Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My brooksi's mouth rot has become too advanced to treat, he gasps slightly when held, and his entire mouth is inflamed. In order to flick his tongue, he has to half-way open his mouth on the side a little bit. I feel terrible over the whole situation, and I wish there was something that I can do. The disease has really progressed alot since his last feeding (about 10 days ago) at which point, he was not in such bad shape, and was still able to eat. He's really a great snake, he doesn't strike or go to bite, even in his sickened state, it brings me to tears just looking at him. I'm not sure what I should do at this point, should I make him comfortable in his last few days, or should I have him euthanized? Incase you're wondering...I tried to swab his mouth with hydrogen peroxide and a cotton swab a few weeks prior, but it really did not help. I didn't take him to a vet because I don't know of any reptile vets in my area, and I had met a guy online that was friends with a vet, over the new year. He gave me his number and told me to call him in a few weeks, we were remodeling my room and my mom misplaced the number, and I was unable to contact him via this message board again. This snake was given to me by another member of this board back in November, and ever since I got him I always said that his mouth didn't look right. I brought him to my local herp store 3 different times for them to look at him, but they kept saying it was nose rub, and scar tissue. Even my parents and friends wouldn't believe me that he had mouth rot, but in the end, unfortunately, he does indeed have mouth rot, and possibly a respiratory infection, causing it. Anyways, I'm not looking to make this a sob story, but I need to know what I should do, and how much I can expect to pay for a euthanisation?

Thanks for your time,
Ralph

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0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

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0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Where are you? Like, city and state wise.
I really don't think this is a terminal condition yet. Snakes can go through a LOT and still live decent lives after they're recovered. Sounds like the guy really needs some injectable antibiotics though.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

Hi meretseger,

I'm in Smithtown, Long Island (NY). I think I will be scheduling a vet appointment today and see if the vet still thinks it is treatable. (I REALLY hope this is the case).

Thank you,
Ralph
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0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Here's a list of reptile vets in the state of New York, if your vet can't give you an answer hopefully one of these guys is in your area.
New York Reptile Vets

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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

Thanks!

I have an appoinment on Wednesday with a reptile vet in my area, that I found on herpvetconnection.com, so hopefully he will be able to take care of whatever needs to be done.

Thanks again.
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0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Good luck! I have a feeling the little guy will end up ok.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

Well, I just got back from the vet. Here's what happened, the snake shed last night and his mouth looked 200% better than it did the night before. Before he sheds, the "skin" around his mouth gets very, very dry and cracked. This is why he looked so bad. The Vet gave him a shot of Bayline(sp)? and he gave me some diluted bedadine(sp)? to apply to his mouth over the next 10 days, he said he should be fine .

Thanks for your help,
Ralph
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0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff