Raw Skin on Back

[Paulzy]

My daughter's Ball Python developed a line of raw skin along its back, starting about three inches behind its head and travelling for about seven inches. The wound is not bleeding but I can see raw flesh where some of the scales are missing. There are a few red patches. My intuition tells me that Uday rubbed it raw against some portion of his cage. I just hope it is not some rot or disease that is more serious. He doesn't seem to have any other symptoms or problems. He did eat three mice about five days ago and regurgitated a good portion of them today. It seemed to be mostly hair. I have applied Neosporin to the wound to promote healing and prevent infection. I have also replaced all the metal screening with softer fiberglass screening to prevent more damage. Does anyone have anything to offer in the way of diagnosis or treatment?

[jcaustralia]

well with the wound and the regurg i would highly recomend getting your snake to the vet asap.

[frankykeno]

Definitely a vet trip is in order. Between a wound and a regurge that's likely your safest and best route. Can you in the meantime describe your enclosure, husbandry routine and a bit about the snake (age, when you got it, etc.)

[joepythons]

My daughter's Ball Python developed a line of raw skin along its back, starting about three inches behind its head and travelling for about seven inches. The wound is not bleeding but I can see raw flesh where some of the scales are missing. There are a few red patches. My intuition tells me that Uday rubbed it raw against some portion of his cage. I just hope it is not some rot or disease that is more serious. He doesn't seem to have any other symptoms or problems. He did eat three mice about five days ago and regurgitated a good portion of them today. It seemed to be mostly hair. I have applied Neosporin to the wound to promote healing and prevent infection. I have also replaced all the metal screening with softer fiberglass screening to prevent more damage. Does anyone have anything to offer in the way of diagnosis or treatment?

Is his regurging his meals common for him? Does he always eat 3 mice at a time for his weekly meal?If so and your temps and your husbandry are all correct my advice is simple,take him to a reptile vet ASAP.Regurging is not a normal thing and could be caused by several things.Now the wound on his back is possibly easy to figure out.Is there something in his enclosure that has any sharp edges? Snakes do not rub there skin raw to the flesh unless they have something that causes this to happen.Could you give a some info on this snakes history since he has been with you and his enclosure description? How long have you had him? Is he a baby or adult? What are the temps in his enclosure? Maybe once we know a little more about him we might be able to help you with him.

[Paulzy]

Thanks for responding so quickly. I just spoke with my daughter, she says she saw Uday rubbing himself raw on the metal screen of his enclosure. He is about four years old, and to my knowledge, hasn't done that for a long time. His enclosure is large (2 x 2 x 4), mostly glass with some screening (fiberglass now that I have changed it). I have artificial turf as a substrate. He has a large plastic bowl for water and soaking, a plastic hide, and a large branch (mostly for decoration as he doesn't like to climb that much as I have heard most BPs don't). He has a heating pad under his hide, and a UV lamp at the other end of the enclosure. We usually give him two large mice each week, but gave him three at the suggestion of the pet store snake person. This is the first time I have ever seen him regurgitate. I will get him into the vet if necessary, I just don't want to make an unnecessary trip (money, time, exposing him to other animals, you know).

[jcaustralia]

well you could try to offer him a larger meal, smal/medium rats depending on size and if he will take them, but the vet visit i would still highly recomend just to be safe.

[frankykeno]

One hide or two? As far as this screening are you talking about on the lid of this enclosure? If he doesn't climb how is he reaching up to rub or what exactly does he do in order to rub his back raw like that? Are you sure it's a rub and not a burn from exposure to an overhead heat source like that lamp you mentioned? What do you use to measure temps and humidity in his enclosure? After a regurge you need to be careful and follow a special feeding protocol or you're likely to just cause another regurge and get into a really bad cycle that way.

[frankykeno]

well you could try to offer him a larger meal, smal/medium rats depending on size and if he will take them, but the vet visit i would still highly recomend just to be safe.

Just wondering where you are getting this advice from? The last thing anyone should do after a regurge is offer a larger meal!

[nic247306]

hi my snake seems to have the same thinh urs does ..but down by its tail have you ever helped him shed by rubbing him

[jcaustralia]

Just wondering where you are getting this advice from? The last thing anyone should do after a regurge is offer a larger meal!

no i was not saying offering him food now, in his one of his post he stated that a pet store employee suggested feeding him more mice at one time, and him saying his snake was 4 years old. i just suggested to try a single larger food item vs multiple smaller ones.