Update - Black Rat Snake Shed - Graphic Photo Warning

Lefty, the wild Black Rat Snake I am rehabbing, took nice, long drinks when presented with fresh water last night and the night before.

He was caught finishing his shed this morning! Wow, was he slippery, trying to get away from me. He's gorgeous and tongue flicking a lot now.

Here is his fresh skin:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...08new_skin.jpg

His wound, which I swabbed with betadine after taking this photo:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...40908wound.jpg

The piece of skin that was shed from the wound had the lump in it.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...40108lump1.jpg

Here is the inside of the lump - it is soft and fleshy. I can't imagine how painful this shed must have been for him. It does not seem to be a parasite, but rather a piece of his own flesh. Poor guy! I put it in a bag in the freezer in case it needs to be checked out / biopsied.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...40108lump2.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...40108lump3.jpg

Right after I changed his water, removed the shed, gave him fresh water, and put him back in, he presented me with a gift. I was happy he did not do this while I was swabbing his injury with betadine!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...s040908poo.jpg

I will continue to swab his wound with betadine 2x a day. I won't offer food until the wound is healed over.

awww well least the rat snake found someone who cares. hope hes in qt

that looks a million times better now that he had shed! WOW! The skin underneath looks clean and nice like it is healing.

Wow! Melissa this is an awesome story you have going with this wild rat snake. He looks so much better, and his wound seems to be healthy and healing. Big congrats to you for sticking it out!

cool im so happy for you and lefty =]

Wow, that looks a hundred times better! I'm so glad things are working out with him. You're doing a great job.

Great job, Melissa! He seems to be doing really well.

I would suggest you rethink feeding him though. Snakes that are healing require more food than usual as they use the energy to heal. We just went through the healing of an abcess on a rescue king snake. I was feeding him, on the recommendation of the vet, a small mouse every 2-3 days. It's the only way I could keep weight on him.
If nothing else, just keep an eye on his weight and feed him something small if you think he needs it.

Can't wait to see more pictures as he heals up!

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Originally Posted by Monty

awww well least the rat snake found someone who cares. hope hes in qt

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Yes, he's in QT. I actually worry more about him getting something from my exotic snakes - wouldn't want to release a new disease to the wild population!

Deb, good point. I'll ask the rehabber/wild snake expert I am in touch with. I worry about stressing the injury since it's on his neck. But small prey might be OK.

The rehabber that has been helping me recommended I get silver sulfadiazine to apply to the wound. It has antibiotic and antifungal properties and will to keep a thin layer on the wound so it doesn't dry out. It should heal faster that way.

So, I called a local vet that the local timber rattlesnake expert, W. H. Martin, recommended. The doc there had me send the pictures of the wound and the email of the rehabber, in which she advised the SSD. The vet called the SSD into a local pharmacy for me. I picked it up and have put on the first application. I first washed the area with a sterile wound wash saline. Then, using a sterile pad, I applied a moderate layer to the wound area, ensuring I got it in the crevices, etc. I returned Lefty to his tub with fresh water.

I asked the rehabber about feeding a small meal and am waiting to hear back.

I'll keep you all posted with his progress. Thanks everyone for your support and thoughts!

You just rock Melissa, I am so proud that we have people like you on this forum.

hopefully he will be able to eat for you good luck and yea i guess i didnt think about the exotic snakes giving him something. great job and keep us posted

Thanks, you guys!

Missi, you made my morning! THANKS!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by missi182

You just rock Melissa, I am so proud that we have people like you on this forum.

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Amen to that - What a story and great job with the rehab..
BT

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BT41042

Amen to that - What a story and great job with the rehab..
BT

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Thanks, BT. That means a lot.

I hope he heals well w/out it getting infected again. I still wonder what his story is. :confused:

if snakes could talk im sure hed be saying thank you.

I think you're doing a great job, Melissa! And kudos to the vet for helping out, too.

I look forward to more pics as Lefty heals. He seems to be doing great!

Yes, the vet was great to call in the meds for me.

The rehabber agreed that he could handle small meals. I offered a small mouse (live) this evening. He seemed interested at first, but then lost interest. I'll give him more time, then save the mouse for later if he continues to refuse.

The wound seems improved.

I've been trying to get him to eat a small, live mouse (16 grams), but no go! He seems interested, but then shies away. Advice? Thanks.

Well, is the mouse super stinky? And any pre-scenting going on?

