).

You need to get it into a warm enclosure(raise the temps everal degrees higher than usual), and onto a clean, dry substrate such as newspaper. This is half the battle won. Try to keep the humidity low, as high humidity adds to the problem (it may have even been the cause in your snakes case). If the sores are deep or open, then definately apply an anti-biotic ointment such as silverzine. If it isnt as bad as this, then allow any dead scales/scabs to come away by themselves and wait for the snake to shed. You will find that the sores will heal and turn to scars with each shed.

I've never been a fan of vets, and in most cases they do more harm than good. A vet is only going to tell you to apply ointments, and probably administer injections. When it comes to skin infections, cuts or wounds, snakes are excellent healers without medications (again, depending on the severity), and in most cases, don't need them.

 

[xander]

Most vets know diddly about reptiles. In fact most experienced herpers are better to ask advice off than vets. 9 times out of 10 the problem is a husbandry issue which keepers can adress and fix without paying $$$$ to vets who will tell you to put ointment on it that you were going to do anyway???

 

[redbellybite]

Look if funds are tight as Kath says it needs a anti-biotic ..as it is best to use a dry one due to trying to keep it dry betadine all though good is a liquad ..I use a broad spectrum anti biotic powder called Terramycin ..it is commonly used on pink eye in animals ..but have found it to be really great in clearing up sores and infections ..this does not mean I dont think your snake needs a vet ..but the powder might help at the moment and like wranga said KEEP YOUR ENCLOSURE CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN take out the water dish if its big enough to soak and replace with a dish just big enough to get a drink from you want the enclosure dry ...ok good luck and you can get the powder from any produce place for around 20.00 ...

 

[bfg23]

Due to bad husbandry on my part (and a big lesson learnt) my juvi darwin carpet python ended up with scale rot pretty badly. Now i read so many times to take it to a vet as soon as anything is wrong, yet read so many times there is a simple fix.
So i cleaned the enclosure everyday with fresh newspaper, changed the water bowl to a tiny dish with only a little water in it, and applied betadine bathes everynight. Just make sure you let him dry out before putting him back into the tank after giving him a bath.
Within a week the scale rot was looking ok, and after 1 shed it has gotten much better. With his next shed i dont even think you would notice it was there.

 

[waydematthews]

BAD LANGUAGE MODERATED ME!!! What is the point of a forum or asking a question when it gets answered you bite the head off because someones opinionBAD LANGUAGE MODERATEDyou off! High five to wranga, gove some good advice and then advised the owner to reconsider owning a pet they can`t afford the running costs, do the world a favour and get the snip rotten, hate to see you raise a child!! rottens child gets sick, rotten doesnt take the child to the doctors as it`s going to cost him in fuel then possibly doctors fees, if bulk billed he prob still wouldnt go cause it would have cost him a pen and time to fill out a medicare form!!! he`s prob another illegal snake owner and he`s worried of losing more money if he where fined! here`s to hoping you yourself contracts a painfull skin disease................

 

[Slateman]

Im with Wranga, he gave you very good advice and you just blow him off?

I agree that wranga give him good advice, but this advice could be given in much nicer way.
Some people did that with out abuse they should be commended.
i also don't like the comment..........im over people on this site having animals and not having or wanting to spend the money when they need vet treatment.

There is no need to put this site and members down. This is reason I deleted 2 posts from this topic.

Question about treatment was asked. just give the advice and keep the nasty part for your self. Or don't reply at all. if you trying to put the person who ask question down, you just spiking retaliation, or stop people asking. That is not helping at all.

I also had problem with scale rot in past. One of my animals started to have blisters. I asked experience keeper exactly same question, how to treat the animal. Advice given to me was to soak snake for 10 minutes in betadine solution and move animal to different cage and increase temperature. He also told me to watch the snake closely and if things don't get better to go to vet for antibiotic injection. Well i did exactly that and snake did get better quickly. That snake is one of my best breading male today.
I prefer if people who don't know what to do ask the questions. this is better than ignore the problem. Also lot of people live in the country and vet is not always quick option for them. in some cases the animal show first simptoms Friday and not many reptile vets are available straight away. In some cases you have to wait few days before you can get your snake to vet. In that case it is most important to ask the question what to do. And there is no need for nasty reply.

 

[Vixen]

Fair enough, but maybe that's the only way to get through to some people is to be a bit harsh or straightforward in return. He should understand this very well judging by his comments to Wranga, it's obviously the style he uses to communicate. :lol:

 

[Slateman]

Rottencore,

Once the cause of scale rot is rectified, the problem usually clears up by itself, even without treatment (of course this does depend on the severity of the infection).

You need to get it into a warm enclosure(raise the temps everal degrees higher than usual), and onto a clean, dry substrate such as newspaper. This is half the battle won. Try to keep the humidity low, as high humidity adds to the problem (it may have even been the cause in your snakes case). If the sores are deep or open, then definately apply an anti-biotic ointment such as silverzine. If it isnt as bad as this, then allow any dead scales/scabs to come away by themselves and wait for the snake to shed. You will find that the sores will heal and turn to scars with each shed.

I've never been a fan of vets, and in most cases they do more harm than good. A vet is only going to tell you to apply ointments, and probably administer injections. When it comes to skin infections, cuts or wounds, snakes are excellent healers without medications (again, depending on the severity), and in most cases, don't need them.

Exactly my point. To get help, you need reptile specialist. ordinary vet with out experience with reptiles is pointless.
Reptile vets are not always available to all people in all locations immediately.

 

[waydematthews]

before i took on my reptile collection i sussed vets outs and found out if they have had experience in reptiles..would you buy a brand new holden/ford/toyota/honda/ or any other if the nearest certified dealer is 500klms away... its called a little bit of research... this is a forum where one can express there opinions and wisdom!! is it not??


say for instance you owned a snake for 5 years,thats 5 years to find a suitable vet!!! if in that 5 years your snake obtained an infection all of a sudden, wouldn`t you begin consulting a vet?? if i failed at healing a snakes infection it wouldnt be my last attempt!!!


pleased!!!

 

[bfg23]

Thats ridiculous waydematthews, so your trying to say, that someone genuinely interested in the welfare and keeping and sustainability of reptiles in captivity should just give it up because they dont live very close to a vet?

I didnt even know of any vets that looked after reptiles until i needed to find one to get a crocodile endorsed on my licence, and i owned several reptiles before getting my croc.

What would happen if something went wrong with one of my herps? I would ask a few questions on this exact website as it can be so informative at times, and try to rectify the problem before going to seek expensive vet visits.