Snake at vet

[Nik]

I took my Darwin to the vet on Saturday as he had a pink tinge to his belly. The vet said it looks like the start of scale rot, and said to use an antibacterial cream and betadine baths, or to leave him at the vet and they would give injections and baths at the vet.

I am allergic to betadine so I choose to leave him at the vet.

I went to visit him yesterday and found they are keeping him in the pillow case I brought him in, tied up and in a clip lock container. They said he is on a heat mat, but now I am worried as if he is being heated he has no way of getting away from the heat inside the bag. There was no thermostat or water either.

So I called the vet to speak to him about it and they said he was not at work today, call tomorrow, which I will do, but in the meantime, should I be worried or is this standard at the vet with a snake?

 

[Jules]

Dear oh dear, GOOGLE pink belly python. Then have a talk to your vet.

 

[Wild~Touch]

Sounds like the vet is scared of the snake

 

[Pythoninfinite]

There would be no problem leaving the snake in a pillowcase, and without water, for at least several days - it won't do any harm at all. Snakes in the bush regularly go for weeks, and sometimes months, without access to water. They're designed that way. Vet surgeries pose a risk where disease is concerned, if snakes from all over the place are put into enclosures which previously held other snakes, despite cleaning regimes. Your vet is probably aware that the safest place for your animal is in a clean pillowcase while he's staying there.

The heating might be a point worth considering though, just in case it overheats. But if your vet is familiar with reptiles, I'd leave it to him/her, and not worry.

Chlorhexidine is a better antiseptic than Betadine in my opinion, and you may not be allergic to that. It doesn't stain either.

 

[AM Pythons]

mine all get pink belly, it not scale rot, its a feeding response, i hope your not being taken for a ride by the vet..

 

[Pythons Rule]

yeah pink belly is just a natural accurence most time with food related and sometimes they do it when being handled, as said by Tatt2tony I hope he's not ripping you off. I'd be looking it up for sure. or do you have a pic of it?

 

[goneself]

Ohhh...I've often seen dawins get a pink belly, usually prior to breeding or when the seasons change. I'm not a vet, but..scale rot? Yow...which vet did you take him to?

 

[Bez84]

My diamonds get a pink belly when they feed and when they are coming up to a shed!, never take a reptile to a non reptile vet as they dont know squat.

 

[Aslan]

mine all get pink belly, it not scale rot, its a feeding response, i hope your not being taken for a ride by the vet..

yeah pink belly is just a natural accurence most time with food related and sometimes they do it when being handled, as said by Tatt2tony I hope he's not ripping you off. I'd be looking it up for sure. or do you have a pic of it?

Ohhh...I've often seen dawins get a pink belly, usually prior to breeding or when the seasons change. I'm not a vet, but..scale rot? Yow...which vet did you take him to?

My diamonds get a pink belly when they feed and when they are coming up to a shed!, never take a reptile to a non reptile vet as they dont know squat.

These four posts accurately demonstrate the issues with using a forum such as this for veterinary advice. It is particularly arrogant to be presuming your knowledge on this subject is greater than the Vet and, in this case, somewhat embarassing as well...

Yes, pythons MAY get a pink flush as a feeding response...

HOWEVER, Pink/Red marks across the belly ARE a sign of early scale rot - in fact, early enough to treat easily and successfully. Blanket statements stating that this is 'normal' and implying that the Vet is incorrect only hinder the person asking the question and jeopardise the health of the animal.

Jye - Everything your Vet has told you sounds spot on to me, and as such, I would be trusting them fully in the treatment of the animal. Keeping the animal in a pillow case, secured in a clip-lock container on a heat mat is perfectly normal procedure.

Whilst overheating is POSSIBLE I would trust the Vet to be doing the correct thing as the Vet seems to have the correct knowledge base to deal with reptiles.

 

[Nik]

Thanks for all the comments.

As for the pink on the snakes belly, I had been watching it for a few days trying to decide if it was a bruise from a recent fall or the beginnings of scale rot, in the end I was just not sure so to the vet we went.

I trust that it is the start of scale rot and I'm happy to have caught it so early and have spent the past few days fixing the enclosure so the snake can no longer rest across his water bowl and will no longer be able to fall from the rock wall.

My question was mostly just looking for reasurrance that this was standard practice in terms of how the snake is being kept at the vet, not looking for someone else to diagnose the problem. I'm a little protective of my snakes and tend to worry easily. It's paid off this time though, as my worrying has helped us catch the scale issue early.

Thanks Pythoninfinate and Aslan, I really appreciate the advice.

