Draining a lump

[guidofatherof5]

The mass you found is likely the cause for the infection. With that mass (not infection mass) out it may be able to heal up.

Cranky has never had anyone care for him before so be patient with the old guy.
The only other humans have probably tried to kill him.

[aquamentus_11]

Reopened the incision yesterday, and scared myself silly.
cleaned everything, nicked the incision open, then snipped it wider with a tiny pair of scissors...
Shoot! Out popped a sharp pointy object like a rib bone and next to it a lump of something whitish-gray and ugly d
looking.
Damns, damn, damn, I must have screwed up totally.
Wait, calm down, you've seen tatters surviving much much worse.
Take tweezers in hand to... oh no! He's starting the rolling.
He won't stop! What's that?

On the paper is a mass sized and shaped like a smallish guppy.
Cranky looks fine, slim & very cranky.

Packed wound with antibiotic ointment & set him to rest.
Mass head àppears to be a lump of tissue enveloping a bone or splinter encased by an oblong of solid infection. Sort of a uni- guppy.
Cranky is looking great' sunning himself and giving me death looks whenever I approach the cage.
Cranky old coot.

that's AWESOME

[chris-uk]

I think that Steve is probably spot on. First time round you drained the infection, now with reduced inflamation you've been able to remove the source of the infections.

What are people's thoughts on the bone/splinter? My concern right now would be that it's a bone which has perforated the intestine and worked it's way out, although with a wild snake it's probably more likely to have been a penetrating injury - so an embedded splinter that then got infected.

[Selkielass]

It really looked like a fish bone or, what I imagine a snake rib bone to look like. Very fine and sharp.
He is doing well today, but still hasn't eaten.
I'll try for pics when the weather improves. My attempts at indoor pictures seem to be doomed to blurs and terribly off colors.

[EasternGirl]

I'm not sure...I would certainly be concerned about possible internal injuries going on. Especially if he isn't eating...of course, if he had a bad infection...that could affect his appetite as well.

[Selkielass]

I'm not sure...I would certainly be concerned about possible internal injuries going on. Especially if he isn't eating...of course, if he had a bad infection...that could affect his appetite as well.

He is also fresh out of brumation, and its breeding season for Butlers.
Rooster, the healthy male from the same den has also shown no interest in food.
Both are drinking plenty of water.

Anyone have any idea how long this spring fast could go on? Rooster is fine and fat but Cranky here is pretty thin.

[guidofatherof5]

He is also fresh out of brumation, and its breeding season for Butlers.
Rooster, the healthy male from the same den has also shown no interest in food.
Both are drinking plenty of water.

Anyone have any idea how long this spring fast could go on? Rooster is fine and fat but Cranky here is pretty thin.

Not until their work is done.

[Selkielass]

Rooster has stopped courting Trax, but he is still sticking fairly close to her. Honestly Trax is plump enough to be carrying already (Ravenous too.)
Cranky has been testing the lid of his cage- perhaps he smells her from across the room. He is active and has produced several nice solid poops, so I'm hoping he will eat soon.
All 4 snkes I. Have found this spring are slow to eat compared to last summers ravenous ladies.

[aquamentus_11]

good job fixing him up <thumbsup>

[Selkielass]

Update;
Gardened yesterday and brought in about 1/2 cup of fresh garden worms. All 4 wc butlers decided to pig out.
Cranky is scary thin, so this is a relief. I am still concerned for him as he is showing some raised scales that concern me, and he still has a touch of swelling at the incision site. He is coming out of blue phase, I'm. Looking forward to seeing what the injured areas look like after shed.

I plan on continuing with baths and antibiotic ointment on all scars and raised scale areas.