Scales ripped off?!?

[IMG]http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/...psc7rh5wlb.jpg[/IMG]
My husband had out our 9 month old baby ball, and he found a hole in the lining of the couch. My husband yanked him out and this is the result. I called our local exotic vet and he told me if it's just the scales that came off, to put Neosporin on it and watch it closely, but if his actual skin was ripped , he needed an antibiotic shot. I've ever had a snake get injured, so I'm sorry for my ignorance. Does it look like scales were removed or a skin rip? Please help! I want to do everything I can for the little guy. Edited to add he is going through shed now, if that makes a difference. I appreciate any help!

not the best photo but that definitely looks like exposed flesh. that snake looks incredibly dehydrated as well. poor buddy... :(

i have no experience in treating wounds this severe, so i hope someone more experienced chimes in.

I apologize for the horrible picture, I agree it isn't the best. I just got the little guy on Sunday and have no experience with young snakes as I adopted my other ball when she was 6. Do you have any suggestions to help me combat the dehydration?? Thank you!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

not the best photo but that definitely looks like exposed flesh. that snake looks incredibly dehydrated as well. poor buddy... :(

i have no experience in treating wounds this severe, so i hope someone more experienced chimes in.

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Originally Posted by Dawn1131

I apologize for the horrible picture, I agree it isn't the best. I just got the little guy on Sunday and have no experience with you snakes as I adopted my other ball when she was 6. Do you have any suggestions to help me combat the dehydration?? Thank you!

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damp sphagnum moss.

also, you shouldn't handle a new addition before they've adjusted and de-stressed from their new environment, and eaten for you 3 times in a row.

Thank you

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

damp sphagnum moss.

also, you shouldn't handle a new addition before they've adjusted and de-stressed from their new environment, and eaten for you 3 times in a row.

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Originally Posted by Dawn1131

Thank you

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you're very welcome. :)

i hope someone helps you with caring for the wound. please tell your hubby not to yank on the snake anymore. :(

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Originally Posted by Dawn1131

I called our local exotic vet and he told me if it's just the scales that came off, to put Neosporin on it and watch it closely, but if his actual skin was ripped , he needed an antibiotic shot. I've ever had a snake get injured, so I'm sorry for my ignorance. Does it look like scales were removed or a skin rip?

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Well the scales were removed, that's what that pink area is, the skin under the scales. Is it bleeding? if bleeding, it's a skin rip.
If you use Neosprin, make sure you get regular and NOT the kind with pain killer in it.

The Neosporin CAN NOT contain Pain Reliever at all. It has to be plain. I can not see the photo on the app i use, but I also cant understand why yous had him out if he is going to shed? You dont touch snakes for the 2-3 week process unless your cleaning the enclosure quickly. Im not being nasty but it doesn't sound at all like there is any experience with snakes here. This is all basic BP 101. As far as dehydration you should of notices that yourself also. Age of the snake doesn't matter for experience. All these basic things apply no matter what the snakes age. Get to a Vet and also please look at the Stickys on this Forum for BP care.


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I appreciate it! And we have had that conversation many times since it happened lol. I appreciate all of your help!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

you're very welcome. :)
i hope someone helps you with caring for the wound. please tell your hubby not to yank on the snake anymore. :(

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Also, make sure this snake is on paper towels or paper, you do not want any loose substrate or bits getting stuck to the wound. Don't worry about using moss for humidity at this point, again, you don't want anything getting in the wound. You can mist a few times every day to try to keep humidity up so he can hopefully get all that shed off. Sorry I meant to say this in my original reply.

The Neosporin absolutely does not have pain relief and there wasn't any bleeding from the wound. Thank you for your reply!

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Well the scales were
removed, that's what that pink area is, the skin under the scales. Is it bleeding? if bleeding, it's a skin rip.
If you use Neosprin, make sure you get regular and NOT the kind with pain killer in it.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Also, make sure this snake is on paper towels or paper, you do not want any loose substrate or bits getting stuck to the wound. Don't worry about using moss for humidity at this point, again, you don't want anything getting in the wound. You can mist a few times every day to try to keep humidity up so he can hopefully get all that shed off. Sorry I meant to say this in my original reply.

