Wounded BP!

I fed Jackson an adult mouse today because the pet store was out of rat crawlers. I watched him the whole time and everything looked fine, but as he was swallowing I noticed that the mouse had given him a pretty good gash on the side of the neck. It looks like peeling scales. Should I take him to the vet? Is there a home remedy I should use? I feel just awful... I will def kill it next time I give him an adult rodent...

Is he bleeding or just losing some scales/peeling? If there's no broken skin, then I wouldn't worry too much. Just take more precautions next time, like you said.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

I fed Jackson an adult mouse today because the pet store was out of rat crawlers. I watched him the whole time and everything looked fine, but as he was swallowing I noticed that the mouse had given him a pretty good gash on the side of the neck. It looks like peeling scales. Should I take him to the vet? Is there a home remedy I should use? I feel just awful... I will def kill it next time I give him an adult rodent...

---

That's what his scales are all about! He will be fine. You can use neosporin, in do time the scales will heel with every shed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KingPythons

That's what his scales are all about! He will be fine. You can use neosporin, in do time the scales will heel with every shed.

---

Neosporin without the pain reliever.

yeah, live mice do a lot of kicking and scrabbling when they're being constricted, and this one might have gotten a clawhold. Can you post an (in-focus, not over-exposed) picture?

But usually I do use neosporin (without pain reliever) on little wounds like that. And keep an eye on it, to make sure it doesn't get infected.

Usually a small wound will trigger a shed cycle. It'll either disappear or look like a scar after the shed, depending on how deep it was.

There was no blood at all, but I thought I could see the mouse through his skin as he swallowed it. I mean, His skin was stretched pretty thin, so I guess that stands to reasoning, but it still freaked me out a little. He has a little bit of scales hanging off (like a big hangnail, I suppose...) No one makes easy peel snake band aids or anything? :( (Don't worry, I know well enough not to put anything sticky on him. I'm just kidding!)

I will get a pic either tomorrow or the next day, I want to just let him be for now. It looks pretty nasty to me, but he's such a little guy I think anything would look like a big ouch.

Don't be so overprotective! His species survived all this time by fighting rodents and squeezing them to death; they are perfectly suited to dealing with a bite or scratch. As long as it isn't actively bleeding, he'll be fine after a shed or two.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salodin

Don't be so overprotective!

---

Hahaha, I know! I am a notoriously BAD worrier. Thanks for that, though. Need to hear it... often... My husband and I joke about how when I have kids, I'm gonna be a total spaz. But for real, it's not funny, I probably will need professional help. :rofl: (Its unfortunate that tone doesn't come across over internet communications, cause this sounds a little nuts.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpythonluvr

Neosporin without the pain reliever.

---

Is it a problem? I've used whatever I had, never harmed my ball.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

There was no blood at all, but I thought I could see the mouse through his skin as he swallowed it. I mean, His skin was stretched pretty thin, so I guess that stands to reasoning, but it still freaked me out a little. He has a little bit of scales hanging off (like a big hangnail, I suppose...) No one makes easy peel snake band aids or anything? :( (Don't worry, I know well enough not to put anything sticky on him. I'm just kidding!)

---

If it seriously didn't break the skin and there's no blood, there's probably nothing to worry about. But what you're describing... it almost sounds like he had a bit of stuck shed around the bottom of his neck and chin, and the stretching from eating his food pulled a bit of it off.

And yeah, they look weird when they're swallowing their food. It's difficult to swallow something larger than your head without look kinda freakish... Don't feed him anything larger around than he is, and he should be fine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KingPythons

Is it a problem? I've used whatever I had, never harmed my ball.

---

Lidocaine can be toxic to most snakes its administration (in very rare cases) must be very very carefully monitored and is best left to vets. Most topical pain killers are Lidocaine or Lidocaine based ones.

It can cause effects such as arrhythmias and seizures. The dosage that is safe for snakes is much lower than mammals. There is a possibility of an accidental overdose even with over the counter medications.


http://pet-snakes.com/first-aid-kit-snakes

http://eddandjack.com/files/1921Jack...FleshWound.jpg

Here is a pic of Jackson's scratch. It looks really nasty to me, but it's my first experience with a wounded snake. What would be the best action to take proper care of this? Thank you!

I't doesn't look that serious from your photo. Keep it clean you might try polysporin (no pain killers) but I personally don't think you need it looks to be missing skin not actually through the skin just a layer or two. Keep a close eye on it if it gets worse of swollen a vet should take a look at it. Make sure your temps are correct.

Ok I won't lie, that looks down right scary if you didn't know snakes could handle it lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salodin

Ok I won't lie, that looks down right scary if you didn't know snakes could handle it lol.

---

I KNOW! It looks terrible. Thank you, Salodin- someone who validates my concern. Ugh. I'm pretty inexperienced with this... (So, he CAN handle it, right?:()

Yes he can handle it. Just let him be for a short while though, maybe not even handle him until his next feeding. Just check on it once a day to make sure it's healing well and not bleeding or getting infected (it'll look swollen).

Yup, he'll be fine. Might leave a little scar, but that should be the end of it. As has been said, a little neosporin without pain reliever helps and keep his tank/cage/tub/whatever as clean as possible. Paper towels would be a good substrate for now in case you're using something natural that could get stuck in it.

I put the neosporin on Jackson this morning, and he actually looked much better than when I first saw it. I think he really will be ok, like all of you said he would! :P

How is Jackson doing now? I hope he is better!

Oh, he is doing very well. It's healing up nicely and he just shed. It's still there, but it is noticeably smaller. Thanks for asking!

great to hear! hopefully it doesnt scar too bad if any at all

I am glad too! I never meant to make it sound like I was saying you had no reason to me concerned I was trying to reassure you somewhat. I would love to see an up dated pic it is quite remarkable what they can heal with not noticeable problems later.