Abscess?

[adamanteus]

My fingers are crossed too, Anji.

[enigma200316]

My fingers are crossed too, Anji.

me 3..................

[Zephyr]

Update! Stitch is looking a bit better every day. His swelling is down about 90% now, but I still have to check, because the little hole I was draining it from scabs over, and I don't want it to fill back up. But he is improving, so I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Scabbing is good, but make sure that there is no pus on the exterior. If there is, wipe it off and apply 25% hydrogen peroxide 75% water solution to the area, then wipe it off and apply more neosporin.

[Lori P]

Go Stitch!!!!! :-)

[anji1971]

Scabbing is good, but make sure that there is no pus on the exterior. If there is, wipe it off and apply 25% hydrogen peroxide 75% water solution to the area, then wipe it off and apply more neosporin.

No pus on the outside.
I'm just worried that if the infection gets trapped in the abscess, it will grow again.

BTW, does anyone know if snake's absorb substances through their skin? I can't find anything about it on Google, and I'm just curious as to whether or not any of the antiobiotic ointment makes it's way into the abscess at all.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

hope it heals well, sounds like ur doing the right thing

[Zephyr]

I would assume that through an open wound it would. However, it may just be effective at the site of treatment. I'll have to ask the vets around here.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

1000th post yay!

[bulrush]

I personally have had abscesses just like this, where once most of the pus comes out, a little blood comes out too. For myself I drain it daily without pressing too hard. It should heal by itself over time. It is generally a staph infection and reptiles and amphibs carry relatively larger amounts of staph than a human.

They are basically a skin infection and can be surprising large, and go deep into the skin. I once squeezed one too hard and it burst under the skin. I then had to go to the ER to have it lanced. It was on the side of my chest. When they were done cutting and draining they cut completely through all layers of skin. What was left was a hole so big I could drop a nickel through it without touching the sides of the hole, and I could see the muscles on my ribs!

(I thought it was neat, because I like medical stuff.)

[bulrush]

As far as humidifying the cage, put a natural sponge (not man made) in a pet dish filled with water. The sponge will absorb water and evaporate it into the cage. Keep a solid lid on the cage, like plastic, not mesh, to trap the humidity.