Why is my snake's vent swollen, pink, bloody, and smells bad?

Thanks for reaching out about Enola and including photos. The cloaca does appear infected but that might be a secondary problem. She also appears very thin. Diet and husbandry needs to be reviewed to provide an optimal healing environment. A fecal examination for parasites and bacteria should be performed at a veterinary office, as the pet store has zero medical knowledge and now one week has been wasted. A veterinary visit is necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment. Short (10-15 minute) warm water soaks can provide some transient comfort and might stimulate defecation. Systemic antibiotics (oral or injections) are probably required, no only topical. Good luck.

The swelling may be due to trauma, tumor, infection or even constipation if the swelling is before her vent. Ideally, a physical exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended to reach a definitive diagnosis. Any treatment will depend on the diagnosis.

I am very concerned that your snake may have developed septicemia which is most often caused by bacteria living in the snakes skin that take an opportunity to infect. You need to go to a reptile vet right away to habe the snake examined. If it is septicemia itis very serious and needs high doses of antibiotics to treat. Sometimes there is an underlying condition that predisposes to it. I wish you the best of luck.

This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Differentials include infections, benign or more sinister type of tumors. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I am sorry for the loss of your snakes. Ideally, Ivory should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet, especially in light of your recent losses. The spots could indicate infection (bacterial, fungal or even a viral condition). It is difficult to make a detrmination by looking at an image. In the meantime, clean and sanitize all the enclosures, bowls, hides and tank furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Wash your hands thoroughly between handling each snake. Confirm, again if necessary, proper environmental parameters. Low temps can lead to stress which may predispose a snake to infection or illness. High humidity can foster bacterial or fungal overgrowth. Consider using paper towels as substrate until the issue is resolved. Change them daily to maintain clean conditions.

Possibilities include infection, parasites, burns or trauma (from a fall or bedding). Changing out the bedding was a smart move. Take it a step further and remove all cage furniture in case Erebus is climbing then falling. Confirm proper temperature and if you have a heat rock, remove it immediately. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended to diagnose illness or injury.

This sounds and looks like a burn from possibly the heating pad or a heating lamp he may have been lying on. This needs to be treated by a veterinarian. Please take your snake to a vet tomorrow for an exam and treatment. Your snake will need pain medicine, and an ointment such as silversulfadiazine for burn wounds after cleaning and debridement .