I'd think about what he might come across in the wild. Are there lots of mice in the area? Lizards? something that he might find more appetizing?

You could also try offering him a fresh killed or F/T and leave it in over night. If he's hungry but feeling a bit defensive because of the wound/cage, he might eat something already dead and at night.

Since he likes his water bowl stick a couple minnows in there?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Well, is the mouse super stinky? And any pre-scenting going on?

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The mouse is living in a plastic tub in this room, so I'd say there is lot of pre-scenting going on. But maybe I could rub a f/t against it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dalvers63

I'd think about what he might come across in the wild. Are there lots of mice in the area? Lizards? something that he might find more appetizing?

You could also try offering him a fresh killed or F/T and leave it in over night. If he's hungry but feeling a bit defensive because of the wound/cage, he might eat something already dead and at night.

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My husband happened to catch a mouse about the same size, very small but past hopper, in our pantry - so it's native, alive, small, and probably what he's used to in the crawl space.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Debbienflorida

Since he likes his water bowl stick a couple minnows in there?

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Do you think he would eat minnows? I don't think he's had them before b/c we are far from a body of water. But I could try a toad (occasional wet-weather pond nearby) or a salamander.

I'll try something again tonight perhaps. I'll keep you posted.

good hes in the hands of someone who cares for him :banana::banana::banana::banana:

"Do you think he would eat minnows? I don't think he's had them before b/c we are far from a body of water. But I could try a toad (occasional wet-weather pond nearby) or a salamander."

I had a baby garter snake that ate minnows like crazy. You could try a couple feeder fish from a LFS.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Well, is the mouse super stinky? And any pre-scenting going on?

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"Super stinky" inspired me. At first, I thought of rubbing a f/t pinkie mouse on a small, live feeder mouse...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dalvers63

I'd think about what he might come across in the wild. Are there lots of mice in the area? Lizards? something that he might find more appetizing?

You could also try offering him a fresh killed or F/T and leave it in over night. If he's hungry but feeling a bit defensive because of the wound/cage, he might eat something already dead and at night.

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Your f/t suggestion also tilted something in my head.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mattciupak

good hes in the hands of someone who cares for him :banana::banana::banana::banana:

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Thank you! I appreciate that.

And, Monty, I am not sure he would thank me - he'd probably say, "When the heck are you gonna let me go??" But he might thank me for last night....

Here's the update. I thawed out 4 frozen pinkie mice last night with plans to sacrifice one in trying to feed the Black Rat, Lefty, and give the other three to our boas (Kenyan Sand and Rosy). I wasn't sure if I should rub the f/t pinkie on the live feeder or just try the f/t. I tried the f/t pinkie first. Lefty just sort of seemed like he wanted to get away from it. I started making the pinkie "run around" and do a little dance. No doing. I got frustrated and stuck it in Lefty's face, thinking, "Eat this darn thing!" When it touched Lefty's nose, his body tensed and he perked up, then HE OPENED HIS MOUTH and took it!

Meanwhile, here was this 5' Black Rat Snake eating a pinkie mouse! So I got the other three from the warm water and gave him those in succession. I had talked to a snake guy in Morgantown, WV who talked to me about the feeding instinct - that once a snake starts, he will keep going w/out any "I'm really alive" dance.

The boas will eat tonight. :oops:

The four pinkies still aren't much for an over 500 gram snake. So I also offered him the small, wild mouse my husband caught (live), using the tongs and holding it by the scruff of his neck. He ate it, too!

It all blew my mind and I was SO happy! :banana::bow::banana::D

Now he can rest up and wait for another meal in a few days while he still gets his SSD applied to his wound - which is healing over. New pics coming soon!! :D

Awesome!!! I think that is a great sign of his recovery. :D

Good job, Melissa! He will make a fine recovery, I'm sure.

Can't wait to see new pictures of him!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dalvers63

Good job, Melissa! He will make a fine recovery, I'm sure.

Can't wait to see new pictures of him!

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Thanks again for encouraging me to feed him! :D

Here is an updated picture of his wound, as of this morning. I took it before I applied more silver sulfadiazine (SSD), but you can see there is still some on the wound from previous applications.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...41608wound.jpg

That wound is really looking good.

wow he looks soooo much better

He really is looking great, all things considered especially! Poor guy, what a trooper! He has such a sweet handsome face too. YAY for eating!