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Feeding and healing: questions.

Corvine Dragon

Corvine Dragon

New member
I asked before, but I'm assuming it was lost amongst the bickering. How do snakes heal after bad wounds? Will the scales grow back next shed, or is it going to just stay as it is forever? (there's been no apparent improvement after a week.)

Also wondering about feeding. He's been getting an adult mouse weekly, but it really doesn't even leave a lump and he's acting hungry after. I gave him three fuzzies last feeding and he ate them just fine. What should I be feeding him? (Once he heals. Sticking to three fuzzies for now so he doesn't get hurt.)
 
A wound will not be magically repair itself in a single shed cycle. Each shed furthers the healing process until eventually the wound heals and may or may not even be noticeable. Depending on the type and severity of the wound, some scales may never grow back or will remain incomplete. When this happens the scaring will be much more visible.

Feeding an adult corn 1 mouse per week should be sufficient. You want to avoid overfeeding if at all possible. Obesity isn't healthy and can shorten your snakes life.

Hope that helps :)
 
Well, scarring is fine, I'm just hoping that his muscle is going to be covered at some point. So just.. wait until his shed cycles slowly reform over it? How long should I apply the polysporin daily, then?

There are so few resources for this online. x.x
 
I would think that as long as there is open tissue, and an infection risk, you should continue using the polysporin. Some people and animals develop sensitivity to the antibiotic in it, so keep an eye on your snake's skin. I don't know if they would develop that sort of problem or not. Perhaps some of the vet techs would know.
 
Got a couple pictures of him (barely, eh? Sorry for the awful camera, but like I've said, I'm poor) and thought you guys might be interested in seeing.
<img src="http://www.sss.dragoncity.net/images/TAESNAKE/wound/2.jpg"> <img src="http://www.sss.dragoncity.net/images/TAESNAKE/wound/4.jpg">
 
Oh my god. That looks awefull :/ Poor thing. Perhaps you should take this case to a vet.

I've looked it up in the 'what's wrong with my snake book' and it adds to what you already know that antibiotics may be nessasary. Let me quote the following:

"Open wounds will usually heal by scarring over. A vetrenarian may reduce this effect by suturing (applying stitched to) a clean, fresh wound) This needs to be done within several hours of the trauma taking place. If more time elapses, most vetrenarians will consider the would too contaminated to attempt closing it. Bite wounds are consideren contaminated and most vetrenarians will not close such a would"

Hope this helps.
 
Yeah, Jicin is right about the suturing... If you been able to take your snake to the vet right away they would have sutured it, but after a couple of days you really can't do that. But having said that I would take him to the vet anyway as that looks like a really nasty wound... Its hard to tell how its healing from the picture though. Has it shown any improvement since it happened? Also, I would take the substrate out of there if you haven't already done so. Just use paper towels or newspaper for now (we don't want anything sticking to that wound). I can't think what else you could do at the moment that you aren't already doing. If it seems to be infected your vet would probably administer some systemic antibiotic. I will ask our reptile vet at work and see what she suggests.
 
Yeah, he's on newspaper and paper towels right now. It has healed somewhat, I think..
He's losing a lot of the scales from the area directly under his jaw and the wound it's self has whitened over, I'm assuming because that white layer of skin under the scales is reforming?
 
Ok, from your description it sounds like its healing, but it will probably take a long time to go away completely. So just keep doing what you're doing and hopefully he will be ok! But again, if it looks like it's infected or ifyour snakes behavior changes I would get to the vet asap. From your original post it sounds like he's still eating, so I guess wait and see what happens. I'll still ask one of the vets about it tomorrow.

I hope everything works out well for you!
 
Thank you, I really appreciate it. Yeah, he ate very readily and is still active and drinking.
What exactly are the early signs of infection? Same things as in mammals?
 
moonshadow said:
But again, if it looks like it's infected or ifyour snakes behavior changes I would get to the vet asap.


She apparently forgot to mention a few things to you:

1) She posted in Livejournal.com's Cornsnake forum that she will NOT be taking the snake to the vet...too expensive.

2) Someone gave her the name of a herp rescue in her town, and she is refusing to enlist their help or even call them. She would rather the snake die.

