My snake got bit by a rat

right in the face - My beloved sweet boy, the first one I have ever owned and got me into this hobby.
He attacked it in a fashion where the rats teeth chomped right into his face, his eye, his vents.... and he wouldnt let go till it was dead. Nothing I could do :(
I am absolutely heartbroken - i really hope he's going to be okay. He's been soaked and neosporin has been applied, with additional TLC time.


I was a bit apprehensive about posting this with all the hostility going on around here lately - but I have in order to show that even with careful observation, live feedings can turn into a nightmare.
So please if you have something mean to say to me please don't say it. I am already full of despair. :depressed

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Originally Posted by adizziedoll

right in the face - My beloved sweet boy, the first one I have ever owned and got me into this hobby.
He attacked it in a fashion where the rats teeth chomped right into his face, his eye, his vents.... and he wouldnt let go till it was dead. Nothing I could do :(
I am absolutely heartbroken - i really hope he's going to be okay. He's been soaked and neosporin has been applied, with additional TLC time.


I was a bit apprehensive about posting this with all the hostility going on around here lately - but I have in order to show that even with careful observation, live feedings can turn into a nightmare.
So please if you have something mean to say to me please don't say it. I am already full of despair. :depressed

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I'm not sure why you'd think you'd catch flak for this...stuff happens...you started treating him...what's the problem?

Maybe think about dropping down a rat size? What size was the rat that bit him?

Sorry to hear that!!! I hope your little guy will be ok!!!
My friend's snake missed a strike once and got the mouse by the tail. He had to actually choke the mouse himself, I dont know that you could even choke a rat by hand, atleast not without gloves. Those suckers have some pretty wicked teeth.

Keep us updated on how he is doing. :snake:

wow that really sucks. do bps bounce back fairly well from injuries like that? i'm assuming it's probably a frequent occurence in the wild?

In the wild tho arnt they going for lizards more often than not? Or are mice thier "wild" food too?

TY Adam, and now back to your regular scheduled program... :D

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Originally Posted by TheDude

In the wild tho arnt they going for lizards more often than not? Or are mice thier "wild" food too?

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Ball pythons feed exclusively on birds and mammals in their natural habitat.

-adam

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Maybe think about dropping down a rat size? What size was the rat that bit him?

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It was actually a smaller rat then I usually give him - I had just seperated it from mom. I think if it was any bigger the "bugger" ( I wish I could use more harsh wording than that) he would have done a lot more damage, possibly killing my baby.

How bad is the bite? Can you post a pic?

How old is the snake? What size prey?

yeah ill work on that right now - its pretty bad, and he wasnt all that interested in getting his head wet, so it's kind of really icky looking. The rat got a series of nibbles all over, but the inside of his moth is unharmed. It happened last night and have been contemplating on whether i should post or not.

Was the rat already coiled up when he bit? Is there anything that can be done if that type of thing happens? I mean thump the rat on the head or something? Or would that just make matters worse?

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...yboyboy003.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...yboyboy006.jpg

Yeah, the snake coiled around it - ive had him for 10 yrs :(

Hopefully everything will be ok. I feed live also. I keep a pair of heavy duty welders gloves nearby in case I have to get between my bp and a scared rat, cuts down on the teeth getting thru to my hand just in case I have to intervine.
Seems like your on it, just keep an eye on it and keep on treating it. If it should appear to get worse you may have to make a vet visit.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

Did you say a weanling rat did that?

i wouldnt say weanling - it was like the size of an extra small rat - i have some more from the same litter if you want pictures of that.

I don't think that's necessary, just keep the antibiotic ointment on there and it should clear up after a few sheds. I think it looks a lot worse than it is in the those pics because of all the dried blood...at least from the look of those pics.

If it makes you feel any better, I've seen snakes brought into a pet store looking 10x worse than that and heal up well, like nothing even happened. Try not to stress about it too much.

thank you all for your kind words :) and i think you're right about the dried blood elevate.


How do I get him to eat, or do I just leave that alone right now?

go to the pet store and get some repti-wound-healing aid. It works great on any kind of bite. we had a mouse bite our boa and we used some of this and was healed in 2 days. works wonders!!!!!! good luck.

I'd give him a week or two, no handling, make sure his temps/humidity are good...it probably won't bother him much after that once it starts healing, so you can try feeding then.

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Originally Posted by selscott

go to the pet store and get some repti-wound-healing aid. It works great on any kind of bite. we had a mouse bite our boa and we used some of this and was healed in 2 days. works wonders!!!!!! good luck.

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Triple-antibiotic or neosporin ointment works just as well. I'm skeptical about the effectiveness of any kind of product with the word "repti-" in the name of it! :P

:hug: I'm sorry you had to go through that...I imagine that it was really hard on you. I'm sure with some rest and some ointment, he'll heal up just fine. Don't blame yourself, either--doesn't sound like there's anything you could have done.

Just remember herps are some of the fastest healers and most resilient in the animal world, if they weren't there wouldn't be so many of them!


~mike

I used to keep a pencil or chop stick handy when I had a couple who were live feeders, and it did come in handy. If the rat is constricted, but still able to move his head he may try to take a few chomps. I had that happen once but I was able to get a pencil into the rats mouth long enough for it to expire...


Hope he heals up quick...:D

*winces at pics* Owie, poor baby! Here's hoping he heals up fast! :petting:

:hug: Hope he heals swift and well for you.

These kinds of things must happen fairly often in the wild so the snake gods should have built a healing ability to cope with it right in.

best wishes.

dr del

Thank you all again for your support. I will update you all often with hopefully good improvement.

I would try to clean it very well with betadine and the reapply the neosporin. It is kind of tough to tell n the pic but was the eye damaged also?

yes, the eye was damaged. :( I hope it at least heals up, even if he's blind - is there a chance it could just, well, rot?Where can I get betadine? I wasnt sure what to use to actually disinfect the wounds.

It just looks like a bit of dried blood, maybe some exudate(oozing), and the face is swelling. He looks like he's going blue or the eyes are reacting to the swelling. A cool, moist wash cloth placed over his face for as long as he'll stand for it would help ease some of the swelling and help him feel better.

The dilute betadine would be fine to clean with, but you'll want to get some gauze (not cotton balls), soak those and gently(but firmly) flush out the wounds. They are puncture wounds, and being so close to vital organs(brain and eyes), it's important to clean them very thoroughly. Mooshing the betadine into the wounds with the gauze will help flush the bacteria out and help get some air in.

You'll want to let it dry, with the betadine rinsed off or not(doesn't matter), and then really rub the neosporin/polysporin into the wounds.

If it starts swelling worse than it is, oozing purulent material(pus or any exudate that isn't clear), or acting lethargic, you will want to put him on some systemic antibiotics so he doesn't go septic on you. Puncture wounds are nothing to play with.

Oh, and you can get betadine at any walmart, CVS, Walgreens, drug store, etc. Just dilute it so you have dark rust colored water(unless it is already diluted), warm it up a bit so it doesn't shock him when you clean his face. You can get gauze at those previously mentioned places too.

i really cant give you great advice i just wanted to say good luck and i hope everything works out for you.

ill be reading your updates...i cant imagin what your going through with that.

Stacie<3