Bite Wound to Mouth Won't Heal

So I have had Dave the Snake for over 10 years and this forum is a large part of our successful relationship and Dave's survival. He suffered a bite early summer which healed with antibiotics. As soon as I felt that Dave had healed I fed him and he got bit... again... in almost the exact same spot... and this time it is not healing despite injected and oral antibiotics and silver sulfadiazine cream. (SSD 1%)

The first bite caused the recess towards the front. The second bite was a few centimeters back towards the corner of her mouth where it is currently swollen. Vet has done biopsy and culture. Both came back clean. I am hoping someone here can advise.

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I would definitely switch to frozen thawed prey to avoid this.

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Originally Posted by L.West

I would definitely switch to frozen thawed prey to avoid this.

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Oh, we have... most definitely. Dave is a terrible predator.

Poor snake, this is why feeding live is a bad idea. Snakes in the wild get injured too, but they have no choice, & when they slow down, another predator
gets them.

Just like us (or other animals), scar tissue that is re-injured isn't going to heal as well...your Vet is the best one to help you with this medical issue. And I
don't think they do cosmetic surgery on snakes :rolleyes: which is why it's better to get your snake on pre-killed prey to begin with. Is this vet experienced with
snakes? You might need a second opinion...?

Yeah, I am looking into finding another vet to take a look. I found a couple of resources here earlier that is making that easy.

Good luck with this. As far as any remaining swelling, you may already know that snakes have solid (not liquid) pus, so it doesn't drain as in most creatures

(including us); instead it tends to wall off into a lump that can only be removed surgically. Whether or not I'd put a snake thru a surgery for a minor remaining

lump is something I'd only decide after talking with a good herp vet. It might be best to "leave well-enough alone" (as you said a biopsy & culture was done &

came back as clean?), whereas a surgery on a snake's face (so close to brain & essential to eating) carries risks that may (?) be best avoided. Up to you & your

vet(s). You say it's "not healing" but it appears to be? It's just that there is still some swelling, I assume that's what you meant? Do keep us updated...

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

you may already know that snakes have solid (not liquid) pus, so it doesn't drain as in most creatures

(including us); instead it tends to wall off into a lump that can only be removed surgically.

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I did not... and this is why I come here...