Neosporin and ball-pythons...

[bigslimrich]

Samson got a small bite on his neck from a crippled rat that i thought i could feed live but long story short he got a bite on his neck. I put neosporin on it and it seams to be healing up nicely, he doesn't act like it bothers him at all. Has anyone else ever used Neosporin??? Is it ok??

[iceman25]

I'm glad he is ok. Do you offer stunned prey?

[Wizill]

i've heard neosporin helps.

[bigslimrich]

since i switched to rats i wack 'em, but this particular rat was small and had a broked leg from fighting with other rats, so i thought it would be ok. When samson grabed the rat he got it in the side and its head was free to bite. Luckily i had my mini maglite looking into the feed box and i cracked the rat on the head 3 good times before it went out, he got samson in two small spots on his side and one on his neck, and it only took a second. a couple of scales are missing from the spot on his neck but it is healing great. its been about 9 days since the bite, and he was going into shed when it happened so it was almost like he had 2 layers of skin to protect him. I will never feed a rat live again, even if he is half crippled and tiny!!

[Smulkin]

Kill kill kill anything rodental before placing in the enclosure - even just the death throes of a mouse or rat can generate a flurry of desperate action - ever see those very sharp back claws rabbit-kicking against the coils of your python? I know its a lot more fun to watch our young 'uns take down live prey but not so safe.

[Marla]

I will never feed a rat live again, even if he is half crippled and tiny!!

I am so glad to hear that. Why take the risk of feeding live if he'll eat prekilled? By the way, Neosporin is regularly recommended for skin irritations by a vet on another forum, but you need to make sure it's the regular kind and not the kind with added anaestheic, like Lidocaine. Also, there's more to worry about with bits than just infection, so please do keep an eye on him and watch for swelling, stargazing, inability to hold his head right or to turn back over quickly if you turn him upside down, gaping, and other signs that he may have sustained nerve damage, internal bleeding, or any other further injuries.