BCI Help please...

[Iktomi]

Hey all. Check out this pic and you'll see the tissue loss on the upper lip of this snake. I picked him up on a trade for some scorps because he was ailing, mites, etc.
So, the mites are gone, he's gaining weight and doing much better but this is taking forever to heal. Just when it scabs over and starts looking better, he has a shed and ruins it again. I try to catch him and soak him prior to shed, but all it takes is a minute or two for him to peel off his nose.
He was on one week of antibiotic injections and I put Kendall Thermazene cream (Silver Sulfadiazine) on it daily. Do you have any other advice for me to try to help this guy out?
Thanks.

 

[Dessicata]

is that a bubble on his nose? If so, take him to a vet, he has a respiratory infection, if not, take him to a vet.

 

[Iktomi]

Yeah, I got the antibiotics from the vet. It's not a bubble (though I know it looks like one) but it was wet from the cream. My vet is Kevin Fitzgerald (I'm lucky) and he's really good. I just thought someone might have had luck with another type of ointment or something because he's healing so slowly. (Which I was told to expect, but I want him better NOW!!)

 

[Dessicata]

too late to say this, but you shouldnt get animals if you feel sorry for them. Yours will probably be on the mend, and end up doing ok, but its best not to bother next time.

 

[Iktomi]

That's not why I got him!? I have a number of snakes and other creatures that are my hobby. I just couldn't pass up this deal because I was getting rid of my scorps anyway! I'm sorry if I gave the impression that this was just a crusade because it wasn't!
Two, of course I feel sorry for him. I feel sorry when any of my animals get sick or injured. If not, I wouldn't care for them properly. (which I do very well, I might add.)
I don't buy with a bleeding heart!

 

[Melmoth]

You are doing everything you can for this snake including expert treatment by a herp vet,and this is to your credit.The trouble with reptiles is that despite the ability to recover from serious wounds etc,they heal much slower than warm blooded animals. With herps patience is definitely a virtue.

 

[Dessicata]

Originally posted by Iktomi
That's not why I got him!? I have a number of snakes and other creatures that are my hobby. I just couldn't pass up this deal because I was getting rid of my scorps anyway! I'm sorry if I gave the impression that this was just a crusade because it wasn't!
Two, of course I feel sorry for him. I feel sorry when any of my animals get sick or injured. If not, I wouldn't care for them properly. (which I do very well, I might add.)
I don't buy with a bleeding heart!

I didnt say you didnt care for your animals. I said you shouldn't buy animals because you feel sorry for them. Obviously, without you needing to act like a jerk, you would have noticed that you didnt include all relevant info, just 'i swapped it for some scorpions'. Why <edited for language - MrD> people like you ask questions just to get (wrongly) offended by what people say is beyond me.

 

[Iktomi]

Ummm....again, I'm sorry if you misunderstood me. I was just clarifying and I even said I was sorry if I gave the wrong impression.
BUT...read the rules about your language here.

 

[Psycho]

Well Im back from the dead......but with more knowledge than ever.....But Im still learnin....Iktomi, looks like you have a problem there but you took the proper steps to Herp health and you got a good vet...like Mel said herps take a while yo heal any kind of injury and patience is a big key....If I may ask where did the injury come from? Was it a burn? And since it is on the mouth and around the respatory system you really have to use patience and good husbandry and I will guarantee itll come around for you...I also keep alotta herps and learn day after day about proper husbandry and proper diets for my herps...I wish you all the luck in the world please keep us updated about your bci....

~~~Psycho~~~

 

[Iktomi]

Thanks for all the good info. It appears the injury came as a mixture of mild mouth rot, a respiratory infection and "rubbing" to get out of his previous enclosure. It's better than it was, but like I said, as soon as it starts to crust over he rubs it raw again with a molt. I'm going to up the humidity a bit. I'm in EXTREMELY dry Colorado, so I'll take some extra measures. In y'alls opinion, should I up the humidity via spray and covering some of the top or should I rely on dampening the mulch?
Don't get me wrong, his humidity is correct but a bit toward the lower end of the scale. Thanks again!

 

[MrT]

Have you been able to get a good look in its mouth?
It sounds to me like mouth rot. But I would think you vet would know this. I looked at a boa with mouth rot on Kingsnake.com Boa forum and it was bad. I did a search * mouth rot *.
I've never had a snake with the rot but I understand it can kill them.
It could also be a burn. I wonder how its heat was setup on the tank it was in before you got it?
Did you say above if it was fed live or F/T?

I commend you for taking on a animal in need.

Ern

 

[Melmoth]

Iktomi,
If you are planning to up the humidity level. I'd advise a large water container situated under or near the heat source,depending on how you heat the viv,and spraing the sdes of the viv. The prob with wetting the mulch/substrate too much,is it can pave the way for other problems such as scale or belly rot,which you definitely don't want.
George