Tail dropped off due to stuck shed

I recently acquired an adult corn snake who had a stuck shed, apparently. I looked at her last week, she ate, and I did notice her tail looked weird, but it didn't look like a stuck shed... there was no constriction, and her tail only looked like it had black scales at the very tip.

She was going into blue, and hiding, so I left her alone for a week.

I came home from work, and saw that she shed and pooped, but her tail was no longer white... It was a deep red! I can't believe it. The end of her tail is gone... I can't even describe how horrible I feel, for seeing an issue, but obviously, I didn't identify it in time. I didn't check on her while she was in hiding, as all my corns hide during this time, and come out unscathed. I have NEVER even had an issue with retained shed on the tip of a tail.

Well, I soaked her in warm water for 30 mins in water and applied really diluted bactine to her tail.... REALLY diluted. This cleared the area of the dried blood. I changed her aspen to paper towels, and disinfected her tank. I know, I feel like crap. I know she needs to see a vet. Any idea what else I can do to make her life easier? Thanks for all your advise in advance.

You can see a vet if you want to, but this is common and rarely fatal.

rub neosporin (the kind without pain relief in it) on the tail, it will heal.

My corn did this, N/P and I find milks out back in the wild like that, and even a few wild garter snakes with nub tails.

good luck

About a year back someone had this happen to their ball on this forum, that was pretty much the advice given to him.

These things happen. You know how snakes absorb yolk through their stomachs in the egg? Well one of my two snakes ended up bleeding out of that hole after one of her sheds way back when. It was a tiny amount and I just threw neosporin on it for a few days and it healed over fine.

Neosporin and liquid bandage (when you have eggs) are possibly the 2 greatest aids to any Herp owner.

Now you can call her Stubby.

If you got it that way, it's not your fault.

Keep it clean, let it dry and scab over and she will be just fine.

Okay I will totally get Neosporin today. I appreciate the advice. Is a good soak good for her for this issue? I did make the area look much cleaner.

She won't need to soak for this. You want to keep the tail dry until it heals. She can have a bowl of water unless she starts soaking in it. Then just give her water for a few minutes every 2 or 3 days until she heals.

Keep it dry, wetness promotes infections.

Alright, I got her all Neosporined up. How often do you reapply it?

Personally I only put it on once a day. But I use newsprint as a substrate, it will rub off faster if you use something else. I'd say 2 - 3 times a day.

how is that tail doing?? any updates?

Dont beat yourself up over it. It happens to the best of keepers. Just by your attitude I can tell she is in very good hands, Hope she is doing better

Update: So it seems okay. The last part of her tail is deep red/black. The remaining dead scales have fallen off as of yesterday. I've been applying Neosporian every day. I have been afraid to feed her, but she seems interested in food. She is really mellow and slow, but I think this is due to her old age. (She was kinda like this before)

I really want to soak her again to cleanse the area. Should I continue to wait? I feel like that's what I would do if I cut myself - clean, Neosporin, clean, etc. What do you guys think?

At this point, just let it dry up and drop off. As long as no additional tissue is becoming necrotic she'll be fine.

Here's a photo:

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...3e41963ee3.jpg

I repeat from before, don't get it wet. Just keep that neosporin treatment going till it is healed.

wet = bad.

Congrats on your "new" nubby tail.;)

My corn has a nubby tail, and he is doing fine.

Go ahead and feed your snake.