Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got ZERO replies last time so one more time: I have a couple of snakes (WC) that are kept warm & dry, but just prior to shedding they develop several large fluid or puss pockets just under the skin (sometimes they prefer to fester around one of the eye balls too, causing large swelling). When the skin is finally shed, a lot of fluid is present and at the surface of the (new) skin, between the scales, some very light bleeding appears??? Never seen this before, Any ideas??? Is this a type of blister infection, if so what type of virus/bacteria causes this? (Currently two of my eastern kingsnakes are victims of this). I have treated blister disease before (the type that occurs on the belly scales from moist enclosures), but this seems different as it occurs even in dry conditions!
But most importantly, what is the drug of choice for treating this condition? What type of anti-biotics do I need and how much do I administer? Thanks for the help, since I don't have a vet here that specializes in snakes. I have treated & wormed snakes in the past successfully. I basically just need to know how much and how often to administer. I want to make sure the rest of my collection does not get this! I have a lot of animals to include my awesome Eastern Indigo! Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Carsten "Zee" Zoldy

I will call my vet tomorrow and ask him. That sounds unlike anything I am familiar with? I will email him your post too, maybe I will get lucky and he will reply tonight.
TTYL Tom Stevens

Thank you very much Tom! I DO appreciate your assistance!

Zee

Zee

Whats up bro ? Sounds like skin blister disease. In talking with Sean Belanger he said the best thing for that is silvadine. Its a cream and I hear not just from Sean but others that it really works well. Also keep the snakes on paper towel and make sure the cage stays as dry as possible. I know Kings like to tip water bowls sop maybe offer water every day but then take it out for the bulk of the day. Good luck man hope you can find the silvadine as I think you need a script and it aint cheap.

Keith

>>I got ZERO replies last time so one more time: I have a couple of snakes (WC) that are kept warm & dry, but just prior to shedding they develop several large fluid or puss pockets just under the skin (sometimes they prefer to fester around one of the eye balls too, causing large swelling). When the skin is finally shed, a lot of fluid is present and at the surface of the (new) skin, between the scales, some very light bleeding appears??? Never seen this before, Any ideas??? Is this a type of blister infection, if so what type of virus/bacteria causes this? (Currently two of my eastern kingsnakes are victims of this). I have treated blister disease before (the type that occurs on the belly scales from moist enclosures), but this seems different as it occurs even in dry conditions!
>>But most importantly, what is the drug of choice for treating this condition? What type of anti-biotics do I need and how much do I administer? Thanks for the help, since I don't have a vet here that specializes in snakes. I have treated & wormed snakes in the past successfully. I basically just need to know how much and how often to administer. I want to make sure the rest of my collection does not get this! I have a lot of animals to include my awesome Eastern Indigo! Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
>>
>>Carsten "Zee" Zoldy
>>
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Hey Keith! Thanks for the advice man. I don't like (going this route), but hoping to learn as much as possible from any and every opinion I get. Thanks,

Zee

Zee, do you have any pics of this malady? Not trying to be gross, but maybe it could help someone i.d.this thing. Sorry I don't have any help for you. Hope you get some answers.
Todd Hughes

Hi there Todd! I am hoping the same. Before I assume & treat for blister disease I'd like to know for sure, since this (different symptoms) is new to me. I am pretty familiar with blister disease (from my rookie days) and have treated it and learned in the past,

Zee

Hey Zee
Sorry as I am sure everybody else is. I saw the post and skipped it. I have seen that with WC kings alot in N Florida. What worked for me was anti-fungal cream like for athletes foot. Just dont ich your self anywhere in the line. Also keep them dry as you are and use paper as a substrate and change every day. Its a pain in the butt but the kings seem to get better color once they get over it.
Good Luck

Jason
P.S. It will kill them untreated.

Thanks Jason! I DO appreciate your advice. And I am thinking that this is just another form of blister disease and I will go ahead and treat it! I was just making sure, since I had blister disease many years ago, but the symptoms always attacked the belly scales only (this is due to ROOKIE snake keeping!) Once again, THANKS!

Zee

Zee I don't know if it is blister disease as such but I have see it in spring time kings alot and it stays with them if you allow it to. A UV light may help as well or straight sunlight.
Later Jason

i was just at the vet and asked him about blister disease before i left and he told me a dignosis[of my checking account LOL] would determine if its bacterial or fungal.So no reccomendation w/out a check up .
does anyone reading this explain what a fungal and bacterial skin disease looks like.
the disease i encountered this spring i believe to be a bacterial it was gross from head to tail,it died before any treatment except for betadine.

Wow, poor snake! That's the worst case of blister disease I've ever seen! I would say that that is a bacterial one, because it is so rampant and all over the body. The fungal one tends to concentrate more on the belly areas in most cases. . .Thanks for the info!

Zee

Thanks for the additional information! Currently treating all suspect animals and have them isolated in a separate room with slightly higher temps.

Zee

Hi, I ran a reptile department at a local pet shop for a few years and we would get in a lot of ball pythons with it and the vet told us to soak the snake in Novalson. you can purchase it off the internet, it is used to disanfect animal wounds. You put 3 oz in a gallon of water and then put enough of the mixture in a tote and place them in it for a hour.
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Michelle