moisturing your snake?

[happynagini]

As some of you may have seen, I got my QLD BHP last tuesday.
He was in the middle of a terrible shed, and today I am still picking bits of slough off him. I have been bathing every day, misting his tub, temps are fine. Yet he still has stuck skin on him.
Today while I was pulling the skin off his cloaca I realised there was a bit of blood under the cloaca. I believe this is a result of the guy I bought him off probing him and not knowing what he was doing, but if you think it could be a result of the slough, please let me know.

Anyway, I rang the closest reptile vet (100kms from Bathurst at Katoomba Vet Clinic) who was called Rhys Sweaney (anyone know him) who advised me to continue bathing and moisturise the snake. I havent done this as I am not sure if it is okay to do so? The vet didnt seem too phased about the blood.

I have pulled more skin off the snake again tonight. I made an appointment for 2pm tomorrow but am still unsure whether I should bother going or not.

SO my question is, blood under cloaca normal? A slight bit squeeze out when I was sussing it out. And also, have you moisturised your snake? Was it beneficial? What one did you use?

Cheers

 

[leamos]

Take it to the vet, blood isn't normal, an open wound in that part of the body will get infected in no time. As for moisturizing my snakes I mist with a spray bottle with plain old tap water when I notice they are coming into shed

 

[Chanzey]

I read that title so wrong

 

[euphorion]

Won't comment on whether the blood is something to worry about. Definitely not normal but worth seeing the vet just in case any damage was done by the previous owner.

I have moisturised in the past, used to buy a reptipet brand that was a blueish liquid but i think it was just some generic oil. If needed these days i use that 'E' brand of Vitamin E oil, just a tiny bit on my fingers and rub it in to the problem spots. For general continued use, which i don't recommend as it shouldn't be needed if husbandry is correct, use a very gentle, pH neutral, scent-free Vitamin E cream 50:50 with water in a spray bottle. Spray a small amount on your hands then rub into your snakes' skin gently, avoid the face/mouth/eyes/nose, etc.

Good luck.

Soaking in a warm, damp pillow case then using the case to slough off any retained shed is a good technique for problem sheds too.

 

[ArgentinoAussie]

Hey, I have never heard of people using moisturizers on their snakes in shed, thanks for putting it out there though. I think I would feel a little silly doing it personally, next thing Estée Lauder will have a python pamper pack. Fantastic!

 

[happynagini]

Would just like to clarify that its not an open wound, its just blood from the cloaca itself. Hes passed a poop since ive had him so i think he is fine really.

I dunnooooooo argh. wish snakes could talk haha.

 

[nonamesleft]

Blood is definitely not a good sign, but by the sounds of it not to do with the shed. Provide he snake with a large enough bowl to submerge itself fully. Forget about misting at this stage. Moisture is not something you want around a wound. Keep the rest of your enclosure dry, and the warm end nice a warm, say 35c (at floor temp) and the rest of you enclosure ambient temp. ( until a Vet is seen)

 

[thomasssss]

would you go to the doctor if blood was coming out of your anus ? i think a vets probably a good idea as for misting i do it every now and then but haven't bothered the last few sheds and they've been fine

 

[happynagini]

has happened before, and nah didnt go haha

 

[thomasssss]

has happened before, and nah didnt go haha

:facepalm:

 

[Cypher69]

I read that title so wrong

I'm resisting to reply....inappropriately.

Oh it's soooo hard.

 

[ronda]

Use paw paw ointment on you snake it works great, the best.

 

[notechistiger]

Moisturizing the snakes? No... I have sprayed them with water when they're coming up to a shed or put the water bowl in the hot end to keep up the humidity. They're really don't need our help with "moisturizing".

Also how much blood was there? I know sometimes when my snakes have a terrible shed the shed will kind of stick to the edge of the vent and there's sometimes a little blood (ie a miniscule amount) when the shed is pulled free. It doesn't affect them in any way.

 

[happynagini]

Moisturizing the snakes? No... I have sprayed them with water when they're coming up to a shed or put the water bowl in the hot end to keep up the humidity. They're really don't need our help with "moisturizing".

Also how much blood was there? I know sometimes when my snakes have a terrible shed the shed will kind of stick to the edge of the vent and there's sometimes a little blood (ie a miniscule amount) when the shed is pulled free. It doesn't affect them in any way.

hey mate. i didnt end up moisturising because i thought it was just weird, i just wanted to ask people if they had done it before considering a reptile vet had told me to do it. found it very odd!

they blood was a tiny amount and it was when i was pulling the scales away from his cloaca, so it sounds similar to whats happened to you. i didnt take him to the vet today because i got called into work, but i think he is fine

its just frustrating when your temps are correct, and misting and water on the heat side doesnt work. i hope this isnt going to be a continuing thing for my bhp, my morelia always shed so well