Rhyino viper problem.

I just purchased a rhyino viper. He has a bummed eye. It looks like a big bubble of puss over eye. Previous owner said he used to "pop" bubble and puss would drain from eye and mouth. If anyone knows how to treat this let me know.

This doesn't really sound like a "treat at home" kinda problem. Do you have a herp vet in your area that will treat venomous? Without seeing a photo it's kind of difficult to determine what the problem is but if he has a abscess or infection near his eye that has broken through and is draining into his oral cavity...he needs some serious antibiotics. He is probably going to need irrigation of the abscess and topical antibiotics as well.
If you have a herp vet that won't work with venomous, he may still be willing to prescribe the meds and recommend treatment you can do at home. Unfortunately, if there isn't a venomous herp vet in the area you need to have the skills to safely administer treatment to your snake at home.
Here's a good link:
http://www.kingsnake.com/snakegetters/demo/vet/index.html
I'd email the person who runs that site. She is pretty sharp with venomous veterinary procedures and may be able to point you in the right direction to get your rhino some help.
...by the way, where are you located? Someone might know a qualified vet in your area.

I would agree with the previous poster, that animal needs immediate veternary care or the infection can overcome the animal and kill it. http://www.snakegetters.com (goes to same page as the previous poster linked to) is a great site for venomous veternary guides, and Tanith who runs the site is very knowledgable, I highly suggest you email her.

AP

Here is a list of veterinarians in your state that are members of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. This doesn't necessarily mean they are qualified to treat your rhino viper but atleast they have some interest in herps. I would start calling the vets on this list and see if any of them treat venomous snakes.
Good luck,
Chris

Dr. Judy Rutkowski
Allentown Animal Clinic
2640 Walbert Ave
Allentown, PA 18104

Dr Kathy W. Liez
Rothman Animal Hospital
1309 Gainsbora Cir
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-2011

Dr Geoffrey H. Wright
Wright Vet Medical Center
3247 Wimmer Rd
Bethlehem, PA 18017-3334

Dr Gloria J. Goodman
4342 School Ln
Brookhaven, PA 19015-1514

Dr Denis Lee Daman
101 Thorncrest Dr
Butler, PA 16001-3932

Dr Patricia MacCabe-Laduke
Canadensis Vet Clinic
RR 1 Box 4088
Canadensis, PA 18325-9801

Dr. Toby Erlichman
938 Kings Arms Dr.
Downingtown, PA 19335

Patricia A. Schweibenz
320 West Sandy Ridge Rd.
Doylestown, PA 18901

Christopher Montgomery
2 Bloomfield AVE APT 12
Drexel Hill, PA 19026-5418

Dr Mark Madzy
VCA Delaware Valley Animal Hospital
266 Lincoln Highway
Fairless Hills, PA 19030

Dr Christina J. Mackensen
2361 Sugar Bottom Rd
Furlong, PA 18925-1202

Dr Edward R. Bennett
All Pet Animal Hospital
5007 Route 8
Gibsonia, PA 15044

Kristine Vennen
All Pet Animal Hospital
5007 Rt 8
Gibsonia, PA 15044

Dr Jennifer F. Johnson
Glenolden Animal Hosp
405 S MacDade Blvd
Glenolden, PA 19036-2007

Kathleen McCloskey
Franklin Veterinary Associates
2380 Buchanan Trail West
Greencastle, PA 17225

Dr Johanna Lee Vena
528 Waterfall Drive
Johnstown, PA 15906

Dr Bridget McMahon
Kutztown Animal Hosp
7 S Kemp Rd
Kutztown, PA 19530

Dr Barry A. Harris
2497 A Old Philadelphia Pike
Lancaster, PA 17602-3461

Dr William M. Lewis
Smoketown Veterinary Hospital
at Bridgeport
1251 Ranck Mill Rd
Lancaster, PA 17602

M. Borden Loving DVM
Lewisburg Veterinary Hosp
829 Fairground Rd
Lewisburg, PA 17837

Esteban Polorny VMD
2179 Smoketown Rd
Lewisburg, PA 17837

Dr. Joseph J. Hyduke
Malvern Veterinary Hospital
545 S. Warren Ave.
Malvern, PA 19355

Dr Kathy Tracy
Conchester Animal Hosp
530 Conchester Hwy
Marcus Hook, PA 19061-3104

Dr Pamela Jennings
VCA West Shore Veterinary Hospital
719 Limekiln Rd
New Cumberland, PA 17070-2317

Dr William R. Belzer
Box Turtle Conservation Trust
304 East Bissell Ave
Oil City, PA 16301-2004

Dr Richard C. Hann Jr
Palmyra Animal Clinic
920 E Main St
Palmyra, PA 17078-1914

Dr. Todd G. Rubey
Palmyra Animal Clinic
920 E. Main Street
Palmyra, PA 17078

Dr. Keith C. Hinshaw
Philadelphia Zoo
3400 W. Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Dr Donald W. Stremme
Center City Animal Clinic
1129 Pine St
Philadelphia, PA 19107-6035

Dr R. Avery Bennett
738 S Mildred St
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Michael J. Balsai
107 N Mole ST
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1404

Karen Rosenthal
University of Pennsylvania
3900 Delancey St
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Dr James K. Beebe
Northview Animal Hosp Inc
223 Siebert Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-3738

Dr Cynthia Stadler
10 Glenview Dr
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Dr Robert Wagner
University of Pittsburgh
S 1049 BST
Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Dr. Carolee Switalski
Pittsburgh Zoo
One Wild Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

John A Coniglario DVM
2907 Walnut Ridge Estates
Pottstown, PA 19464

Dr Liza Clark
Quakertown Vet Hospital
2250 Old Bethlehem Pike
Quakertown, PA 18951-3948

Dr. Patricia Slanga
684 Ridge road
Spring City, PA 19475

Dr Karen Jones-Diller
PO Box 235
Spring Mills, PA 16875-0235

Kendra E. Stauffer, DVM
546 Dupont Ave
York, PA 17403

We have successfully treated a number of venomous snakes including rhino vipers for subspectacular infection. The best thing to do would be to thoroughly review the information here: http://www.snakegetters.com/demo/vet Offer to present the animal to the veterinarian in an isoflurane box so that he or she may administer anesthesia without touching the animal until it is unconscious.

This is really not a treat it at home kind of thing, so please make every possible effort to find a vet. I realize that you may fail, and that something is better than nothing. But do NOT attempt any of these at-home treatment suggestions until you have searched very diligently for a veterinarian who will see a rhino viper which you have promised will be unconscious before the box is opened at the clinic.

If you absolutely can't find a vet, keep the poor thing at an optimal temperature range and shoot it up with 20mg/kg Ceftazidime every 72 hours. Oral Baytril at 7.5 to 10 mg/kg every 24 hours is another option. I don't like to mess around much with the aminoglycosides (Amikacin, Gentocin) in sick rhino vipers because of the potentially nephrotoxic effect, but if you do choose to use an aminoglycoside, ensure hydration status with a lot of soaking or with 1-2% of the animal's body weight in oral fluids given daily.

Don't mess with the eye directly unless you know what you're doing. If the infection does appear to be external at all, if there is any soft tissue swelling or a fissure, twice daily Nolvasan sprays to the area might be a good idea.