Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I recently picked up a Male Durango Mt. King and was given the female he has been bred with for free as she is suffering from an eye infection. I plan on taking her to the vet, but wil not be able to until this friday and was just curious if anyone had any suggestions as for extra care until I can get her to the vet.
The infection occurred while she was bruminating this winter and appears to have been the result of a retained eye cap. The infection and swelling are localized to the right eye and the snake shows no other signs of illness. Although she is just being warmed up from brumination now due to the infection, she is active and responsive when handled.
In anycase, if anyone has dealt with eye infections before I would appreciate hearing how you dealt with it. What did you do prior to taking it to the vet? What were the vets treatment recommendations? Did the snake survive? Lose sight in its eye? etc. Reply here or contact me at gretzkyrh4@yahoo.com

Thanks in advance to all who respond

Chris
gretzkyrh4@yahoo.com

Well you definitly should take it to a vet asap. In the meantime make sure it is in a very clean and dry environment. Access to slightly higher than normal temps will help the snake use it's natural immune system to fight the infection. Give it a temp range of 85-90 on the hot end and about 65-75 on the cool end. Give it 4 different hides: cool and moist, cool and dry, warm and moist and warm and dry. For hides you can use plastic tubs with holes cut in the lids. For the dry hides put crumpled newspaper in them and for the wet hides damp moss.
Sometimes just providing the right environment with the right choices available for the snake will let the snake get over it's illness without medication but your vet should be able to help you decide.
Durangos are one of my favorites, I have 7 of them.