Ball Python Badly Burned

So my friend has a full grown ball python who is a complete sweetheart. One day she came home to find that the heating pad had malfunctioned and her entire belly was covered in blisters. She immediately threw the mat out and got a new one and within the next shed she had shed off some of the blisters but the bottom 2/3rds of her body was still covered in scabs. We were worried and thought maybe they would go away. Yesterday I picked her up and her bottom side felt completely soaked, I thought maybe it was water... It was the most foul smell I have ever smelt in my entire life. Her belly was collecting this greenish gunk and the scabs had split apart. We immediately bathed her and gently rubbed her stomach with chlorhexidine and it got most of the nasty stuff out. We noticed how raw her belly was and I was terrified. I will be posting a picture so you can see but she has begun freaking out over what to do as she does not know what is happening. Could any of you help? Advice? I would like to help her snake out and her as she has been taking care of her for years now and is absolutely in love with her. Thanks.
http://i.imgur.com/esDD8Cd.jpg
You can see how raw her belly looks. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Yea, disconnect that heat mat operating until you get a thermostat immediately.

Are you still using substrate or switched to paper towel so less things can get stuck in the wound?

Made a vet appointment?

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Originally Posted by sebb46

She immediately threw the mat out and got a new one

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Did she also get a thermostat for it?

I would turn that thing off and get the snake to a vet.

Oh yes.. I think a vet visit should happen.

That needs a good herp vet.

To prevent it from passing through infection they will probably need to do a culture and use a broad based anti-biotic in the mean time.

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Originally Posted by dr del

That needs a good herp vet.

To prevent it from passing through infection they will probably need to do a culture and use a broad based anti-biotic in the mean time.

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Yeah thats what I thought. We put her on paper towels and she got a new thermostat and the temps are all correct now. I will call a vet immediately thank you.

Please keep us updated! Mistakes happen and we just want to see the baby get better :)

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

Will do I will be updating as I talk to her and figure everything out! Thanks for all the help and support everyone

http://i.imgur.com/3sZGdnR.jpg
This is her stomach as of now after one day for those wondering. It looks like she lost a layer of scales?

She lost her entire skin. The pink and white you see is muscle fibre. :(

look Ma! I'm onna phone!

So when is the vet appointment?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

So when is the vet appointment?

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:O
Seconded!!! I am super sad that this happened, but sweetie, it is vet time ASAP. Holy cow... I can't imagine how much pain she is in :tears:

Oh my gosh! That poor baby! This needs to be seen by a vet ASAP. I hope your friend bought a really good thermostat.

So snakes seem to have lack of pain from heat. It amazes me they stay in a spot causing themselves harm.

Sorry to see this but happy that the bp is in line to get the care it needs. Kudos to you guys for doing the right thing! Unfortunately the recovery will be long. GOOD LUCK!:gj:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Please keep us updated! Mistakes happen and we just want to see the baby get better :)

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Negative, this is what research is for.
If you decide to be a keeper, you should have some knowledge of husbandry.
None of it is hard to find, people seem to want to google everything else.
FYI, the heat mat didn't malfunction, it got hot like they do when unregulated.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Negative, this is what research is for.
If you decide to be a keeper, you should have some knowledge of husbandry.
None of it is hard to find, people seem to want to google everything else.
FYI, the heat mat didn't malfunction, it got hot like they do when unregulated.

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But there is also alot of misinformation out there too.

Researching over the last few weeks I've read numerous 'experts' claim only high wattage mats need statting as their mats won't go above required temps.

Sadly alot of mistakes are avoidable but they do happen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boomerang

So snakes seem to have lack of pain from heat. It amazes me they stay in a spot causing themselves harm.

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No they don't. What they have is an inability to correlate the two.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sebb46

One day she came home to find that the heating pad had malfunctioned and her entire belly was covered in blisters.

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Was the heating pad regulated by a thermostat? This is the difference between an accident and a mistake.

The resulting input is still the same. Get that heat pad regulated on a reliable thermostat or rheostat, paper towel substrat, (I believe you did both of those) and go see a vet!

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Originally Posted by bcr229

So when is the vet appointment?

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^^this.

Any updates?

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn