Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i own a 2008 born brazlian rainbow boa. tonight, while out on my lap, she crawled below me and into a gap in the structure of my office chair, and did not want to come out. through use of patience, food, and a heat lamp, i got her to try to come out on her own, but noticed while she was coming out that she is cut on her side. the cut runs roughly latitudinal, that is, like a ring around the snake, not a line down the snake. the cut cover about one side of her body. what it looks like is that the patterned skin, or scaled, are torn, and i can see pinkish tissue underneath. the cut is maybe half a centimeter wide, and a centimeter long, maybe bigger, its hard to be a good judge in my state of near panic. what do i do? there was no blood, jsut the exposed pinked tissue. she doesnt appear to be in pain, but i just got her out of the freaking chair piece. she has retreated to her favorite hide box, and im providing normal temp and humidity control trying to find out what to do. any help is greatly appreciated!
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cdohna.googlepages.com
1.0.0 WC SD Gopher Snake, Max
1.0.0 CB Albino Banded Cal King, Manny
0.1.0 CB BRB, Mucalinda

A vet visit maybe in order to ensure the animal does or doesn't need stitches. However in the meantime cleaning the area witha good antibacteria ointment/topical solution would be a good first start. As well as ensurign that the cage is clean and that no bedding amterial can get into the wound. That means paper! Or towels...

Snakes are pretty tough animals weather it needs stitches or not it will heal on its own. Your main concern is keeping a clean cage and maintaining proper temp/humidity.

IMO a 1 cm cut should be seen by a vet as that's pretty large for a 08 BRB...the same cut in a 7' specimen would be a different story.

Also in the future that chair should be off limits for social interaction...

Cheers
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Jeremy Payne

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.0 Snow "Khal"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Khal"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow
1.0 Ghost **coming soon**
0.1 Possible Super Hypo
0.1 DH Ghost **coming soon**
1.1 Khal Albino
1.0 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Suriname/Columbian cross
0.1 Anerthrystic
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
2.0 Child

If I'm reading right its just the thin top layer of skin and scale . I've successfully used Super Glue to bind a similar wound problem . You need to get the skin layed back in position completely then apply super glue. I used a tooth pic to smooth it very gently around not moving the flap of tissue/skin. Just to be clear, Glue On top of the skin not underneath at all ! Apply in a generous area around wound 1/4 inch on each side of a small Boa. The problem with this type of wound is if the flap of skin is left to dry out. It will no longer be supplied by blood,it'll fall off and leave large scar mark. I don't believe by your discription that stitches would be an option even. Just smooth that flap of skin over if a flap and Super Glue. If its just a line no flappy skin. I'd just keep it clean. A Vet visit wouldn't hurt at all. If I know Vets though they would clip that piece of flappy skin off instead of trying to mend it. This Super Glue is an option possibly.
. . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

update:
i was a little more panicked than i should have been, sorry if i caused undue alarm. but, took her to the local 24/7 animal hospital, and though the cut pierced her scales, it did not pierce the subcutaneous tissue, so shes been given a topical antibiotic and an antibiotic injection, tomorrow first thing when the reptile experts get in they will talk about attempting to rejoin the scales. for the night she'll be given a hide box on some newspaper in a tupperware. she should be fine. phew! didn't need that, but glad she'll be okay with a little extra attention.
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cdohna.googlepages.com
1.0.0 WC SD Gopher Snake, Max
1.0.0 CB Albino Banded Cal King, Manny
0.1.0 CB BRB, Mucalinda

Good for you for taking her in. It's nice to see that you were so concerned for her well being. Much better to be over-cautious than to not care!
Nice work!
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Chris
0.1 Normal "Pastel" BCI
1.0 Albino BCI
0.1 Normal Het Albino BCI
1.0 25% Suri Het Albino BCI
2.1 Striped BCI
0.1 Normal BP

Great glad to hear it. Sounds like a great vet care facility.
Glad you decided to take the boa in.
. . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

