Cloudy eyes w/Mouth infection?

[d_virginiana]

On the thread I posted last year, the suggestion was to use a 10% betadine solution. I used that for Harley when she was about this size, and that's what I've been using for Sithis. That's the concentration the bottle I bought is at... Is that okay?
I had used hibiclens once or twice at full strength before I realized it needed to be diluted... I feel horrible about that, but it was a couple days ago and he doesn't look like he feels sick, so I'm guessing I didn't poison him. What is the appropriate concentration for that?

I think I'm going to give the vet a call and see if I can get him in tomorrow. They had sections documenting them doing repair on the shell of a garden snail and surgery on goldfish, so I figure they'd at least be able to do SOMETHING to help him out since they have a guy whose specialty is reptiles. I probably wouldn't agree to any sort of antibiotic injection unless it was a last resort, and considering he's still active and eating I don't think he's anywhere near that right now.

[ConcinusMan]

On the thread I posted last year, the suggestion was to use a 10% betadine solution. I used that for Harley when she was about this size, and that's what I've been using for Sithis. That's the concentration the bottle I bought is at... Is that okay?

It may be 10% betadine but what's the other 90% ? because it should just be water.

As for the hibiclens, (the ingredient in it that matters is 4% chlorhexidine gluconate) it's just as effective as iodine, the antibiotic properties persist longer, and it's not as toxic, and those are the reasons I use it. I don't really know the precise dilution since it's not for oral use anyway. Chlorhexidine comes in prescription oral rinses too, but at a concentration of much less than 1%.

I just put 8-10 drops in about 3 oz of water, for oral use on snakes. Mostly water, but enough of the medication to make the water nice and pink.

I don't think injections or a course of antibiotics is practical with a snake that small but I still think a vet might be able to do something that will help. At this point it doesn't look like the medication is getting to the infection. Looks like it's too deep. A vet can do something to open that up and flush out the infection so it can heal from the inside out. Do that, and antibiotics might not be necessary.

[d_virginiana]

Alright, I'll start doing that with the hibiclens. I can use that up to twice a day, right?
Just cleaned his tank to get rid of any dust that might be an irritant. At least I can keep junk from getting in his mouth.

A vet can do something to open that up and flush out the infection so it can heal from the inside out. Do that, and antibiotics might not be necessary.

That's what I'm hoping.
If I'm lucky I'll have a good update by tomorrow.

[d_virginiana]

Okay, so my husband called and got an appointment at the vet's for Monday, but I'm thinking I might not even need to take him in now.
I'm amazed at what happened just overnight. The labial scales aren't bulged out anymore, and the only thing you can see that looks like an infection is a tiny sliver of pink on either side of the mouth. I guess whatever I did when I was poking around with the needle helped something. I think I may have lanced something when I saw that clear fluid.

Also, he shed last night within just one day of going blue. Checked, and everything came off. I thought he must have been feeling bad when I went in to do my before-bed check of the room and found him still hanging out in his water dish, but I guess he was just getting his skin loose. Being about to shed might have been making his lip look worse too?

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[ConcinusMan]

That's looking good. Don't expect it to go back to normal completely. He may look like this forever. As long as it's not swelling up big like before, there's nothing to worry about.

[guidofatherof5]

Looks much better. You are right about the shed making it look worse. The shed was pulling the lip out and up.

Looks like you did a good job Doc.

[d_virginiana]

I'm glad he's looking better. I was really starting to get worried.