For those of you who don't know, for the last three or four months my two year old female flame Harley has been battling with some very severe dermatitis that we finally found was due to a parasitic nematode normally only found in mammals.
Apparently this parasite keeps the skin from producing certain chemicals that help 'hold it together' for lack of a better term. You know that glossy coating on most garters' belly scutes? Gone. Her entire body felt like it was scaleless. This caused some pretty severe scale damage (especially on the sides, where the scales bent when she curled due to being so weak) and movement difficulty.
WELL; finally some big improvement! Starting about two days ago, I noticed her belly begin to change color, and a sort of shine start to appear again. This has coincided with continued improvement of the back and side scales as well (still damaged, but they are shiny and appear to be getting sturdier) as well as movement that is pretty much normal.

Before I post the pictures:
Yes, there are lateral folds in her scales. This is due to how soft they were when the infection was in full swing; not a retained shed (vet confirmed) I have been keeping a very close eye on her, and her eyes have not gone blue, but she has a shed box in her 'hospital tank' just in case. The scales were just literally so soft they would bend right in two when she moved and have continued to do so throughout this whole ordeal.

No, this is definitely not an infection, despite the yucky color. There is no swelling, sensitivity, or negative behavior change (she ate two pinkies and three fish last night). Additionally, this color change happened uniformly. I believe her body has finally recovered enough to try and put up a new layer of skin for her first actual shed since this began.

Harleyskin1.jpgHarleyskin2.jpgHarleyskin3.jpgHarleyskin4.jpg


I know she's not completely out of the woods yet, but I'm hoping this is a big step in the right direction. She is a very special snake; even the vets always comment on how cooperative she is.