Sick Python...

[PythonOwner25]

A few years ago my coastal carpet python "strike" had a reddish tinge on his underside, then he started rapid shedding and stopped eating. I took him to the vet and they gave me antibiotic injections to give him. he recovered within the month and he has been perfectly healthy ever since... until now Strike shed his skin about 5 days ago...and now his eyes are milky again and he is quickly approaching another shed so hes starting to "rapid shed again"...and i also noticed the redness is back...so whatever he had before i think its come back again anyone else had similar problem with their snake? Or know what this infection is?

 

[Renenet]

Just because he's having similar symptoms, doesn't mean it's the same as what he had before. It's certainly possible, but we can't assume that. Was your snake's last shed complete? Did he have any scale damage or recent injuries? Also check him for mites.

Whereabouts in Melbourne are you? It might be worth taking Strike to a good reptile vet for a check-up.

If you've got any photos of Strike and his set-up, that would be fantastic.

 

[abnrmal91]

Take a picture of the redness it will give people a better idea of what it may be.

Whats the enclosure like, temps (both ends), substrate, humidity.

This is a fantastic vet in Melbourne
Karingal Vet Hospital

Shane Simpson does great work here's some of it.
1st link Bazz looking a bit younger lol.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/australian-snakes-37/snake-injury-113875/

More resent one, fixing a broken jaw on a tiger snake.
http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/australian-snakes-37/injured-tiger-gets-lifesaving-sugery-177678/

 

[PythonOwner25]

Thanks Guys . Here is some photos and info. He has still been eating fine, His poo looks normal, His last shed was complete. His temps are 27-32. I've checked for mites and cant see any, also no damage or visible injuries.

Here is some pics of enclosure/redness. Image1 is strike when he was healthy. Image 2 is the redness. Image 3 is his setup, he is keps on fake grass carpet. View attachment 241484 View attachment 241482View attachment 241483

 

[abnrmal91]

Pics didnt work mate.

 

[PythonOwner25]

dammit! can anyone else see the pics?

 

[Sezzzzzzzzz]

go to "go advanced", click on paperclip icon, upload pics and then "insert inline"

 

[Ramsayi]

Did the vet tell you what the problem was the first time?
If it was caused by incorrect husbandry and nothing was done to correct it then it is quite likely to be the same thing back again.If you don't know what it was give the vet a call and ask as I'm sure it would be on file.

 

[Bluetongue1]

The vet may or may not have an idea of what bacterium causes the problem. They can diagnose an epidermal infection from he visual reddening and a white blood cell count. They then prescribe an antibiotic know to be taken up by the epidermis. Without pathology tests, which can be very expensive, confirmation of the exact pathogen is not going to happen.

Reptile experienced vets are worth their weight in gold here because they will have an idea of the range of pathogens most likely to cause such problems in snakes and how and if the risk of contracting them can be minimised.

Blue

 

[PythonOwner25]

They said it was an infection...and i keep him in a nice enclosure the vet said is fine. Here are the Pics.

Here are the pics. One is of the redness, One of what strike usually looks like when healthy (beautiful vibrant active snake ) and A pic of strikes enclosure. Substrate is fake grass mats and temps are 27-32 degrees celsius.

 

[abnrmal91]

Looks like subcutaneous hemorrhages which can be a sign of generalized infection or toxemia in snakes. That's according to my book (reptile medicine and surgery pg498 ), get it to the vet to check for infections.

 

[PythonOwner25]

Cheers mate, im going to make an appointment within the next week.

 

[Ramsayi]

It could be the beginnings of scale rot.It has a few causes from too much moisture in the enclosure,dirty enclosure or from the snake laying on a cold enclosure floor.The fact that the vet solved the problem via antibiotics indicates that they had at least some idea of what the problem was.

 

[PythonOwner25]

Yeh...well the enclosure is on the ground...and its a lot cooler at the bottom of the enclosure...not rediculously cold tho...maybe ill turn the temps up?

 

[notechistiger]

If it is scale rot from a cold floor then getting the enclosures up off the ground will help (using a stand, etc).