Mouth infection or something ??

[RedSidedSPR]

Just noticed this..been busy the last week and don't actually know how long it's been there, but it was not this obvious until today. Something's obviously wrong but how bad is it and what do I need to do

he ate normally the last 3 or 4 feedings including yesterday and appears normal aside from his face

[RedSidedSPR]

It's on both sides of his face btw, left is worse.

He is in shed if that makes a difference somehow

[d_virginiana]

Looks like a mouth infection. Can you get some shots of the underside of the mouth? Also, have you noticed any discharge from the mouth, or any discoloration of the swollen tissue?
My flame (from the same litter as yours) as well as my baby albino have both had moth infections that at least on the surface look very similar to this and come through it.

You can use either betadine or hibiclens diluted in water to swab the area. I find that betadine is a bit harsher, but seems to do a slightly better job at 'nuking' the problem if I use it for a few days, and then hibiclens is milder and works as a good follow up; because you don't want to stop treating a mouth infection too early and have it all come back.
Just get a Q-tip soaked with whatever you're disinfecting with and make sure to get way up under the lip area. If you put your thumb on the snake's lower jaw to hold the head still and then flip the snake over, it seems to disorient them a little and they are less likely to be squirmy while you treat them.
Just make sure to go with the grain of the teeth so that fibers from the Q-tip don't get caught in there.

You may want to put him on newspaper until this is cleared up too. I've found that any other substrate tends to get stuck on the exposed areas of their lips and make the problem take longer to heal up.

[guidofatherof5]

It appears there is an infection and the fact he's in shed makes it look worse.
Any chance you can post a couple photos of the under side of the upper lip area?
This problem will probably look better after the shed. Make sure it's a complete shed in that area.
I and some other members use Hibiclens (diluted) to treat this type of thing.

[RedSidedSPR]

I'll pick up the betadine tommorow, and/or hibiclen. I don't know what hibiclen is or where to find it but ill try to

how often would I apply it

[guidofatherof5]

Hibiclens can be bought at any drug store. Got mine at the Walmart pharmacy.
I will tell you how my Vet. treated this kind in problem.
He took a very small sterile needle and poked the lip in the area of the infection causing it to bleed. This way the blood flowing threw the infected area would force much if the infection out. It will bleed some but that is just part of what has to be done.
I have also learned something about this type of infection. In the photo I posted the arrow is pointing to an area on the lip that is probably covered with a clear scab. Using a sterile needle you should be able to remove it causing the area to bleed. This will also open an area for the Hibiclens to get in.
I treat lip infection twice a day with a 40-60 mix of Hibiclens and water. I use a Q-tip to apply the Hibiclens.
These things usually start looking better after a few days. After a week I only apply it once a day if it looks like it is getting better.
I am not a Vet. and only make this as a suggestion.

http://www.hibiclens.com/

[RedSidedSPR]

Is the needle/bleeding necessary for every application or just the first time?

Would it still work without the bleeding, like Lora did, as I don't have any needles I know of, or is it that much better to use a needle, in which case ill try to get a small enough needle.

Thanks for the replies

[guidofatherof5]

The bleeding is only done once.
I feel the bleeding help get the medicine in much faster. Any sewing needle will work. Dip in in some rubbing alcohol and let it dry before using it.
It's your call on using a needle or not but I would still apply the Hibiclens.

[d_virginiana]

I stopped before I saw any bleeding because I saw a piece of what I thought was gum tissue come off the inside of his mouth. This was probably the scab tissue Steve is talking about, and it got better soon afterward. Also, my hands shake pretty badly, so I didn't want to risk harming him. Yours is much bigger so it shouldn't be as hard to do the procedure right

Even after you stop actually treating the infection, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the mouth and swab it out with just water every few days. Sithis' mouth still doesn't have a great seal on it and little bits of dust and junk get stuck in it all the time. Once they've had a mouth infection they're more prone to them in the future, so it's good to keep an eye on it for a while.

[guidofatherof5]

Even after you stop actually treating the infection, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the mouth and swab it out with just water every few days. Sithis' mouth still doesn't have a great seal on it and little bits of dust and junk get stuck in it all the time. Once they've had a mouth infection they're more prone to them in the future, so it's good to keep an eye on it for a while.

The bad seal may be caused by the scar tissue at the infection site. Our girl Lucky still has a bump in her lip and she was treated 4 years ago.