Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I am at my wit's end here trying to get this turned around. I have a juvie (less then 1 year old), female purple albino reticulated python.... (And before y'all say "take to a herp vet," there isn't really any for ohhh... 300 or so miles - I'm rural)... About 2-3 months ago she got this round abrasion looking divot on the midline of her head right between the eyes. I figured that since she was growing and still cramming herself under her favorite log curl she was getting a rub spot. I flipped it over and she now uses it like a hammock. I've been treating with a polymexin B complex ointment every day with no turn around or signs of healing. Shes still alert, active, feeding great, no regurg, and its kinda hard to tell if she has any color loss (purple albino after all....). The latest shed shes had was a bit different, a bit stuck to the scab on her head. I soaked it off carefully and found that she now appears to have another smaller one starting up on the midline a bit closer to her snout. I am not finding much, let alone any pics so I can look at what the articles are talking about... Any advice?

You had me until you saw that second one. Know that the herp vet "should" be an option before this gets out of hand. I'd hate for you to lose your retic to something that could have been treated.

For now:
Is this a tame retic? Do you have help handling it while you look inside the mouth? Have a good look to see if this is where the problem is originating. Also examine closely the eyes, nostrils, and heat pits, for other clues. The rest of the body should be looked over to see if it's present anywhere else. Perhaps post pictures here if you can. If you can differentiate if this is a local trauma, over a disease, or systemic problem, then you can make better decisions regarding care.
Review your enclosure to make sure there isn't anything he's rubbing his head on. Something on the lid or door that he rubs his head on as he tries to get out?

Let us know what you find, and we can help you troubleshoot further,

Ian

I worked for the vet for 4 years (and had left 4 years ago), and he still contacts me on occasion to discuss whats going on with a person's reptile hes working with. Or to see if a person actually knows what they're talking about. Shes fairly tame, hates restraint but I did get her mouth open finding nothing else then a pissed off retic. No other apparent marks outside that other small mark on the snout. She has good body weight and tone, quick to try and get out of my hands. Her eyes are clear and dilate appropriately. Pits are clear, mouth and head do not show any real signs of swelling or any uneven appearances outside this scab on her head. Shes alert to her surroundings and follows me just fine, tongue flipping 1000mph. I work different shifts every few weeks so am home at different times of the day, so I can and have been observing her behaviors at every part of the day - In fact, its about 12:30 in the morning and shes under a hide. I have never, at any time, noted her attempting to press her head against the top of her enclosure outside when shes trying to stay out (doesn't want to go back in after I work her, but doesn't want to come out when I pick her up - Love my retic). She knows its about time for feeding (tomorrow night) and shes getting a bit more then assertive with eyeballing me - Shes already learned the feeding pattern. I will have to work on a picture in the AM - Poor lighting and a camera that hates to take clear crisp shots isn't exactly going to help.

That all sounds very positive. This doesn't help you decide what it is, but it does help you relax in knowing you have some time to trouble shoot, and that the problem, at least for now, is minor.

Lets see what the pictures look like. Although you can't find what he may be abrading his head on, I think the most likely differential diagnoses at the moment is some sort of trauma. This, you can try treating at home. I'd suggest cleaning with a chlorhexadine scrub. Hydrotherapy may also help and can be applied while rinsing off the scrub. Allow the wound to dry thoroughly, and then you may apply Hibitane ointment or perhaps your polymyxin ointment, though since it's not working you may want to try something new. Do this twice a day.
The above can be also be done with a dilute (tea coloured) iodine solution.

If after all of this it doesn't get better (it should with each shed), or it gets worse, then a skin scraping, biopsy, or other diagnostics should be done to define the problem more and hopefully give you more directed treatment.