Q: Always pick up the snake gently from the mid-body area, rather than the head or tail. Support its body as you hold it so that it feels safe and secure. Let it curl around your hands to explore. Some garter snakes will be afraid of being handled at first. This means that it may thrash in your hands. In this scenario, keep a firm hold of it so that it doesn't fall. Other scared snakes may produce a foul-smelling liquid called musk. This isn't harmful and you can simply wash it off. Practice handling the snake regularly and helping it to feel safe and secure so that it feels more comfortable being handled. If your snake is new, give it a few days to settle in first and make sure that it eats its first meal. Handle the snake regularly so that it can get used to you and learn to trust you. Over time, the snake will become more comfortable with being handled. Regular handling also provides a good opportunity for checking the snake's health. Make sure that there aren't small lumps over its body or a hollow popping sound when it breathes, as this could indicate a problem with internal parasites. Check the snake's body for puffy, white sores which can indicate a blister disease that is caused by living in conditions that are too moist. Also, make sure that the snake sheds properly and doesn't retain old skin around its eyes and tail. Take your snake to a veterinarian for treatment if it shows any of these symptoms.
A: Handle the snake by letting it climb through your hands. Take the snake out of the enclosure at least once per week. Check the snake regularly to make sure it is healthy.

Q: If your baby has ringworm, he made have round rash spots on his skin. These rashes will be red or pink in color and have scaly and raised borders. The center of the rash may also be scaly or it may be smooth. The rash spots usually are between half an inch to an inch; however, they will slowly grow larger. You may notice that your baby is itching the areas where the rash is. Ringworm may be confused with some kinds of eczema in infants. Ringworm is more common in children in school than in babies. If your baby has ringworm, the first thing you should do is take her to the pediatrician. The doctor can examine the infected areas and be able to diagnose the ringworm by sight. They can tell you if the rash is in fact ringworm or if it is another condition. You should make sure to take your baby to the doctor if the ringworm is on the scalp. Never try to treat your baby's ringworm at home first before taking her to the doctor. You might misdiagnose the ringworm or not use a remedy strong enough to get rid of it, which could cause the condition to worsen. Not all medicines are approved for infants. Your doctor will recommend those approved for your baby. Some cases of ringworm may present cause for immediate medical treatment. Seek medical treatment if your baby's ringworm has any pus coming from the rash or redness around the rash, the rash is still spreading after a week of treatment, the rash has persisted for more than four weeks, your child has additional spots popping up on her body, or your child's condition worsens. When you go to the doctor, you should ask him questions. Ask him if the rash is ringworm or something else. Take notes on what the doctor tells you about your baby's infection. Ask for clarification on anything that doesn't make sense to you. If your doctor doesn't tell you which cream to use, you should ask him to recommend or prescribe an antifungal cream. Make sure to write down your doctor's instructions for treating your baby carefully so you can treat it correctly at home.
A: Recognize the symptoms of ringworm. Visit the doctor. Ask questions.

Q: If you crack your tooth severely enough, you'll probably feel significant pain right after the injury. If you experience this, examine the tooth that hurts and see if there is a piece missing. If so, you've indeed cracked a tooth. Also keep in mind that you may still have a shard of tooth in your mouth. This can cut you if swallowed, so try to spit it out if it's still in your mouth. Save the shard if you have it. If your crack is less severe, you may not feel immediate pain. Instead, you'll probably experience a more dull pain that comes and goes. Often your tooth will hurt when you're chewing or when you eat very hot or cold foods. If you experience this kind of pain, it would be a good idea to investigate further. If you suspect that you may have cracked a tooth, a visible inspection should help confirm your suspicions. Look for a visible crack or missing section of your tooth. You might also be able to feel the cracked tooth if you can't see far enough into your mouth. Try carefully rubbing your tongue around your teeth. If you encounter a rough or pointy section, this would indicate a crack. If you have trouble finding the crack, you can also look at your gums. The gum line around a cracked tooth may swell and turn red. Look for this symptom to help locate your cracked tooth. Whether you know for sure you cracked your tooth, or are just having pain and can't locate it, visit your dentist as soon as possible. Cracked teeth are treatable, but it is important to visit the dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage. In the meantime, there are a number of steps you can take to protect your mouth and alleviate your pain.
A: Look for a sudden pain right after impact or chewing something hard. Note erratic pain in your tooth. Examine your tooth for visible cracks or damage. Look for swelling or inflammation around the cracked tooth. Schedule an appointment with a dentist.

Q: Pain is one of the most common symptoms of kidney stones, so you may notice it before anything else. Pain from a kidney stone is usually very sharp and severe and can even be incapacitating. You might feel pain in different places and at different times. If you have kidney stones, then you may feel pain that: Is near your groin and lower abdomen Is located on the side of your back around your ribs Comes and goes, but will worsen over time Becomes more intense and then less intense Happens when you try to urinate Changes in your urine may also signal that you have kidney stones. To determine if you have kidney stones, watch for urine that is: Brown, red, or pink in color Cloudy Bad smelling Changes in how often you need to urinate can also signal that you may have kidney stones. You may have kidney stones if you: Feel like you need to urinate even if you just went Find yourself going to the bathroom more often that is normal for you Sometimes kidney stones may cause you to feel nauseous or even to vomit. If you have been nauseous and/or vomiting, then this may also indicate that you have kidney stones. If you notice any severe symptoms, then you should go to an emergency room as soon as possible to get treatment. Severe symptoms to watch for include: Severe pain that makes it impossible to get comfortable Pain that is accompanied by nausea and vomiting or fever and chills Bloody urine Having a hard time urinating at all
A:
Determine if you have any pain that may be related to kidney stones. Check for changes in your urine's color or smell. Identify any changes in urination habits. Pay attention to nausea. Watch for severe symptoms.