Abscess?

[Stefan-A]

Salt is good... it's a natural antiseptic.

So is sugar and subsequently honey. Doesn't have the same drawbacks as salt either.

Actually, I think they're antibacterial, not antiseptic, but anyway..

[Lori P]

Sugar is good at drawing out swelling and edema... honey is good for infection... and actually, garlic is a natural antibiotic and I've used ground garlic topically on wounds even on the horses with success. Of course, they end up smelling like an italian kitchen... lol (Keeps the flies off them, too)

Hmm, so the garlic salt idea is not bad... lol!!!! Think how tasty he'll smell!!

I'd lean toward the eposom salts for their drawing power myself.

[anji1971]

Okay, so if I make him a soak full of salt, sugar, honey, and garlic, would that be overkill?

[Stefan-A]

No, that'd be 'marinade'.

[salzar]

No, that'd be 'marinade'.
__________________
haaaaa haaaa heeeee just to funny !!
I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT THE TURTLE TOO.. BAD BAD.... michelle

[jeanette]

lol at marinade snake. poor thing.
either sea salt or table salt will work, sea salt is better as it hasnt been through so many factory processes, milling curing and such.
with the python i soaked him for 10 minutes twice a day, im not sure how long you would be ok soaking a garter for though as im pretty much inexperianced with garters and still learning, anyone help with that?

[anji1971]

He's even smaller than a garter, so I guess 5 minutes twice a day should do it. I started the salt water this afternoon.
I'll wait and see how it turns out. I feel like a broken record with that phrase lately.

[count dewclaw]

He's even smaller than a garter, so I guess 5 minutes twice a day should do it. I started the salt water this afternoon.
I'll wait and see how it turns out. I feel like a broken record with that phrase lately.

It isn't so much the size of the snake...you need to soak them long enough so that any sealing up of the abscess area is softened/opened to allow drainage. If 5 minutes seems to open things up that's good, if not soak for closer to 10 minutes. If you are soaking him twice a day, 5 minutes might be enough.

[charles parenteau]

At the begining it look like and abscess but its gland infection maybe its food...but one thing for sure all infected snake died... this sanfrancisco eat one day before i ended its suffering...in the freezer.

[anji1971]

Charles, I'm beginning to think you're right in this case. Today, after several days of what seemed like improvement, Stitch has become very lethargic, and almost completely unresponsive to touch. I'm afraid I am going to have to break down and admit defeat here. It doesn't look good.
I don't know if I have the emotional strength to just put him in the freezer though -- I'm still trying to talk myself into being able to do that.