Bp injury

[Ginab092]

[IMG][/IMG]So today I got a message from the old pet store I used to work at in regards of adopting an albino ball python that hasn't been eating. The vet they took him to wanted to euthanize him, but they wanted him to have a chance. When I received him later on, I noticed he has an injury on his back which wasn't mentioned to me when they asked if I'd take him. I've never had a bp with an injury like this before, so I'm wondering how to go about caring for this little guy. I know it's definitely not caused from a rodent bite because they're not allowed to feed live. I thought that the vet would have given them some antibiotics or something when they decided to not euthanize him, but apparently not... I will attach the best picture I can. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Eru_Iluvatar]

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you can give him the help and attention he needs!
If possible, wounds should be washed with warm water, using an antibacterial soap, if not, you need to clean it daily with a betadine solution ( 50% betadine, 50% water) and put neosporint. If the wound gets infected you are risking the snake getting.
I would leave the snake on plane papaer towels so that it can't get any kinds of substrate, mites or something else inside the wound.
I'm a bit skeptical on the fact that they took it to the vet, the vet would of said something about the wound.
Well, better safe than sorry, I personally would take it to the vet so things can't get worse and to have a firm professional help.
I hope everything will end up well

[KMG]

The wound really doesn't look bad to me. More of a shallow scrap of the skin than a deep cut. The scraped skin could be trimmed, scrap cleaned, and neosporin added. Make sure it is regualar and not the verison with pain relief.

After that I think a nice tub with some stress free days would be in order.

[Albert Clark]

Well, I would certainly take him to my own vet to get a professional evaluation of the wound severity. Then go from there. It's not a dire emergency so I would make a appointment and in the meantime keep the wound clean and disinfected with betadine would be a good choice. He looks kind of thin also so soaking would be a good place to start until the exotic vet appointment.

[Ginab092]

The vet only wanted to euthanize him because he hasn't been eating.
Can't really blame him though, I wouldn't want to eat much if I was in pain.
But he's home with me now, I'll be doing everything I can to get him healthy. He's pretty active still so I'm gonna take that as a good sign!

[Albert Clark]

The vet only wanted to euthanize him because he hasn't been eating.
Can't really blame him though, I wouldn't want to eat much if I was in pain.
But he's home with me now, I'll be doing everything I can to get him healthy. He's pretty active still so I'm gonna take that as a good sign!

. Well, if that is truly the reason the vet wanted to euthanize him I find that appalling and unbelievably cruel. And it would be time for a new vet. How is the animal moving? The injury does seem to surround the area of the spine. He's not paralyzed is he? From the picture it looks like his grip is pretty strong and he seems to be able to hold himself up.

[Eru_Iluvatar]

I agree with Albert Clark, time to change vet then.
But other than that, for the injury there isn't much more you can do than what you've already been suggested, let's just hope the snake wants to cooperate! Best wishes for both of you ;-)

[Ginab092]

I went back to the store he came from and found out that they took him over to "their" vet, rather than the specialized reptile vet they're supposed to use for every sick/injured reptile that comes into the store. That was pretty upsetting to find out...
But anyway, yes he's been just as active as all my other snakes and it looks like the injury is starting to scab. Also got his first meal in him, it was an assist feed but the moment it was in his mouth he pulled it down right away.
I have another hatchling that has been assist fed for a while, and his response was much better than hers was. So I'm hoping these are good signs and maybe his next meal or two he'll take on his own. Fingers crossed!