Chin rub or something worse?

[Tikall]

I guess I should start by saying that I suspect this is chin rub considering the photos show actual scratches, but I just want to be sure it isn't something worse. I found a thread where someone thought their bp just had chin rub but it turned out to be mouth rot. I really don't want a nasty surprise like that.

I recently moved most of my snakes (her included) into a new AP rack. I didn't move their hides, and they've been using the newspaper instead. They are in 41 quart Sterilites now, and their old tubs were marginally larger by a couple inches.

I have not fed them since moving them into the rack, and these wounds weren't there before so it could not have been prey.





I would need three hands to open her mouth and shoot a photo at the same time, so this is the best I could do. Her mouth is a uniform pink color, same as always.


Is this cause for worry? I've put neosporin (no pain killer) on it and given her back one of her hides. She's been in it ever since I put it back. Problem solved? I just think it's weird her nose is fine, but the chin is all messed up... And there are no sharp edges in the tub, so I don't even know how those finer cuts could happen. But if it is chin rub, I guess she had to have found a way.

Oh and a note: her jaws normally align perfectly, but she was struggling to get away which gives the appearance that she's deformed in these photos lol. Nothing to worry about there.

Sorry for writing a book x__x. I just worry...

[BPelizabeth]

Take her out of the tub and rub your bare hand around every area in the tub. Dont forget up top as well. I would say to me it looks like there has to be a sharp area somewhere in the tub or the rack itself.

I am glad you said that you had not fed her as it totally looks like it could have been a bite.

[Dianna]

I have found similar "spots" on my BP's chin twice. First was when I rescued him from an uncaring home, and second was while I had to give him antibiotics (unrelated to his chin) every day. Both were very stressful situations for him. His mouth was inspected by a vet both times, I was told there was no signs of mouth or scale rot whatsoever. I had witnessed him doing some face rubbing, so I came to the conclusions that the spots (two) on his chin were from the rubbing due to stress. Takes 2 sheds for them to go away completely.

I'm not a pro, but perhaps your snake has been doing some face rubbing due to the stress of moving? If it were me, I wouldn't start worrying just yet, and definitely check for anything sharp in his enclosure as BPelizabeth suggested.

[Tikall]

Great, glad it doesn't look like the start of something worse. Hopefully with her hide she'll be more content in the new rack. I searched the whole tub and ceiling for sharp edges and finally found the acu-rite has a sharp part on the back. I removed it. Hopefully she'll be fine after a couple sheds.