Hurt Ball python with horizontal cuts.

Hi everyone new here. My Ball Python is kept at a highschool. When going to feed him today the teacher noticed the snake was hurt. We checked everything and can't find a cause for this, heating pad was normal, no sharp edges in the cage. Any ideas what could cause this? He's going to the vet in a few hours but i want to know if theres anything i can do until then. Thank you for all your help.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hhj4qq0naq...2010.54.48.jpg

I don't know if the picture is showing so heres the drop box link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hhj4qq0naq...2010.54.48.jpg

HOLY CRAP


That looks like it was set in a fire. That looks very much like a severe burn. Unplug the heating pad (which it sounds like is not hooked up to a thermostat).

That's such a bad injury that I'd be considering the possibility that a student did something terrible to it. Either that or your heat pad freaked out pretty bad.

I can't see the pics ! :(

You cooked your snake with an unregulated heat pad.

It looks exactly like a bad BAD burn. VET. NOW.

OMG! Yes, that is a very serious burn! Unplug that heating pad. If you have a substrate in the cage switch it out for paper towels to avoid and further infection once the vet visit is done. This is exactly why all heating pads MUST be regulated by a thermostat. I tell people at my PetSmart to not even buy one until they have a thermostat because it can literally cook your animal. I hope it isn't so severe that it damages muscle and recovery is still possible. PLEASE keep us updated.

"Unregulated UTHs are like house bowling balls, drilled for everyone but made to fit no one."

I checked the pad and its the normal temperature with no signs of it ever getting to the level of it being dangerously hot. and even more so the pads only on one side of the tank with a carboard box on top of it so there's no direct contact with the pad and if it was to hot wouldn't he just move to the other side? And he is going into the vet.

In addition thankfully he is acting fine with and is as active as normal

Wtf!!!!!!! That is not an injury that is a matter of life and death! That poor thing looks so horrible I can't imagine how it feels. Lets hope it makes a full recovery, it's going to be along one if so. I HIGHLY suggest that the snake does not stay at the HS while it is recovering or as a matter of fact AT ALL! Not everyone enjoys snakes as much as we do. As bad as it sounds, it is a possible that this was intentional.

Its not as bad as it looks and is only over a small section of the lower part of its body. And we were also thinking someone might have done this intentionally. It's staying with me from now on.

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Originally Posted by silverb

In addition thankfully he is acting fine with and is as active as normal

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Since ball pythons can't scream or cry on pain, of course he will be acting normally...


That is a serious burn whether you think so or not. How are you "checking" the temp of the heat pad? If you aren't using a digital probed thermometer under the substrate, you aren't getting an accurate reading.

I've seen this many times before. People come in with a badly burned snake and wonder why, and it is because they aren't regulating the heat from the UTH with a THERMOSTAT (Note: Not a thermometer).

I'm glad the snake is going to the vet. In the meantime make sure your temps are correct, because that is indeed a burn. Use clean paper towels for substrate to keep the wound clean. The vet will most likely give you some silver sulfadiazine cream to put on the burn and they might give you antibiotics to prevent infection.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ball...OoiXyAHCmYHQAQ

That is an EXTREME burn. It does seem strange that the heating pad is no longer that hot, but also I think the temp can flucuate, and it does make it seem like something intentional, but also it's on his belly which indicates that yes it was the unregulated UTH.
Out of curiosity I measured the temp of an unregulated UTH with a temp gun and temps were reaching 120 degrees F without direct contact (I tested it underneath a tub so get real life temps)

I just don't understand if it was from the heating pad why didn't the snake move off it to the non heated section of the cage?

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Originally Posted by silverb

I just don't understand if it was from the heating pad why didn't the snake move off it to the non heated section of the cage?

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Since they are cold blooded, their perception of temperature is different than ours. Sometimes they just don't realize it (like if they are sleeping for a long time).

SO they wouldn't wake up and move away from pain?

Not necessarily. Did this happen overnight? How long has it been in the high school's possession? How often do you check for injuries? This is an excessively severe burn, and it makes my heart sink to say it, but in a public environment things like this are more often than not intentional.

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Originally Posted by silverb

SO they wouldn't wake up and move away from pain?

