Minor injury.... but question.

[GoldSheep]

My ball python got a really minor injury. I've been keeping an eye on it. It was in between the two nostrils on its nose about the size of one scale--not even that. The snake has been healing slowly by the shed and the injury has gotten gradually smaller. (She's about 10 years old.)

However, it's also closing up one of her two nostrils as it heals. Should I be concerned? Will it make eating difficult? Is it vet time? She still can breathe fine, though she makes weird noises when her head is close to the glass of the cage, but she's kinda a weird snake anyway, well, for a ball python. She's the type to amuse herself doing such things.

I figure I should ask first because vets around here for snakes cost a ton and I don't want to bring in the snake and the vet says there is nothing we can do, now I'm gonna charge you.

If you need images, I can show them.

[marchlevi]

Images would help a ton, but as far as making eating difficult it should have no effect on her eating. The tube that you see in her mouth when she yawns or opens her mouth is how she breathes while eating. That tube is an extension on her esophagus that protrudes a little while eating so that she can properly breathe. As far as the nostril if seems to breathing okay other than the noises she makes I wouldn't worry a whole lot, unless the nostril closes completely then I'd probably go see the vet.

[GoldSheep]

Here is the closest image I can get of her nose. To our left, you can see the scab forming. (The red dot where her nostril) is supposed to be. The other nostril is clear and she's been drinking normally and shedding normally and behaving normally otherwise. She well exceeds 2000 grams.

[marchlevi]

Well, if she's been acting completely normal and it doesn't seem to be affecting her breathing I personally wouldn't worry. It might scab over her nostril for a bit just because it's healing. As long as it's not oozing or swollen and infected looking I'd just keep an eye on her. I think that it should heal up fine and once its healed the scab will come off and she'll have two nostrils again.

[GoldSheep]

Thanks.

Nyah, seems like it's healing nicely. She hates when I touch it, but that's about it.

[marchlevi]

Well then I would say that she should be okay and the scab will come off once its completely healed.