Rescue in poor shape, may have a burn?

[SanJayRescue]

My husband and I just got a ball python from this guy who was barely keeping him alive. He says he has had him for 9 yrs but he's not quite 3 feet long and very thin. The guy said he was feeding him a mouse once a month. His cage was filthy as were his water bowls and he has a spot on his side that looks like it may be a burn. It is an inch long and a half inch wide and his scales are curled up around the edges of it. The red area is dry and leathery feeling and not puffy at all. I have owned a burmese python before and she never had anything like this. Any advice would be helpful. Other than being small he is very alert and active and not agressive at all.

[BabysMomma]

Poor little guy! It's a good thing he's in the care of someone who will look after him.

That looks pretty nasty, although it doesn't look infected to me...Take him to a herp vet straightaway, see if they can recommend a good antibacterial, and have them check for internal damage. Just because it looks as though it's healing on the outside doesnt mean there's not a good bit of damage and infection to his insides. Make sure you keep him on superclean substrate, like paper towels only.

I agree that it does look like a burn, almost like he got in contact with a heating element. That looks like a big chunk of flesh he's missing, too...

[JLC]

I would definitely recommend a trip to the vet for a thorough check-up and advice about cleaning/dressing that wound. One of my snakes got an open wound on the top of her face once...and my vet gave me some stuff called "Collasate" which is sort of like a liquid bandaid. It helped the wound heal while keeping it covered and clean as well. You might ask for something like that.

[GoingPostal]

Ow! That looks pretty nasty. No advice other than I would get him straight into a good reptile vet, sounds like he has been horribly cared for. I'm glad he's out of that situation. Poor guy. Was there a heat rock or lamp in his tank he could have burned on? Weird spot for a burn on a BP, usually on their belly or head.

[Elise.m]

Wow, poor guy! Glad he's in your care now.

[Snakeman]

actually it looks like it was bitten by a mouse/rat repeatedly.

[SanJayRescue]

Thank you for all the advice. The guy that had him said his only heat source was a ceramic heat lamp, it was on top of the screen on his tank but he also had a tree branch in there that came all the way up to it so he could have touched it thru the screen I guess. We actually found the wound on him when we took him out of the tank to take him home, the guy said it must have just happened but personally I doubt he even checked on him once a week. I am calling the vet we used for our Burm today to see when I can bring him in. My husband wanted to go ahead and get him a mouse but I was concerned that with that open wound stretching his skin out might split it or make it worse, any advice on that?

[nixer]

actually it looks like it was bitten by a mouse/rat repeatedly.

i would like to agree with this

[JLC]

My husband wanted to go ahead and get him a mouse but I was concerned that with that open wound stretching his skin out might split it or make it worse, any advice on that?

It's hard to tell from that one photo exactly where on the body the wound is...but it looks like it's closer to the tail-end of the snake...in which case, I don't think feeding would be a risk. The snake will have to eat anyhow...that wound isn't going to close up anytime soon.

But, that being said, if you know you're going to the vet soon, I'd hold off on feeding until that stressful day is over and done with...unless the appt ends up being at least three days away.

[mechnut450]

I agree unless the appointment is the next 2 days a mouse may help the bp feel better about it new owners ( itshowing you care) not that the snake will put 2 and 2 together. I also agree that a vet visit needed. I would think neo ( with out th pain med) could possible help until the vet visit since it help fights infection and promotes healing. Just be prepare to clean paper towels and reapply it often.