Just for future reference, and information I had to nurse a friend's 8 foot RTB after he stupidly left a live rat in the tank. Imagine what a jumbo rat can do to a snake... Needless to say the snake sustained a wound that was 1.5 to 2 inch in diameter along its spine... The snake's spine and rib cage were visible along with maggots eating the dead, infected tissue... He refused to take it to the vet due to his neglecting nature and lack of money, so I did the best I could. With the use of hydrogen peroxide and alcohol I cleaned away the dead tissue and maggots then applied neosporin a few times a day. I figuered the snake was not going to heal with out any other type of medical care but to my suprise a few days later the wound began to show signs of healing... A few weeks later the skin had healed and grew back however the was a hideous scar now. Just goes to show how resiliant a snake can be and another reason to feed pre-killed...thx for reading hope it helped anyone.

ironcially, when i got this one i decided to switch all my snakes over from live to f/t feeding, after 12 years of live. luckily they've all accepted it.
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cdohna.googlepages.com
1.0.0 WC SD Gopher Snake, Max
1.0.0 CB Albino Banded Cal King, Manny
0.1.0 CB BRB, Mucalinda

I can't think of a worse idea than using hydrogen peroxide and alcohol to clean/flush a wound. Hydrogen peroxide has poor residual antibacterial properties and is actually inactivated by organic debris. Not only that but it is cytotoxic and can inhibit healing. Using alcohol in an open wound is extremely painful and I would consider this borderline cruelty. Like hydrogen peroxide alcohol is also cytotoxic and can inhibit healing.
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Michael McFadden, M.S., D.V.M.

I'm sure he (boabuff) did the best he could with what he new and had on had.
I know I wouldn't use the Alcohol but I might have Hydrogen Peroxide as well. Although I think Betadine would've been my first choice or possibly a watered down chlorhexidine diacetate solution.
As a Dr. what advice can you give those people that might find themselves in a situation that forces them to treat a wound ?
Thanks Dr. McFadden
. . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

They taught us in microbiology that hydrogen peroxide kills all tissue, so it inhibits healing...interesting!
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Thanks,
Amy

My Boids

Betadine is excellent and not cytotoxic at a 1:100 dilution I believe and it is easily attainable at the local drugs store so flushing twice daily with that is usually a good idea. NOTHING will beat chlorhexidine gluconate as far as an antiseptic goes as it is effective against bacterial, viruses, and fungi AND has a residual effect of almost 2 days AND it is not cytotoxic when properly diluted. Hydrogen peroxide is really quite useless unless you are dissolving blood and alcohol is really horrible and is honestly not a good disinfectant as it takes a very long contact time before it will kill microbes but it lyses cells with ease, definitely not something you want to use to clean a wound.

In all honesty, it is against the law to give medical advice without a degree and even then certain laws apply to patient-client relations, etc. Really the only one here who should be giving advice is the one with the DVM behind his name. Having about 1 year of school left before I have my LVT I'll give some, but guys, these serious wounds HAVE to be seen by a vet. I don't care how much experience with herps you have, you DO NOT have enough medical knowledge to treat many of these wounds at home. If you don't have the money for vet visits don't get the animals.

I deal with quite a few wounds in a variety of species including herps. ALL wounds are different and there is no way to give a recipe for treating wounds. A contaminated wound and an infected wound are two different things and if you don't know or can't tell the difference then it needs to be taken to someone who can. Some wound care is common sense. If there is a SMALL cut, abrasion, or burn, then simple at home care can be safe and effective. The wound needs to be cleaned and the animal needs to be placed in a clean environment to allow continued healing. Flushing the wound with water, balanced electrolyte solution, or PROPERLY diluted iodine or Chlorhexidine and then application of triple antibiotic ointment will usually allow it to heal if it is kept clean. If there is a large wound with necrotic tissue, maggots, and bone exposed, there is NO WAY to safely, effectively, and humanely treat this at home. This requires systemic treatment with antibiotics and analgesics in addition to the wound care which if severe usually involves general anesthesia and surgical debridement.
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Michael McFadden, M.S., D.V.M.

Thanks for those responses. There really is no substitute for good DVM care. Reasonable people who truly care about animals see the logic in proper medical care for their animals. Obviously there are those who will insist on keeping an animal they can not afford or give proper care to. The fellow in the first post certainly did the best he could. I wouldn't expect him to pay for his "friends" vet bill though. Personally I think I would take this animal from this friend by whatever means necessary ,LOL
. . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

I ment Boabuff did the best he could not first post sorry
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz