Mouth Rot and Severe Nose Rub

Nittany221 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:07 PM

So...I've got a rescued female boa (thinking costa rican but not positive). She has extensive nose rub and mouth rot. Started out really bad, consistent cleansing with peroxide and diluted iodine and lots of fresh water rinsing and I have it looking better. I just can't seem to kick it completely. I called around to local vets, most won't touch her and the rest know less than I do about mouth rot. It's amazing what you will learn about a vet from a few well worded questions...but I digress. Anyone have any suggestions or advice on mouth rot? I'm assuming it's from the severe nose rub and the mites she had when I got her. Her whole nose/mouth is messed up but I can't tell what actually caused it and overall it is starting to look better, just not healed. Here's a link to an album with some pictures of her in it. She's the smaller rescue female and is darker in color. Any help would be appreciated thanks!! Kasi Zimmerman's Photos - The Snakes =P | Facebook

LooseAFur · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:15 PM

From PetEducation.com

"What is the treatment for infectious stomatitis?

Because this disease is secondary to another condition, that condition should be identified, and treated at the same time the treatment of the stomatitis is initiated. Without addressing the underlying condition, the infection will most likely return once treatment is terminated.

In those instances where the stomatitis is diagnosed in its earliest stages, addressing husbandry and/or nutrition issues is often the first step. Sometimes something as simple as warming the environment will assist in the recovery of a mild case. The lesions are debrided (dead or dying tissue is removed), any abscesses are opened and drained, the area is repeatedly flushed with an antiseptic solution, and topical antibiotics or silvadene cream may then be applied. These procedures need to be repeated daily until the lesions are healed.

When there is considerable tissue involvement, surgery may be necessary to remove any affected bone or deeper tissues. In most cases, antibiotic therapy is best administered via injection, either intra-muscularly (IM) or directly into the affected areas.

Supportive care may include supplemental heat and respiratory support by way of humidification. Nutritional supplements may be injected into prey foods that are offered. Tube feeding is generally used as a last resort."

Nittany221 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:19 PM

Which is what I'm doing, but thanks for the link.

LooseAFur · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:24 PM

OMG I just looked at your pictures!!! Thats Bruce!!! The one with the Nose Rub and Mouth Rot!! Did you get him from TripleJReptile "Rescue"?? I had that snake over a year ago. I got him when he was dropped off at a local pet store. He had the worst nose rub I had ever seen in my life and he had the worst mites I ever had seen. I got rid of the mites and treated the nose rub which will never fully heal unfortunately without surgery. I have some pictures somewhere of him....let me dig them up. I had to give him to John because my wife and I were separated at the time and I had no where to take my reptiles. Maybe its not him but I really think it is.

LooseAFur · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:28 PM

Same snake? It doesnt sound like John did a great job with this one?

LooseAFur · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:47 PM

I dont know what caused the nose rub, he was prob. in a glass tank with screen lid. I didnt get any information on the snake when I obtained it because the owner dropped it off in a pillowcase along with a yellow anaconda and a retic. It was winter and was literally freezing outside. The snakes were dropped off in one of the worker's(from the pet store)car. They were all practically frozen. I put him infront of the heat(in my car) and he didnt move for about 15 minutes. I really didnt know if it was going to make it. When I got it home and opened the pillow case there were hundreds on mites and then I saw the nose rub. Ughh I felt so bad for him(I didnt ever have it sexed so I called him Bruce) I had him feeling better in a few weeks. The nose rub I cleaned daily, but every time it shed it would open up again. As far as the mouth rot...He didnt have that when I had him but is most likely a result of infection from the nose rub. Like I said I had to give him up along with all my reptiles when the wife and I split about 1.5 yrs ago. I thought he was in good hands with John but apparently I was wrong, unless there was someone who had him between yourself and John? Im glad to see his is getting the proper care again. "She" I mean

LooseAFur · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 10:05 PM

This one is from a few weeks after I had gotten him. Post quarantine and post mites. As you can see the nose was quite bad at that time, it looked like 1/4 inch of the nose was rubbed off.

Nittany221 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 02:10 AM

I was told that the guy I got this one from got IT (not 100% of sex) from some kind of reptile person for $10. I think it was a lady he got it from, but I'm pretty sure it was hooked up with the male that came with these two. Again, haven't had it sexed yet to be sure. The one I have right now has exactly the same face however it's darker. It has yet to shed though, so it might just be from all the abuse and scale rot and things. Regardless if it is Bruce or not, this snake is a fighter!! Where were you and where are you now? Is there any way the snake that you had would make it to Pennsylvania? I got it in Reynoldsville, Pa from some kid that didn't have proper housing or really any concept of temps and humidity. If you're close you're more than welcome to come by and see it.

Edit: I have been staring at the snake and at the pictures and I'm almost convinced that they are the same. Everything about this snake matches the pictures you have. I've been trying for two weeks to get this thing to shed, I upped the humidity to 80% and nothing. Dropped it back down because I was afraid of scale rot. It's a sweetie but it's obviously not comfortable and can't breathe very well because of the nose. Did it eat ok for you or did it have problems from the nose? I haven't really tried getting it to eat yet, it's ok weight wise and it can't have an appetite with the mouth rot. Poor thing =(

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