Help please! Snake got a bite while feeding

[jimmy89045]

To start off, I am not looking for a debate on live vs f/t feeding. I’m aware of the risks and am very careful when feeding. Just looking for treatment suggestions. Thanks.

Yesterday I was feeding my 5 month old ball python a live adult mouse and she got this scrape/bite that I noticed after she constricted the mouse. I always supervise and have successfully fed her and my other snake live adult mice and similar sized rats before with no issue. The way she grabbed onto the mouse this time meant the mouse was able to bite to her I believe. See the attached pictures please. Im not so sure how it happened as all seemed okay until afterwards. She still ate the mouse and seemed like she wasn’t in any pain or discomfort. She was not bleeding and it’s not deep but looks kinda bad to me

I’ve so far treated by cleaning with a sterile saline solution, applying antibiotic ointment (no pain relief). Also switched her out of her usual tank to a sterile tub with paper towel instead. Is this all I need to do for her to heal completely or does she need other care? Vet? Should I stick to the ointment/rinse (both?) once daily or more often? Thanks for any suggestions!



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[Treeman]

I would apply a tiny dab of neosporin daily. It is important to use just regular, plain neosporin, not the one they make with pain relievers in it. Id also switch his substrate to paper towels until the wound closes up, to prevent substrate from getting stuck to the wound. Just a tiny amount of neosporin is all you need, you don't want it getting all over his body except for the wound.

[jimmy89045]

I would apply a tiny dab of neosporin daily. It is important to use just regular, plain neosporin, not the one they make with pain relievers in it. Id also switch his substrate to paper towels until the wound closes up, to prevent substrate from getting stuck to the wound. Just a tiny amount of neosporin is all you need, you don't want it getting all over his body except for the wound.

Great thanks! I’ll keep that up then as that’s what I’ve been doing so far.


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[Bogertophis]

I have no "crystal ball" to know IF that will get infected or not...and since it's near vital functions (brain!) it would be better to see a vet with your snake.

What happened with your snake this time is what pretty much always happens sooner or later when you feed 'live'...rodents aren't grabbed perfectly & can
wiggle around just enough to bite back...they object to being dinner, after all. Bites from rodents carry plenty of germs, & this wound looks pretty open to
me, and with where it is, it might be best if it got stitched closed. That's a call for a qualified reptile vet to make though, not me...good luck.

If it's NOT closed up by the vet, it will take many many sheds to heal, and each time the shedding will tend to tear it open again. Vet is the best idea, I'd say.

[MR Snakes]

I'm going with "see a vet" to make sure all is well. Their internal systems are pretty fragile when it comes to the introduction of foreign germs.

And about people who feed live, they should............just teasing folks.

Good luck.

[Sonny1318]

I would definitely consider letting a vet take a look. But you are definitely doing the right things so far, But I would look into getting to a vet and maybe getting a stitch or two, properly cleaned, all that good stuff. Sorry that happened and best of luck.

[CALM Pythons]

Honestly Ive never seen a chunk missing like that from a Mouse. As a matter of fact, in my many decades of keeping I did not know a mouse could do that much damage. Ive seen Rats and Rabbits do that but Wow that was one nasty mouse... im sure that will heal but it sure is going to take awhile. Ive had scratches and scrapes but thats actual Meat missing.



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[jimmy89045]

Thanks for all the input! It is greatly appreciated and I will likely take her to the vet!

The scrape isn’t as bad as in the pictures. It isn’t deep at all (skin off only) about 3mm diameter. The flash and camera make it seem worse! Hopefully she’s alright and vet doesn’t think stitches required. Here’s another picture




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[Bogertophis]

They might also just do something like a topical "new skin" product? (so that it's sealed from germs) Either way, it shouldn't be that expensive...I hope?
Let us know how it goes, hope your pretty snake makes a nice recovery & isn't more hesitant about feeding now. (that can happen too...)

[CALM Pythons]

Thanks for all the input! It is greatly appreciated and I will likely take her to the vet!

The scrape isn’t as bad as in the pictures. It isn’t deep at all (skin off only) about 3mm diameter. The flash and camera make it seem worse! Hopefully she’s alright and vet doesn’t think stitches required. Here’s another picture




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Maybe the pic looks bad and its only a scale. In that case dont worry and keep the enclosure clean....
I still didnt know a mouse would do that though.. but im so paranoid as i get older I finally got all my snakes “even Burm” eating fresh kill and 2 of them Frozen.


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