Scent Gland Infection(Abscess)

[guidofatherof5]

A few days ago I noticed that our Lucky girl (Female T.radix) had what appeared to be a couple missing scales on her tail. I took her out and applied some silver sulfadiazine as a precaution.
Today, I took her out to get some one on one time as she is my favorite snake. While she was out I took a look at this area under the magnifying light. It didn't appear to be a simple case of missing scales. I decided to remove the scab and take a look at the area.
I am so glad I did as the scab was really a plug and under it was a a large amount of yellowish pus (very smelly).
I treated this with a weak betadine/water solution and placed her in quarantine in a tub on paper towels.
As you can see the surrounding tissue looks very good. I hope this heals up quickly.
If I see no improvement in the next week she will need a Vet. visit and probably get a Baytril injection.
She is eating well and acting normal. I will say she's not happy with the tub she's in.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/scent_gland_abscess1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/scent_gland_abscess.jpg

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Hang in there Lucky you'll be right as rain soon and be back with you'r mates :)

[gregmonsta]

Fingers crossed for her ;)

[chris-uk]

Hopefully you've drained all the infection and the flush out will do the job.

[jaleely]

holy crap, that looks intimidating. When i posted about my hognose having an abcess/impacted scent gland, it was a knot that i could squeeze pus out of that came out the vent area (opening to the gland). I finally had to take him into the vet though, becuase i wasn't knowledgeable enough about how to fully expel the area. I was doing it opposite of how i should have done, because i didn't understand what it was really.

I hope she won't need shots. I was able to give my guy oral meds. That looks really blah : (
I hope she heals fast!

I was giving my guy 15 minute soaks in a solution once a day for a week, vet's instructions. I'd recommend this for her too!

[guidofatherof5]

I've packed that area with some silver sulfadiazine and will do that twice a day as the med. doesn't stay in very well. She not a happy camper being in the tub but it will have to do for now.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I'm sure she'll be fine she must be called lucky for a reason

[snake man]

I know she will be ok. Any ideas on ow this happened?

[guidofatherof5]

Maybe a splinter from the substrate and I now don't think it is a scent gland infection. I think it is a tail infection.

[jaleely]

poor girl. she'll heal up though. def keep us updated, of course!

[Thamnophis]

Looks treatable but was a good catch to give it a better look. I have no personal experiences with sulfadiazine, but what I read about it on the Internet there is a good chance it will do the trick.
Curious how this ends i will keep following this tread.

[guidofatherof5]

This is my girl Lucky. She is the best garter snake I've ever had.
I think the infection continues to improve. I like the way it is drying out. As long as no more pus develops I think I have a handle on it. Lucky got to go out and get some sun this morning.
She has the sweetest contentment.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/luckygirl.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/infection1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/infection.jpg

[snake man]

Hope she gets better.

[mikem]

Looks like you've got a good start on this. Hope she continues to improve!

[guidofatherof5]

A nice scab has formed but I of course am concerned with what might be under that scab.
Lucky continues to eat very well and her attitude is great (nothing new there)

[ConcinusMan]

owie! what the heck!

[jitami]

Poor Lucky.... sounds like you do have a handle on it, though.

[guidofatherof5]

Poor Lucky.... sounds like you do have a handle on it, though.

I sure hope so. She's very important to the family and the Ranch.

[Selkielass]

Wow, I missed this before.
Looks like she's healing up well- the color of the wound in those last pictures looks good.
I hope it looks even better after her next shed.

[jitami]

I sure hope so. She's very important to the family and the Ranch.

I know she is <3

[jaleely]

it is looking better. It's so weird how it got half the scales like that...could it have been a bite wound?
anyway, i wouldn't worry unless you see swelling, and the dent with a scab is looking good to me, for being a wound of course.
and you are right about the scent gland being close to the vent, i don't think it's that either, now. thank you for the pics showing how far along the tail it is. I hope she heals fast...looks like she is, but faster can always help!

[guidofatherof5]

it is looking better. It's so weird how it got half the scales like that...could it have been a bite wound?
anyway, i wouldn't worry unless you see swelling, and the dent with a scab is looking good to me, for being a wound of course.
and you are right about the scent gland being close to the vent, i don't think it's that either, now. thank you for the pics showing how far along the tail it is. I hope she heals fast...looks like she is, but faster can always help!

My friend Steve Schmidt suggested a possible spider bite. I don't allow spiders in the enclosure and have never seen any inside but being a basement I do have spiders. I don't remove them as they take care of any bugs in the basement.

[Selkielass]

I had an adorable jumping spider living outside my tanks this summer. It was, I think, eating small insects attracted to the lights. I ended up moving it out to the woodpile tho.

[RedSidedSPR]

I love jumping spiders :D

[kueluck]

Well if anyone can help this girl recover it's you Steve. Some of the things you "fix" are amazing.

[guidofatherof5]

Well if anyone can help this girl recover it's you Steve. Some of the things you "fix" are amazing.


Thanks. She is a very special snake and worth all my effort.

[kueluck]

but then aren't they all ;)

[guidofatherof5]

but then aren't they all ;)

Yes.

