Opinions on what this is please (lip infection?)

[Laura]

She's had this for a couple of weeks now, it looked like she had some substrate in her mouth (coconut husk) but lately on close inspection it looks almost like a scab? Apologies for the blurry pictures, iphone cameras don't do too well super close up


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/lauracellis/4ff814cf.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/lauracellis/cae3a39f.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/lauracellis/d581baec.jpg

Opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated

[guidofatherof5]

I've never seen a scab that dark.
Have you tried to remove any of it to see what it is?

[Invisible Snake]

I have no idea.. Could it be mouth rot?

[Laura]

I've often cleaned the area with a cotton bud (q tip?) when she has substrate in her mouth which is that dark, however I've had her out just now to try and see what it is but nothing really comes off. I tried putting her in a warm bowl of water to try and get whatever it is wet in case it came off any easier but still nothing really came off. As I said, it looks/feels like a scab but I've never found any evidence of her cutting herself, plus it's like this on both sides of her mouth :(

[Laura]

It pretty much looks like this

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/urgent-care/7672-seems-not-right.html

P (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/urgent-care/7672-seems-not-right.html)erhaps I need to change the substrate. How would I go about cleaning the area if it is indeed hardened substrate?

[Thamnophis]

Keep her for a while on tissue paper. Maybe tip it a few times with iodine and then see if it heals.

[d_virginiana]

Does the mouth look puffy or swollen around it? Harley had a mouth infection over Christmas, and for some reason she had problems with substrate (not coco-fiber, but just bits of dust and grime) getting in her mouth DURING the infection. It wasn't the cause of it, but it would crust around her mouth kind of scab like. I think it was because she couldn't keep her mouth closed as well.

It shouldn't hurt to swab the area with betadine.

[Laura]

Well she had a shed a couple of days ago and the dirt is gone, she's eaten since and seems quite happy despite sticking to her warm hide the majority of the time. Put an ugly reptile carpet thingy down to stop it happening again (function over fashion) thanks for the advice guys :)

[guidofatherof5]

Glad it cleared up.

[Laura]

Thanks Steve, I do worry about her as she is my first reptile and is such a sweet little thing

[EasternGirl]

Glad to hear she's doing better.

[candoia aspera]

I normally see things like this on snakes that have been kept on orchid bark and have RI's. As the froth congeals on the lower lip it picks up with dust from the orchid bark and it looks like that. Glad it's cleared up :)

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

It pretty much looks like this

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/urgent-care/7672-seems-not-right.html

P (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/urgent-care/7672-seems-not-right.html)erhaps I need to change the substrate. How would I go about cleaning the area if it is indeed hardened substrate?

I'm so happy to hear the issue is gone now :) I clicked that link to my old thread. Failte was still really "baby" looking then. She is all grown up and a big girl now :)

[thamneil]

I have actually had this happen before Laura. I believe that it is just hardened substrate dust. It has happened in the past when I used dustier bark. Ive also had it happen with other reptiles kept on dry coconut fiber. Usually it will wipe off but sometimes it becomes too attatched. I just switch to a more suitable environment and wait until the next shed. It has always come off for me.

[Dan72]

Thanks Steve, I do worry about her as she is my first reptile and is such a sweet little thing

Sweet albino, glad the snake is alright!