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What looks like a missing head scale

S

sinverse

New member
Hey guys, I think my little gold dust may have somehow torn off one of the scales on his head. The area looks fresh now, pink with a little bit of red. He shed just this morning, and the area on the shed was brown and extra wrinkled. I know this has happened to other people, so I'm just wondering what other people did for their snakes, or if I should just let the little guy be.

If needed, I can try to get a picture when I get off of work tonight.
 
I think what people usually say to any problem with a shed is just leave it alone. i'm sure someone has had a similar problem. they'll post soon
 
Forcedexile said:
I think what people usually say to any problem with a shed is just leave it alone. i'm sure someone has had a similar problem. they'll post soon
Click to expand...


Well, it wasn't a shed problem. I think he tore the scale before he shed, and maybe in shedding removed the only form of a scab he had. Not sure though, first time with a snakey "injury".
 
ah well like i said someone will post soon...i think i read a thread where someone said some plain neosporin on the wound might help but don't take my advice...wait for someone else to comment lol
 
It definitely does sound like a torn scale. And Forcedexile was correct in saying that PLAIN Neosporin (a very small amount) applied directly to the wound can help out quite a bit. I used to do this with overactive snakes that would have a bit of a nose rub wound, and it worked wonders. You also want to make sure that there's not a lot of extra on there (only enough to put on the wound), otherwise the bedding and dirt could stick to it.

You want to make sure, though, that you use the Neosporin without any sort of pain reliever.
 
RobbiesCornField said:
It definitely does sound like a torn scale. And Forcedexile was correct in saying that PLAIN Neosporin (a very small amount) applied directly to the wound can help out quite a bit. I used to do this with overactive snakes that would have a bit of a nose rub wound, and it worked wonders. You also want to make sure that there's not a lot of extra on there (only enough to put on the wound), otherwise the bedding and dirt could stick to it.

You want to make sure, though, that you use the Neosporin without any sort of pain reliever.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much, I'll try that right now!
 
There was someone else who dealt with something like that just last year I think. I will have to see if I can find the thread.
 
...And I am someone who had that problem, or at least one very like it. I'm honestly not sure Worm ever *had* a scale there-- she certainly doesn't now, and she may always have been one of the mutants who are just naturally missing a head-scale. Who knows? It doesn't seem to affect anything anymore.

But when I got her last summer, she had terrible shed problems, among other difficulties. The first time she shed with me she ripped her head somehow, and I found her bleeding and covered with shreds of unshed skin. I used the painkiller-free neosporin, applying it once or twice a day (I can't remember now) for a week or so, and then again before her next shed. Because obviously she was going to rip the scab off and have another bad shed I would need to soak off and bleed again. Which she did, but less so. I didn't have to use the neosporin for so long this time. I made sure to give her a humid hide every time she went blue to make the shed go a little easier for her as well. I don't think she bled on the third shed, but she didn't have a full perfect shed for some months.

At this point she's perfectly healthy and sheds perfectly every time. So that's what I did to fix Worm's nasty little problem, and it worked. Since your little guy was apparently not bleeding when you found him, it will probably be even easier and take less time for you. It's certainly not unfixable, though. Good luck!
 
Thanks for the reply, wretched. He looks better now, the spot on top of his head has no red on it any more, just a dull dark pink color. His next shed did concern me, because I'm afraid he's going to do as you say and shed his scab. But his injury sounds far less severe than your snake's, so I definitely feel better about little Helios. Thank you guys so much for the help and suggestions, I tend to overworry quite a bit!
 
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