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NEED HELP!!!!!

aboaslife Dec 18, 2008 10:23 PM

I have a female boa that last night I noticed something didnt look right first of all her skin looks like it is sagging she is poss gravid but has been excepting a small med rat every other week, the thing is she wont eat f/t anymore so we have been feeding her thumped... well about a month or so ago one kind of got her in the mouth when she released it the top teeth was suck in the roof of her mouth... anyways last night i noticed dried up crust on the sides of her mouth i couldnt quite get her mouth opened all the way but the crusty stuff is on both sides and its a yellowish brown color and her top lip looks likes its swollen a bit im going to try and get her mouth open all the way and see what it looks like inside... anyways my question is... Is there anything i can use to sorta wash her mouth out with and could it possibly be an infection from the rats teeth getting stuck in the roof of her mouth? Thank You for any imput

Replies (6)

ArizonaB Dec 18, 2008 10:49 PM

Go to a vet! It deffinetally sounds like an infection and if you decide you want to try and force her mouth open you could be doing more damage than has already been done. I would go see a trained professional before resorting to doing it yourself. I hope this helps and good luck, keep us posted.
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Brian Grosart
foreverconstrictors@gmail.com

LarM Dec 18, 2008 11:21 PM

Getting her to the "Herp Vet"sounds essential here.
Really sounds like an infection.Anything I've heard
about rat bites has been bad.You could also use a
Chlorhexidine solution(water Chlorhexidine mix) to
squirt in her mouth as an antiseptic and bactericide
to help combat bacterial agents etc..
to fight infection.

. . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

Homeslice31 Dec 19, 2008 12:50 AM

np

Slithering_Serpents Dec 19, 2008 08:35 AM

A month is a long time to have a mouth wound. The mouth is a very germy place. The vet is necessary because of how long it's been and also because it's a puncture wound.
When it hasn't gone on for so long, you can paint the inside of their mouth with Betyadyne.
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com
http://slitheringserpents.com

Kelly_Haller Dec 19, 2008 12:50 PM

If what you are seeing is pus from the infection, and the upper lip appears swollen, topical solutions will have little effect. A vet visit appears to be in order on this one. This snake will most likely need systemic antibiotic treatment to resolve this infection. Topical solutions like Betadine, or better yet, a topical antibiotic ointment like Polysporin or Neosporin, will only work well if the wound is caught in the early stages and has not penetrated too deeply. Once it becomes a deep tissue infection, antibiotics are usually required.

On an additional note, you should never use hydrogen peroxide on a wound. Your best bet on a small wound caught early is to use Polysporin or Neosporin as stated above, or if those are not available, a Betadine solution as Caden suggested. Hydrogen peroxide causes minor tissue damage around the edges of the wound and significantly slows the healing process. It can still be used safely to clean healthy, undamaged tissue however.

Please let us know how everthing turns out.

Kelly

jscrick Dec 19, 2008 06:56 PM

All of the above and get the temps up. We just had a big discussion regarding oral infections, the immune function, and the effect temperatures contribute to both.
I'd say 90 deg. F. Others may know better regarding optimum temperatures.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

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