Amputation Needed?

[BetaConcept]

So I recently noticed my corn has a piece of stuck shed at the very end of her tail. Realizing this, I did the whole wet towel thing, and thinking it came off, I thought she was fine. It looked like it was gone. However a few days later now, I see it's still there! Now it looks very thin and the rest of the tail all of a sudden goes back to normal size. I'm afraid it needs to be amputated at the vet. Can somebody confirm? I'm very worried about her, and I want to make sure I am making the right calls.

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s411/ZeroTheHidden/20150804_022916_zpsredebejb.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/ZeroTheHidden/media/20150804_022916_zpsredebejb.jpg.html)

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s411/ZeroTheHidden/20150804_022919_zpsycvksvae.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/ZeroTheHidden/media/20150804_022919_zpsycvksvae.jpg.html)

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s411/ZeroTheHidden/20150804_022822_zpses1h9cfh.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/ZeroTheHidden/media/20150804_022822_zpses1h9cfh.jpg.html)

[XenDrgn]

I'm not an expert, but based on what I've read and intuition, I would say, it hasn't turned necrotic yet (its still flesh toned). So continue with a moisturize like shed-ease and damp towels. It may be scarred, but it looks like it can still be saved with some quick and thorough care.

[Senusenu]

When mine had little bits of shed on their tail tips, I would put them into a tub with a washrag, and enough water to keep the washrag wet with just a little standing water at the bottom. Then I put the snake in for about 20 minutes, letting them slither all around the wet rag. It might take a couple sessions, but I usually had no problem gently rubbing my fingers over the tail tip until the old shed came off.

I haven't tried Shedease or any other shed helper, but see no reason why you couldn't use either of them.. You just want to be extremely careful not to damage the skin beneath or accidentally deglove the end of the tail by being too rough. Mine never even seemed to notice or care before I got the stuck bit off or afterward. Just be gentle and don't force it, it should come off by just rubbing a finger over it or having the snake slither through a wet towel.

[Shiari]

If the tail tip is dead there, it will probably fall off on the next shed. Losing tail tips is pretty common. There's no sign of infection or other dying tissues, unlike in my poor Thera who threw a blood clot after her surgery for being eggbound.

In the photo below, the dead and hard part of the tail ends at the 3 1/4" mark. The swollen with raised scales and red skin part ends at the person's thumbnail.

[BetaConcept]

So if the stuck shed doesn't come off, I just wait for it to fall off? That doesn't sound safe to me. Are you sure that's the right way to go?

[jagodzinski]

Do you have a regular vet for her? My vet will let me talk to someone on the phone to ask about something if I am not sure whether or not she needs to go in. You could try that and describe it to them before bringing her in. While I always will bring my snake in if something is genuinely wrong, I always call ahead because if it is not serious I don't want to stress her out by driving a 1/2 hour. So that is something you could try.

For now though, I would try some more soaks. I'm no expert on this condition though - so I won't try to provide anymore advice.

[Senusenu]

It really doesn't ever seem to bother them, and going in for a visit can be stressful, depending on your snake's personality. My snow (in my avatar photo) lost 1/8 of an inch of tail over the first winter I had him. A couple of my others had very patchy sheds, too, which I attribute to being so dry from the heat being on and lack of fresh air I'm the house. I used the method I described- washing and water I'm plastic tub- to take care of all three of them. I had to do it a few times, but it worked and was less stressful than a vet visit.

In your photo, the constricted part doesn't look black or necrotic, so there's still likely living flesh under it. A vet is either going to advise you to do soaks, or possibly attempt to remove the stuck part. It is generally ill-advised to forcibly remove stuck shed because it can damage the skin beneath. He might prescribe some kind of moisturizing cream, though, which can help.

If you feel more comfortable talking to a vet on the phone then do that and see what they say.

[Senusenu]

Sorry for typos, my phone likes making me look dumb. The edit doesn't seem to work either so I can't fix it

[daddio207]

If the tail tip is dead there, it will probably fall off on the next shed. Losing tail tips is pretty common. There's no sign of infection.

Agreed !

It should shed off in the next couple of shed cycles. That one is pretty minor.

[BetaConcept]

So she just shed and she still hasn't lost the tip. I've sent her through some more towel baths, but the stuck shed is still stuck! I'm also pretty sure it's too late to save the tip. Here's some update pictures. Should I just wait for the next shed? Any help is appreciated.

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s411/ZeroTheHidden/Mobile%20Uploads/20150815_184211_zpsbnbzbmez.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/ZeroTheHidden/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150815_184211_zpsbnbzbmez.jpg.html)

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s411/ZeroTheHidden/Mobile%20Uploads/20150815_184356_zpsabsfebvr.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/ZeroTheHidden/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150815_184356_zpsabsfebvr.jpg.html)

http://i1050.photobucket.com/albums/s411/ZeroTheHidden/Mobile%20Uploads/20150815_183006_zpsqyuurevj.jpg (http://s1050.photobucket.com/user/ZeroTheHidden/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150815_183006_zpsqyuurevj.jpg.html)