 

[Bez84]

All statements are given from the info we are supplyed.
True a pic would help alot, although it was stated that the snakes belly had a pink tinge, which would imply a large area of the belly was affected and not patches as you would find with blister disease, nor were there mention that the snake was keeped in bad conditions.
All my diamonds bellys go pink before and during there shed cycle and there throats often flush pink in response to feeding.
Years and years ago when i first got into snakes and couldnt tell the difference between a simple change of colour and scale rot i went to the vet and spent a fortune only to have the snake return to normal as soon as it shed.
We all give our opinions based on the info we are supplyed if they didnt want our opinions then they wouldnt ask.
cheers.

 

[Nik]

Nice Bez84, you're super friendly. I'm not sure if your response is to me or Aslan but I didn't ask for opinions on scale rot, just about how my snake is being kept at the vet.

He's not in bad conditions, he just rests across his water bowl which we think may have contributed to this problem. But thanks for being nasty, I'm sure it's made you feel much better.

 

[morgs202]

These four posts accurately demonstrate the issues with using a forum such as this for veterinary advice. It is particularly arrogant to be presuming your knowledge on this subject is greater than the Vet and, in this case, somewhat embarassing as well...

Yes, pythons MAY get a pink flush as a feeding response...

HOWEVER, Pink/Red marks across the belly ARE a sign of early scale rot - in fact, early enough to treat easily and successfully. Blanket statements stating that this is 'normal' and implying that the Vet is incorrect only hinder the person asking the question and jeopardise the health of the animal.

Jye - Everything your Vet has told you sounds spot on to me, and as such, I would be trusting them fully in the treatment of the animal. Keeping the animal in a pillow case, secured in a clip-lock container on a heat mat is perfectly normal procedure.

Whilst overheating is POSSIBLE I would trust the Vet to be doing the correct thing as the Vet seems to have the correct knowledge base to deal with reptiles.

You're secretly the vet aren't you? JOKES! But seriously, I tend to agree and in any case, I'd rather be safe than sorry! As far as I'm concerened, peace of mind is generally worth a bit of a spend!

 

[Nik]

Yeah, that's really what it's come down too Morgs202.

I'm a bit surprised that he has a scale issue as we're so careful with cleaning but I'm happy we've got it early and I now have the chance to make changes that will be better for him.

Anyway, a quick update, I spoke to the vet and he says he's showing signs of improvement, we discussed the heat in the bag issue and he has assured me they are keeping a close eye on him and he isn't being heated enough to be a problem. He also explained that they are keeping him in the bag to avoid him coming into contact with any bacteria. I was really hoping they would say he's all good come and get him but I'll have to wait a bit longer.

 

[AM Pythons]

alot of vets know nothing about reptile, they just want the $$.. i would never take my animals to a non-herp vet.. good luck hope all ends well, i dont think anyone was saying they know more than the vet, just giving a opinion on something they see on a regular basis.. if you had of said ' my snakes laying in its water all the time' you would have got a different opinion..

 

[Kristy_07]

It's just my opinion, but from what you have said the vet has said (get it?), it sounds like they know what they are doing with him, which is evident if he's showing improvement! It must be good to know you've got a vet who can help with your reps - no such luck for some, from what I've heard.

Good luck with him! Sounds like he's on the mend.

 

[Nik]

Thanks guys,

He's at a herp vet and I guess I didn't give all the details on his condition like him resting over his water bowl as I wasn't questioning what the vet thought was wrong with him, I was just wondering if people thought I should be concerned about him being heated while stuck in his bag.

I feel better after talking to the vet and I do appreciate people helping me out on this forum.

 

[Bez84]

Nice Bez84, you're super friendly. I'm not sure if your response is to me or Aslan but I didn't ask for opinions on scale rot, just about how my snake is being kept at the vet.

He's not in bad conditions, he just rests across his water bowl which we think may have contributed to this problem. But thanks for being nasty, I'm sure it's made you feel much better.

My post was in no way ment to be nasty nor was it aimed at you, i was just stateing my distaste for people who criticise people for sharing there opinions of what they think is wrong etc, when there just trying to help.
Sorry if you took my post the wrong way.

 

[Nik]

No worries Bez84, I thought you were saying that I kept my snake in bad conditions and was wasting money because I couldn't tell a simple change of colour from scale rot.

 

[Pythoninfinite]

I find it interesting how many people are very uncharitable about vets in general. Almost always in a thread that involves discussion of veterinary treatment, some people suggest that they are just after money. Or they are regarded as useless or stupid if they don't know much about reptiles, even when they try to help.

I've had a lot of experience with vets in the past 50 years, reptile and domestic animal specialists, and I've never found one that I think is just after money. A bit off topic, but give 'em a break. True, they can be expensive, but their costs are high, and they don't get the subsidies that human doctors & patients get.

Sounds like your animal is in good hands J & P, even if it is just a pre-slough blush, at least you've ensured nothing worse can happen.

Jamie.