Why has my Diamond Python's eyes turned green?

[serpenttongue]

The green fluid may be caused by a blocked/enflamed lachrymal duct which was brought on by a respiratory infection. Is the snakes palate healthy? That green fluid looks nasty. I would suggest antibiotics, and you may also need the fluid drained by a vet.

The scale rot on the stomach is in it's early stages. I would lower the humidity, make sure the enclosure floor is warm and keep the snake on clean newspaper until the problem goes away.

 

[SxcAy]

hmm this is something have never seen or come across before, a symptom where the snakes eye colour has changed not due to it shedding, its intriguing that i couldn't find any information regarding this situation, i myself have a diamond and I have done a fair amount of research on diamonds and never seen anything like it. You may have of just come across a rare disease in snakes or diamonds sorry about your snake

 

[izzys1]

Is it maybe time to consider the quality of her life? Constant infections and medications must be taking there toll on her. There comes a point in every pets life when we need to consider if we are keeping them alive for our benefit or theirs?

 

[Obywatel_Snejk]

okay, glass tank, 4 foot by four foot. Large tank. Newspaper substrate. temp warm end around 30-32 and cool is about 24 degrees. Humidity is around 60%. I have 5 pythons and all others are healthy. This one I got as an adult from newcastle and has been sickly ever since I got her. I have had a number of reptile vets take a look and they have done xrays and extensive blood work in the past due to repeat respitatory infections. What they do think is that she was originally wild caught and her blood work shows evidence of parasites. Not treatable. They think that she has a very poor immune system and possibly pre leukemic.

I wondered about a fungal infection. She has some rough and discoloured scales on her belly that appeared over several days a week ago. I have been giving her a second daily diluted betadine bath since and it does seem to be clearing a bit. She has only come of antibiotics a month ago for a resp infection. I have consulted on two vets, one in WA and one at the National zoo and both were happy with her enclosure. Perhaps it is fungal. How the heck do I treat that.

- - - Updated - - -

No, never looked like this before

We have from time to time a small discussion popping up about newspapers as substrate. There are a few chemicals which can harm your animal (lead for example), that come from the printing dye.

I would support the concept of some sort of infection which may be related to the harm done by the newspapers and simply decrease the immune system protective capacity.

 

[Norm]

If your suggesting that using newspapers as a substrate may be the cause I would think we would be seeing a lot more of it due to the number of people using newspaper.

 

[Djbowker]

Is it maybe time to consider the quality of her life? Constant infections and medications must be taking there toll on her. There comes a point in every pets life when we need to consider if we are keeping them alive for our benefit or theirs?

I'm inclined to agree with this, there comes a time when enough is enough, and the humane solution is needed, some things can't be fixed.

 

[Obywatel_Snejk]

Agreed, but I am suggesting that the newspaper problem may have induced what was already around that particular specimen. Let's presume that there was a particular bacterial strain or fungy around which than hopped in when its immune system went down. That may be a differential factor due to different environments we may have in our terrariums.

 

[andynic07]

Agreed, but I am suggesting that the newspaper problem may have induced what was already around that particular specimen. Let's presume that there was a particular bacterial strain or fungy around which than hopped in when its immune system went down. That may be a differential factor due to different environments we may have in our terrariums.

I am not saying that you are 100% wrong about there being lead in the in but I am pretty sure that there would be none. The amount of people that would lick their finger and then turn the page would suggest that the probability of harmful chemicals being in newspaper ink would be low or there would be warnings and quite a few sick people.

 

[bdav70]

ooh poor thing looks nasty

 

[Gaz67]

Thanks for mentioning the ink in newspapers but news printers no longer use lead in their inks and the toxiticity relating to inks when papers are used as a substrate has been tested and the inks are not toxic. Even when wet, ink does not become toxic.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/0122.html

To give an update, I am liaising with the National Zoo reptile specialist and we are awaiting the delivery of antbiotics short term. Long term we are trying to identify a likely diagnosis for the underlying issue. If it does turn out that she has a chronic condition like leukemia impacting on her immune system, I will suggest euthenasia to the vet.

But I am not willing to do it without exploring all options first. I am committed to my belief that animals are entitled to the same standard of medical care as a human, therefore I will treat her until such time that either, I have a diagnosis of a condition not curable or if I do not have a diagnosis but I have done my best to seek one AND she is suffering.

Thank you for your help. Please feel free to put out feelers among your networks. There may be someone out there who knows what is wrong.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[Bushman]

Someone has contacted me that may be able to help. I'll try and put you in touch with them.
PM sent.

 

[Gaz67]

Thank you

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[cement]

The problem is, that it isn't a single problem. Your tank is in my humble opinion not good.
keep the snake at a constant 30 degrees body temp and dry, in a small opaque tub until recovery is evident. keep it in fairly dark and only disturb to administer medicine. make sure you can look in on it through a peephole so that it's being looked at ,it doesn't know. Use the anti-biotics with her body temp kept up at 30 constant.
Wild diamonds will target frogs, they will also target other snakes and reptiles that also eat frogs, its not uncommon to find wild diamond with skin worm. Is the parasite identified?.
Why is the parasite problem not treatable? Parasites are more easily dealt with by snakes in the wild then in captivity. Also the white blood cell count is not surprising considering the infections.

