New owner, old mistake, need conformation on advice to give.

Short story, someone came to me with a medical mishap and needs advice. I want to be clear on the advice before I go spouting off something that is incorrect.

Issue: Tape nightmare. BP got tape stuck near it's neck area, seems to be back/side, not belly.

Current advice/steps taken: He's using olive oil to remove the remaining tape, but there is already skin damage done. I told him to rub oil/pour oil over the site rather than soak the entire bp in it. Working slowly and carefully from the opposite tape end of where he can see damage. I also told him to remove all substrate, put down papertowels and triple check that all his temps are correct. (Reason behind the temp check was because sometimes when using a thicker substrate, the temps read good, and then remove said substrate and the temps shoot up. I know to measure the below substrate temp, but I had a feeling he might not. So I wanted to make sure that was clear)

Question for next steps: I have read that a single soak, maybe two in the next few days of a peroxide or betadine solution. What would be the correct solution dilution? For how long? Next step, assuming there is skin damage/tearing, Neosporin (without pain reliever)? Applied how often? Better solution than neo?

Any help is appreciated, I already gave him the run down of this is why tape is a big no no etc.


Edit: and I noticed I misspelled Confirmation...woops. *bonk self*

I've had the same situation. But my mistake was putting my bp on my bed when I was cleaning her cage, completely forgetting I was using duct tape to fix something earlier. There was a small piece of tape on my bed that somehow she managed to get under and it stuck to her neck on the top side.

I took a rag and wet it with warm water, and tried to rub the tape off gently, it was making good progress.. Well I had to go to class and I was going to continue to get the tape off afterwards, but somehow she got it off herself!!!

Other than that I can't be of much help :(

After seeing the picture, I told him Vet, asap. He already called and the vet told him to keep him sterile and use some antibiotic ointment.

*GRAPHIC*























http://i381.photobucket.com/albums/o...psc6bdcb19.jpg

Ouch.


Betadine solution. You want it diluted until its tea colored. If its just a small area, a bath isn't needed. Just take a cotton ball and swab the area once or twice a day.

Neosporin is bad for the scales if used too often. But I suggest once every other day for the first week. Apply after the betadine swab. Then apply only once or twice a week after the first week for 2 weeks. It should be good enough then that it can heal on its own.

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Oh my gosh! That poor guy.

I have no advice, but I just wanted to say I hope for the best for your friend's BP!

Wow! I had no idea that tape would do that much damage. I'm glad I found this place and the warning about tape, which prevented me from making this mistake. I think this pic should go in that thread to reinforce the point. I hope he heals up quickly and without a hitch for you friend. Poor little guy.

So did the tape tear off all the scales leaving raw flesh exposed?

DONT USE PEROXIDES!!!!

They will oxidize and destroy healthy and exposed cells...they oxidize everything good or bad.

if the picture shows what i think it shows, then a vet needs to stitch the skin of the snake back together. i mean, surgical suture.


and i agree, i wouldnt experiment with disinfectants that may be too agressive on the exposed flesh. The vet will know what disinfectant to use.

Betadine is safe. Its just basically diluted iodine.

And I don't think the snake needs sutures. From what I see, its only the subcutaneous layer of skin that is exposed. That will heal fine without stitches.

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