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Nope. Same as a person who falls asleep on a beach for a few hours. You will wake up in horrible pain, but the burn never woke you up.

Get one of these and fix the problem:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

Wow, that is some of the worst burns I've seen posted...
Pure neglect... People should research the tools they are using to keep animals. That snake probably slept on 125-145F hotspot, cooking its outsides and ins....
Lazyness and Cheapness lead you down this kind of path. I feel pity for the snake.

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Originally Posted by seang89

Wow, that is some of the worst burns I've seen posted...
Pure neglect... People should research the tools they are using to keep animals. That snake probably slept on 125-145F hotspot, cooking its outsides and ins....
Lazyness and Cheapness lead you down this kind of path. I feel pity for the snake.

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Making the person feel bad about what they did is not going to get that snake any help. At least they did come here to ask for help.

For those on tapatalk here is the picture:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/25/9y4y5e7e.jpg

Just looking at this makes me want to cry.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

For those on tapatalk here is the picture:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/25/9y4y5e7e.jpg

Just looking at this makes me want to cry.

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OMG.

Thats the worse burn ive ever seen. Please get that snake to a vet ASAP!

Has anyone ever seen anything like this before from a heating pad? We are suspecting that someone came into the classroom and somehow did this purposefully.

To be from a heating pad, in my opinion, that snake would have to go unmonitored on a wildly-fluctuating heating pad for much longer than your time frame indicates. He is checked on at least once a day, correct? This looks like days of burn, to me, but I've never encountered anything like this.

However, my gut does say that this is manually inflicted, which makes me even more sick, if possible. I'm so sorry for you, Silver, and for the pain this is causing you and your animal.

The heat pad cannot regulate its own temp. You need a Thermostat to keep any type of heating element in a safe range. Be glad it didn't start a fire either.... It looks like a pad malfunction related burn to me. It looks very much like other heat related burns Ive seen but a lot more severe.

Glad its going to the vet. I suggest putting him in a temporary hospital enclosure with the bare minimum set up. Hide, water dish, and paper towel substrate. Keep it dry and sterile. Keep us posted.

And you say he's his 'normal active self'? Active ball pythons means they are stressed out. Ball pythons are nocturnal and are generally only active at night. A hiding ball is a happy ball during the day. So being active is definitely not the norm.

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Yes, I've seen burns like that from heating pads. Maybe not quite as severe, but since the snake was housed in a school who knows how long it was on the heating pad.

Can you please describe the exact thermometer you are using to measure the temperatures?

If it's one of those circular dials that you stick on to the glass, throw it away.

You need one of these. If you don't have one of these, with that little silver/black probe secured directly over the glass, it's no surprise the heat spiked and it wasn't caught.

http://www.buyagreenhouse.com/store/images/313BC.jpg

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

For those on tapatalk here is the picture:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/25/9y4y5e7e.jpg

Just looking at this makes me want to cry.

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Oh. My. God. :(

That is the worst burn I have ever seen posted. You have been given good advice so far, so I will just reiterate. Vet asap. That poor snake is probably miserable. No, they won't move off it. Yes, heat pad, or heat tape HAS to be on a thermostat, it will get hot enough to do that unregulated. Hydrofarm is the cheapest option for a thermostat. The best, but more costly choice is a herpstat. Please keep us posted on the vet visit and his recovery. Poor baby, I hope he's ok.

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Originally Posted by NormanSnake

Making the person feel bad about what they did is not going to get that snake any help. At least they did come here to ask for help.

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I am not trying to make the user feel bad, nor should they feel bad. Its the schools ball python, it wasn't in his hands. At least he is taking the initiative to take care of it outside of the school. I hope this animal gets to the vet.

So whatever teacher or staff/students of the school that was responsible for this, the comment was directed at their neglect. Not the OP

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Originally Posted by Mrl249

I can't see the pics ! :(

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Not sure you want to....:(

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Originally Posted by seang89

Lazyness and Cheapness lead you down this kind of path. I feel pity for the snake.

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Sure sounds like it was aimed at the OP. My mistake.


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That could definitely happen from a heat pad. I've seen unregulated heat pads hit 135 degrees. I hope the vet is able to ease its pain, that is the worst burn I've ever seen. :(

For reference, the heat pad should ONLY hit 90-95 (closer to 90 is better, and anything over 95 is too hot). You have to measure it with an accurate thermometer and have it hooked up to a thermostat. Those are not optional. Not impressed with your teacher.

Oh wow, that's a nasty burn. Definitely needs vet attention ASAP.

In my (admittedly limited) experience, the pet store-bought UTH's seem kind of prone to malfunctioning. Even when working normally they can and will get over 120 degrees F. I would honestly replace the UTH entirely and order a Hydrofarm thermostat ASAP. In a pinch a lamp dimmer or rheostat can be used but I would get the thermostat.

Some other things you might want is an indoor/outdoor thermometer with a probe (can be found at walmart for like $12, big apple herp sells them too) and an infrared temp gun (I think you can get a relatively basic one for pretty cheap). You can't really 'guestimate' if the hot spot is too warm or not. We're warm blooded and don't feel hot and cold like reptiles do. Stick-on thermometers are useless. You want it on the source.

Good luck OP. I hope your snake will be ok

Poor baby. :( Glad he's getting to a vet.

Hey everyone back from the vet with good news. The burns are not as bad as we originally thought. The snake does not need any kind of surgery or injections. I'm treating him with a betadine solution bath and with a topical silver sulfadiazine cream. Vet says that after a little while he'll be fine. Thanks for all the help and information guys. I really appreciate it.

Yay! Glad to hear it. Sometimes pix can be deceiving in their severity. Make sure to keep us updated in his healing process! <3

Please do keep us updated, so glad to hear good news on this!!

Wow, those pics looked awful! Glad to hear the report from the vet.

I'll also admit I felt sick at the thought that someone may have done this on purpose.

That will take more than a little while to heal.

Poor guy :/ hope he has a speedy recovery!

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Knowing High school kids, I wouldn't be surprised if it was intentional :(
Recently, my sister had a goose she was caring for because she had laid eggs in an obvious spot, a few days before they were due to hatch, some kids took them and threw them all in the lake :(

Although, I think is was just a heat pad getting too hot, a far too common mistake. You would think a biology teacher would be smarter than that though...


I'm glad to hear it's not as bad as we thought. Keep us updated :)

Be prepared fo many very often and back-to-back sheds in the future too.

Good luck and I hope that in a few months you'll be posting amazing pics of a partially recovered animal.

I find it odd that a heating pad would burn up the sides that much. Definitely always use a thermostat.

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Originally Posted by silverb

Hey everyone back from the vet with good news. The burns are not as bad as we originally thought. The snake does not need any kind of surgery or injections. I'm treating him with a betadine solution bath and with a topical silver sulfadiazine cream. Vet says that after a little while he'll be fine. Thanks for all the help and information guys. I really appreciate it.

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Glad to hear that. :)

Keep an eye on the area for infection and get treatment fast if any appears. Also every shed will probably re-open large parts of it - and she will shed a lot as part of the healing process.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Good luck and I hope that in a few months you'll be posting amazing pics of a partially recovered animal.

I find it odd that a heating pad would burn up the sides that much. Definitely always use a thermostat.

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That wasn't the side :/

I see how you could think that, but take a close look, its a belly shot.

Hey everyone thought id just give an update in case anyone cares. he had a shed the other day and his belly looks amazing. he is on his way to a great recovery. its actually suprised me how well it looks after only a little over two weeks. i'll post pictures in a bit when it looks even better. thank you again for all the advice

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Originally Posted by silverb

Hey everyone thought id just give an update in case anyone cares. he had a shed the other day and his belly looks amazing. he is on his way to a great recovery. its actually suprised me how well it looks after only a little over two weeks. i'll post pictures in a bit when it looks even better. thank you again for all the advice

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Thanks for the update, glad to hear he had a good shed after all that and he's looking better. Look forward to the recovery pictures. thank you for keep us posted.

Let's see pics of the progress! I take it you have a thermostat all set up now?

Awesome. Glad he's doing well!

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How's it worm doing? looked like it'd been put on a grill and pre-roasted. Updated pics plz

Glad to hear he's doing better.

/le bump

Where are these pictures we were promised!!