 

[Gaz67]

Can you say more about what is wrong with the tank. The humidity is usually between 40-60 this time of year in her natural environment. The zoo vet said lower humidity would cause her problems. This is the humidity she advised. Other than that a gradiant of 24 - 30 degrees is good. I have done exactly what the reptile vets tell me to do.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[dendrelaphis]

G'day, this seems quite bizzare, but a blocked lachrymal duct as mentioned earlier may be the case, coupled with an infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa is a common culprit in lower respiratory infections, and in conditions where it is able to thrive, forms bright green colonies. The fluid around the eye may be heavily infected. Suggest this to your vet, and see what they think about a course of IM ceftazidime, probably every 3 days for 15 days.
Cheers.

 

[junglepython2]

This may or may not be of assistance.

Snake Bullous Spectaculopathy - WikiVet

 

[Gaz67]

Thanks to all for your help. I am slowly following up on your replies while I wait for more info from the zoo vet. She has an idea.

One person asked what the parasite is and why it isnt being treated. The parasite is blood borne and there is no treatment yet. It is a parasite that is common in the wild and the reptiles immune system usually keeps it well in check and they usually present without any ill effect. It is only identified via a blood test and is incidental information. However in her case her immune system is not controlling it. If we find the underlying reason for her suppressed immune system we can move forward, treat or make a decision. The vet thinks at this stage she has three infections; RI, scale rot and conjunctivitis. All due to her immune system being not functional.

I would like to reinerate that my enclosures are cleaned weekly with an antibacterial and any soiled material is removed. All my other animals are in robust health.

She has been kept isolated from them. I work in infection control and all my training skills are being put to use with her care. The infections are a symptom of another problem. If it does turn out that she has leukemia, that is not treatable and I will have her euthenased.

She is a lovely girl with a lovely nature, but there is something very wrong systemically. If reptiles became this ill, as readily, we would have no reptiles.

I am going to hold off treating her myself due to awaiting a diagnosis. The vet is concerned that I may use something that then will delay the giving of a drug once we have a diagnosis. It may interact and need to clear her system.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[andynic07]

Thanks to all for your help. I am slowly following up on your replies while I wait for more info from the zoo vet. She has an idea.

One person asked what the parasite is and why it isnt being treated. The parasite is blood borne and there is no treatment yet. It is a parasite that is common in the wild and the reptiles immune system usually keeps it well in check and they usually present without any ill effect. It is only identified via a blood test and is incidental information. However in her case her immune system is not controlling it. If we find the underlying reason for her suppressed immune system we can move forward, treat or make a decision. The vet thinks at this stage she has three infections; RI, scale rot and conjunctivitis. All due to her immune system being not functional.

I would like to reinerate that my enclosures are cleaned weekly with an antibacterial and any soiled material is removed. All my other animals are in robust health.

She has been kept isolated from them. I work in infection control and all my training skills are being put to use with her care. The infections are a symptom of another problem. If it does turn out that she has leukemia, that is not treatable and I will have her euthenased.

She is a lovely girl with a lovely nature, but there is something very wrong systemically. If reptiles became this ill, as readily, we would have no reptiles.

I am going to hold off treating her myself due to awaiting a diagnosis. The vet is concerned that I may use something that then will delay the giving of a drug once we have a diagnosis. It may interact and need to clear her system.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Sometimes healthy people get sick and it is sometimes the same for reptiles.

 

[Gaz67]

Healthy people don't have multiple infections one on top of the other year in and year out, they don't have a consistently high white blood cell count and and abnormally high levels of blood borne parasites usually controled by the immune system. Nor do animals. Healthy people actually respond to antibiotics and don't spend most of their time on antibiotics and if they do something is wrong. Healthy people and reptiles do get sick, but if normally healthy, they are not sick with various infections 8 months out of every 18. When I got her she was no healthier. She had 4 ulcers and an RI. In 18 months she has been sick the majority of the time. That is not an indication of health. She has never ever not had an ulcer somewhere on her. Does that sound like a typically healthy animal to you?

I work with people with chronic and terminal conditions. One thing I do know is that a pattern of repeat infections is a sign that there is an underlying issue compromising health.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[Bushman]

Your poor Diamond obviously has some serious health issues. You've been given some good advice and some sensible suggestions have been made. You also sound like you're doing your very best to help her, including seeking veterinary consultation. Is your vet very experienced with reptiles, as it sounds like you really need a reptile specialist?
I gather that you're awaiting the results of pathology. In the meantime, you might want to try increasing the temperature gradient, as you stated that she was being kept at 26-30 degrees. Wild Diamonds have access to a much greater range of temps, including relatively high and surprisingly low. If she doesn't have the opportunity to get her body temp to optimal or preferred body temps then her metabolism and therefore immune system may be running sub-optimally.