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OP listen to the advice from AbsoluteApril. she is much more experienced in this area than i am and a very, very knowledgeable asset to the forum. :)

No problem, and thank you! I changed him to paper towels as soon as it happened. I didn't want anything to get in there and cause pain/risk infection.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Also, make sure this snake is on paper towels or paper, you do not want any loose substrate or bits getting stuck to the wound. Don't worry about using moss for humidity at this point, again, you don't want anything getting in the wound. You can mist a few times every day to try to keep humidity up so he can hopefully get all that shed off. Sorry I meant to say this in my original reply.

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- - - Updated - - -

She definitely seems to be!!!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

OP listen to the advice from AbsoluteApril. she is much more experienced in this area than i am and a very, very knowledgeable asset to the forum. :)

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Aww you're so sweet tttaylorrr, thanks.

Dawn, I'm glad it wasn't bleeding, that's good! The little one may go into a quick shed cycle again one or two more times, the body tries to do that to heal itself, so don't be surprised if s/he's back in blue soon. Just keep it clean like you are, apply the neo every day for the first few days, I'd suggest for a week, (unless your vet advised you differently) and the scales should start coming back after a few sheds. Feed like you normally would, keep clean and humid and *knock on wood* should be okay.

No more unsupervised trips with the hubby! haha

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Aww you're so sweet tttaylorrr, thanks.

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i know when i'm in over my head. :P

I can't thank you enough for your help. I have been in a state of panic since last night. Would you think once a day for the Neosporin is enough, or should I do twice? And absolutely NO more time out with the hubby unsupervised! Lol. In all seriousness though, you're great, thank you.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Aww you're so sweet tttaylorrr, thanks.

Dawn, I'm glad it wasn't bleeding, that's good! The little one may go into a quick shed cycle again one or two more times, the body tries to do that to heal itself, so don't be surprised if s/he's back in blue soon. Just keep it clean like you are, apply the neo every day for the first few days, I'd suggest for a week, (unless your vet advised you differently) and the scales should start coming back after a few sheds. Feed like you normally would, keep clean and humid and *knock on wood* should be okay.

No more unsupervised trips with the hubby! haha

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I would do once a day, it's still a new addition so you don't want to over stress the little one more than you have to.
If you notice any odd swelling or if there is any bleeding or pus from the area, then I'd get into the vet because it would be time for antibiotics at that point.
I'm rooting for you both, hang tough!

ouch! get that baby to a vet ASAP! that is torn/ripped skin and that's exposed flesh. sometimes there's no blood, sometimes just a little, sometimes alot but that skin is not intact.

Edit:

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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

The Neosporin CAN NOT contain Pain Reliever at all. It has to be plain. I can not see the photo on the app i use, but I also cant understand why yous had him out if he is going to shed? You dont touch snakes for the 2-3 week process unless your cleaning the enclosure quickly. Im not being nasty but it doesn't sound at all like there is any experience with snakes here. This is all basic BP 101. As far as dehydration you should of notices that yourself also. Age of the snake doesn't matter for experience. All these basic things apply no matter what the snakes age. Get to a Vet and also please look at the Stickys on this Forum for BP care.

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others have provided good feedback on aftercare, but i just wanted to quote and emphasize what Mr. Sully here b/c it is important. regardless of BP age, their husbandry and care is the same. refresh yourself with the caresheet here: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ius)-Caresheet

Obviously it is too late, but never pull on a snake when it is coiled in or on something.
Ive wrestled big giant Godzilla out of a couch before. I could have easily ripped her out and injured her, but i know better and carefully and gently had to tangle her up on my arms and wrangle her gently out.
Really, if you cant very carefully retrieve them, it is better to leave them hiding in the couch than to forcefully tug on them.
They are strong tough animals, but are very tiny and delicate compared to massive apes like us! 🦍


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Looks like a retained full body shed. And that wound could possibly be a layer of skin removed with the scales.

The issue now is that you will have to keep the wound extremely clean, so paper towels only. Normally you would need to keep the snake on some wet paper towels or give it a bath with some towels to run through to remove the old shed, but that may make the wound worse and wet/warm >> bacteria.

Can you get some clearer pictures of the wound ? I have seen areas with missing scales before, and they seemed to look lighter and "dryer". This pink/wet area looks more like exposed muscle or a deep skin layer.

Like the others have said NO handling until the snake has acclimated and eaten a couple of times, but that is now a moot point. For now NO handling other then keeping the enclosure sanitized and clean and the wound treated.

And of course the temps/humidity and setup needs to be 100% correct.