Ball python vs washing machine

I rescued a ball python from someone hoping to save it because it means a lot to a special young girl. About a month ago I was asked to come help find a snake that escaped from its cage stored above a washing machine. After looking for it I finally found it above the drum of the washer and pulled it out and noticed that it was injured and told the girl that I can take it and try to save it but be prepared if it dies from its injuries. Well a month goes by and it still is thriving and this morning I noticed that it was shedding so I wetted her cage down and came home for lunch and noticed that it now looks worse than it did before (look at pictures) and I don't want to have to put it down because this girl loves her snake. First picture is the day I got it next two are made today when she was shedding. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/20/nuvy6u5e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/20/asehe9yv.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/20/tupanyqa.jpg

Oh man. I'm new to this and already found a new love for these animals. Hope this one is strong and can survive. Good luck man.

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Wow... :O
Maybe its just the new growth coming in and looks red/pink because of it. (scar tissue) May want a vet to look at it for a second opinion.

I am sorta new at this all as well...

My fiance has had reptiles for just over 14y and I just have gotten into them over the last 4y I have been with him. (got my first 2 ball pythons this year) He had one when I got with him, and we got our lizards over the last 2y.

I think the wound scabbed over, and when the snake shed the scab was peeled off. For the next day or so I would use some triple antibioitic ointment on it - not the kind with the topical anesthetic, that is harmful to snakes. In the meantime order some silvadene from http://www.mountainside-medical.com/ (they will sell it without a script), and use that after it arrives. I'd also keep the snake on paper towels rather than aspen or cypress to keep the wound clean and dry.

The silvadene is better since it's in a water-based ointment. Over time the triple will soften your snake's scales since it uses an oil-based ointment.

I definitely think a vet visit is in order. Your buddy there may need some antibiotics. Good luck..

Yeah it needs to see a vet but she don't have the money for it and would rather see it die before spending a lot of money on it when she can replace it cheaper. Like I said it's not mine I'm just trying to keep it from dying to the best of my ability. I'm going to put some antiseptic ointment on it from a local vet and hope for the best. That's all the vet is going to do anyways

I had a corn snake that ended up with similar wounds due to a bad skin infection. She had open sores and needed injected antibiotics to get better.

Anyway once her open sores healed up she shed. After the shed the places looked very similar to that snakes/ I think it's part of the healing process. Keep everything VERY clean and make sure she is getting enough water. When they have open sores like that they can dehydrate quickly.

My girls ended up making a full recovery, she just has some scars.

First, what you have there is part of the healing process, and when you think about what happens when a snake sheds, an inevitability. bcr229, already gave you great advice on what to do next.

QUOTE=bradthebanker;2232227]Yeah it needs to see a vet but she don't have the money for it and would rather see it die before spending a lot of money on it when she can replace it cheaper. Like I said it's not mine I'm just trying to keep it from dying to the best of my ability. I'm going to put some antiseptic ointment on it from a local vet and hope for the best. That's all the vet is going to do anyways[/QUOTE]

Second, if that really is the girl's attitude about the snake, it's incongruent with your earlier statement that, " it means a lot to a special young girl". Can't mean that much to her if she's just willing to replace it...also calls into question just how special she is, but that's another story for another time.

Please don't use the antiseptic ointment from the vet. 99.9% of the time what they give you will be oil based, and will destroy the snake's scales. Get the silvadene, and keep the area clean and dry.

It looks a lot worse than what it actually is. And this is going to happen every time the snake sheds. But the wound will get smaller in time.

The tissue is already healing. And the subcutaneous tissue looks healthy and in one piece. No visual punctures or rips. Personally, it actually looks better than before to me.

Keep the snake on paper towel substrate. Keep the enclosure hospital clean.
Clean the wound daily with Betadine. It's an antiseptic.
And apply antibiotic cream (with no pain killer) on. The pain killer type is toxic.
Using an oil based ointment vs cream in this case doesn't matter since there is no scales on the location to damage.

Well slim actually the little girl does love it and I didn't make it clear that her mom is the one that said that she could replace it. Sorry about that

While you're waiting on the silvadene you can also use this in the mean time.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/cur...068617-product

It's water based and won't affect the healthy scales. It's the only thing my vet recommends to use on a snake in an emergency before you can see the vet. I bought some and keep it on hand just in case.

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Originally Posted by bradthebanker

Yeah it needs to see a vet but she don't have the money for it and would rather see it die before spending a lot of money on it when she can replace it cheaper.

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Interesting...

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Originally Posted by bradthebanker

Well slim actually the little girl does love it and I didn't make it clear that her mom is the one that said that she could replace it. Sorry about that

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That does make a difference in the presentation...I've said it a million times on this Forum, words matter.

I agree with Nikki and the other folks who say it looks better than before-- scabs are always ugly, but the tissue after the fresh shed looks healthy and clean under the blood. I know it looks rough, but antibiotic cream sans painkiller, betadine, and hospital-sterile conditions will just about ensure a good recovery for this little dude, in my opinion. It'll look pretty gory for a few sheds, but minimal lasting damage, aside from the scar.

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I talked my parents through rescuing a rat snake with similar injuries last year (caught in a net; a solid strip of skin about three inches wide had been stripped off all the way around the body and was infected). It took six months before it could be released, but went through three 'emergency sheds' in that time. Each time the scabbing pulled off and it looked a lot like that.
If there's no sign of infection, that may be what you're seeing. It'll take a few sheds before that stops happening. We mainly used diluted betadine and painkiller-free neosporin.

Like someone already said, open wounds are a dehydration risk and can get infected if the environment isn't kept clean. Depending on how old this kid is/how much the parents care about the snake you may be keeping it for awhile.

I am going to do everything in my power to help this snake out and make a full recovery and when the wounds heal up give it back to her and see that smile on her face it will be worth it

I would also mention to the owner(s) about moving that vive away from equipment like a washing machine or drier. Not that they wouldn't find their way there if they got out, but it lessens the chance (me thinks). And investing in a locking lid of some sort!

I've treated a wound like this with my male ball python that actually got stuck in his own hide. While he was thrashing around the hide removed the scales and the wound looked a lot like the snake your trying to treat. Just keep the area clean with antibiotic ointment and some betadine iodine solution. Try to keep the wound dry, once it dries it will scab up quicker and the new scales will start to form. I definitely think this snake will pull through as long as you keep it clean. I'm no expert but this is just what I've learn from personal experience. My snake still has his scar but it disappears more and more with every shed. Please keep us updated.


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Just a update for everyone... The ball python that was in the washing machine is doing well now she is eating again and has recently shed and it is looking like she is going to recover from that almost tragic event. But is going to have a serious scar for the rest of her life

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Originally Posted by bradthebanker

Just a update for everyone... The ball python that was in the washing machine is doing well now she is eating again and has recently shed and it is looking like she is going to recover from that almost tragic event. But is going to have a serious scar for the rest of her life

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thats really good news glad to hear it!

I would like to thank everyone for their advice and support without it I would have already euthanized this ball python and caused a lil girl to be heart broken now she is very thankful to me for saving her pet. As soon as she is completely healed I will give it back to her

Thanks again forum members