3) She has threatened to toss the snake into the backyard (It's a wild-caught herp) or to kill it herself if people keep judging her for not taking the snake to the herp rescue.

Just thought you all should have all the info.
Click to expand...
 
I was attacked for half an hour at that livejournal community, and finally told that I should have the snake killed, in addition to giving all of my pets to my local humane society to be put down. The leader of your group told me, herself, that my snake would never heal and that he is better off released back into the wild.

I have explained to this group that I could not find nor afford vet care, they understand that. I think it's a bit tactless to try to sabotage my recieving help here, but that's completely within your right to judge.

I, obviously, would not kill or "release" (to die) my snake. If I didn't feel strongly for him, and if I weren't desperate to help him, I would hand him over to a shelter to be killed, and I wouldn't have come here or to your cruel livejournal community for advice. I've called the supposed herp rescue in my area and they apparently no longer exist. According to my local humane society, the only resource in my area is a guy that works out of home as an animal trapper. I'm fairly sure I can provide my snake better care than he would.
 
Corvine - Yes, the symptoms of wound infection should be recognisable. Any spread of discolouration around the wound, prolonged weeping, pus, swelling, that sort of thing. Also in reptiles, damage spreading to neighbouring scales that weren't affected by the original wound. You do need to be watching for more general signs like lethargy or changes in normal behaviour, that might indicate an internal infection that doesn't show on the snake's skin. Let us know if you spot anything that worries you and we'll try to help further.

Herp Lover - We need to stay positive here, to ensure that the snake gets as much help as we can offer.
 
Corvine Dragon said:
I have explained to this group that I could not find nor afford vet care, they understand that.
Click to expand...

I don't agree with the insults over there. Except one thing. If you can't afford Vet care, you should not have animals. Sorry but that's the way it is. YOU buy an animal YOU bear responsibility. In case of accidents YOU should have simply saved up money for vetrenarian treatments. It's not like it's that expensive. A few dollars a month give you a good emergency savings account.

About you not beeing able to find a vet (You look for one even though you've already decided not to go there?) Where exactly do you live? I'm sure there some nice people over here that may help you locale one. Some vets let you pay back in terms if you aks nicely.
 
I understand your opinion on the matter. I only meant that the people here seem more inclined to help despite that.

Of course I looked for a vet despite not being able to afford one. There's no harm or financial obligation in looking, after all, and it's best to at least have an option, should I somehow manage the money to go. I live in St Augustine, Florida.
 
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Oh. Well a lot of people her live in Florida. I'm sure one is able to point you.

As for the money. Simply start saving now. I can not imagine you can't be able to at least put 10/15 dollar aside for a few months. Then next time an accident happens you will be able to seek imidate help. Surely in this case a visit to the vet would have decreased the suffering for this snake a lot. Even though they don't yell 'ouch' it's a big, painfull wound. I hope your snake will heal quickly.
 
Wow, I wasn't able to get online yesterday and I'm not sure what exactly happened at the other forum, but it sounds like Corvine is worried and is trying to help her snake as best she can. Anyhow, I did ask our reptile vet and she said that it sounds like you are doing the right thing so far... but she also said that it's hard for her to suggest more without actually examining the snake. And as Kel said, yes the signs of infection are similar to what you would expect in mammals. The pus they produce is slightly different but you should still recognize it. If it gets crusty, discolored, swollen etc. Plus you can usually smell the infection. If you notice darker discoloration in areas of the body that was not damaged then your snake may have a systemic infection. Also as Kel said, you should be on the lookout for more general signs.

Good luck and let us know how your snake is doing!
 
Thanks, moonshadow. I had a question concerning what I hope is healing.. He's shedding a LOT of single scales. Is that normal, and part of the healing process?
He did have that area of skin that was pulled back that now has a hard feel to it, like a scab, so I had assumed (through nothing more than guessing and hopeful thinking) that the excess skin was receding, and those scales were from that.
What should the healing look like, so I know what to consider abnormal?
I read that injured snakes shed often.. is that later-stage healing, or should I worry that he isn't going into shed?

Sorry for all the questions. :/
 
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