[guidofatherof5]

Lucky continues to improve. The infection site has a nice scab over it and isn't tender to the touch so I'm going to leave it alone for now.
I still have worries that there may be infection/pus in there but without any evidence to support that I must leave it alone.
Lucky is eating good and got some sun today.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/luckygirl_infection.jpg

[jaleely]

I wouldn't think there is pus in there if there is not a knot, or swelling, or at least a bump, if not swelling. It looked pretty cleaned out and is healing nicely. Snake pus is very fiberous and hard, I think you would be able to tell and since it was kind of a dent, at least from what i could see of the photos, i think you're good!
I hope so anyway. You got it, i just want to be reassuring that at least from what i can tell, it looks good. : )
You could always feel around for lumps. If there is one, you can pick it out from that location, rather than removing the entire scab. Sterilized needle and tweezers.

Spider bite is interesting...wouldn't have really thought that. I would think more an infected bite from another snake. Anything is possible however. Glad to see it healing.

[ConcinusMan]

My friend Steve Schmidt suggested a possible spider bite. I don't allow spiders in the enclosure and have never seen any inside but being a basement I do have spiders. I don't remove them as they take care of any bugs in the basement.

I would think it would be difficult for most spiders to pierce a snake unless it bit between the scales. just doesn't seem likely.

[RedSidedSPR]

No... Unless it actually was between the scales. :rolleyes:

[guidofatherof5]

I think Lucky's infection is healing up nicely. The scab looks good/normal. No reddening, tenderness or swelling and there is no infection smell to the area. The white area on the middle right side of the scab is left over medicine.
Lucky is eating well and is very normal/awesome.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/luckygirl_infection1.jpg

[taharial]

Gorgeous girl. She is "Lucky" to have you taking care of her!

[InsanePirateDragon]

I'd say thats healing up normally for an abscess and looking through the thread.

Abscesses always look worse before they start to heal and I've dealt with a fair share of them both in reptiles (after the cat attack on geckos) and mammals. You did a fabu job with Lucky Girl.

I'd be pretty safe to say you're in the clear with it.

[guidofatherof5]

Lucky might have to be in quarantine but that doesn't mean a girl can't keep herself clean.:D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/poor_lucky.jpg

[snake man]

Luck looks like an awsome snake.

[guidofatherof5]

There is one benefit to being in quarantine. While Lucky's tub is cleaned she gets to play in the packing peanuts.
She spends her time burrowing while I clean.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/play_time.jpg

[taharial]

Heehee... would packing peanuts count as a snake on vacation?

[snake man]

Thats funny, she looks like she is having a great time.

[guidofatherof5]

Lucky continues to improve. The infection site scab had recessed and became harder which I feel are all good signs it is healing. Now, if the big girl will cooperate with a shed.:D
Lucky was feeling so good today I let her surf the web for awhile. She went to her favorite site.;)
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/surfing_lucky.jpg

[BLUESIRTALIS]

That's funny! Looks like my favorite site too!

[ProXimuS]

Just be sure she doesn't see that you posted pictures of her tail:eek:

[guidofatherof5]

This afternoon I checked on Lucky and was surprised to find she had shed. The little punk never even showed any signs of being opaque.
Looking at the infection site I was impressed with the appearance of the tissue.
I see some evidence that this was a scent gland infection after all.
If you look at the first photo you'll see it isn't completely smooth as it should be if it were a local(unrelated to scent gland) infection. Notice the small area that looks like an opening(circled in red). I believe this is the conduit to the scent gland. I believe the infection took the least path of resistance and settled down from the vent. I am very happy that this infection didn't locate at her vent. It would have been a lot more difficult to cure otherwise and could have cost Lucky her life.
Now, all is left is for the final scar tissue to develop. Lucky continues to eat well and will be in quarantine until her next shed.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/lucky_infection4.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/lucky_infection5.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//743/medium/lucky_infection6.jpg

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Sh's healing nicely finger crossed she'll be free from further infection:) Can we get more picture of the handsome girls face?

[guidofatherof5]

I would be delighted to show off my awesome Lucky. Best garter snake I've ever had.

[guidofatherof5]

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/lucky_girl3.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/the_face_2.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/beautiful_lucky1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/the_face.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//628/medium/beautiful_lucky.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Fabulous. Fantastic. I'm trying to widen my vocabulary..

Screw it.

Awesome!

[ConcinusMan]

Fantabulistic

[jaleely]

i just love her! she is lucky : )

[EasternGirl]

It looks like something was stuck in there...is it possible that she got something stuck into her and it got infected around it? The wound looks really good now. Glad she is doing better! She's such a lovely girl.

[ProXimuS]

She's such a cute girl! I'm glad she's getting better:)

[kueluck]

She is a looker, and I think Steve is the lucky one.

[guidofatherof5]

My hopes of breeding Lucky next Spring are gone. Checked on her today and found she's passing slugs/jellies.
She's doing fine and still eating but next Spring isn't going to work.

[ConcinusMan]

Missed the boat for fertilizing the eggs. :(

[Invisible Snake]

Why wouldn't next Spring be viable?

[ConcinusMan]

I would think that would be too soon. She's going to have to make new viable eggs.

[guidofatherof5]

Why wouldn't next Spring be viable?


I would think that would be too soon. She's going to have to make new viable eggs.

Exactly.

[Invisible Snake]

o0o And how long does it take to make new viable eggs?

[guidofatherof5]

I'm guessing around 4-6 months max.

[ConcinusMan]

I would think it would take 4-6 months of summer feeding. That doesn't include brumation time.